1972 Porsche 911T Targa 2.4

Finished in Light Ivory, ‘EKH 938K’ is a 1972 Porsche 911T Targa that benefits from a recent £65,000 restoration that included a complete respray in addition to a full rebuild of the 2.4-litre engine.

It was, the seller smiles, “completely taken apart and then put back together”, and now boasts a back-dated interior, an “immaculate” underside (our words, not his), and a mixture of new and refurbished mechanical components.

It is, therefore, one of the most impressive 911s we’ve ever seen – and the fact it’s also one of the most versatile of all the body styles Porsche has offered, means this auction is sure to be fiercely contested.
 

Now finished in Light Ivory (paint code 11) rather than the silver it left the Porsche factory in, our man has crawled over the car with a magnifying glass and reports that there are “no marks, dents, or blemishes to the paintwork”

Need we say more about the fit ‘n’ finish of the coachwork other than this is a man for whom finding blemishes is second nature; if he says it’s a good ‘un, then we doubt you’ll find much to quibble about.

The Fuchs alloy wheels are every bit as impressive as the rest of the exterior. Free of even the lightest scuff or mark and enhanced with subtle, all-silver centre caps, their black-and-silver colour scheme is echoed by the pressed aluminium numberplates.

As for the tyres they’re fitted with, all four corners boast 185/70R15 Pirelli P6000. Date-stamped 2019 and still showing good tread all around, they still have plenty of life in them yet.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Other notable features include excellent lamp lenses and badges, chrome door mirrors, and the nicely polished Targa hoop.

Speaking of the all-important Targa top, of course that’s in great shape and fits very well. We can’t see anything there that would worry even the pickiest of enthusiasts.

Which means there really isn’t much for the new owner to put right. Those of a fastidious nature might like to reseat the rubber trim on the nearside corner of the front bumper is slightly askew, but that’s about it.

The back-dated interior features some rather lovely mid-brown leather 2+2 seats and modern-but-retro-looking carpets that wrap themselves around and, in the case of the rear passenger space, on the back of, the seats.

It’s all been done beautifully; clearly a not-inexpensive job, being new everything is still immaculate and free of even the lightest creasing or any sign of having been used.

It’s the same story with the door cards, dashboard, and instruments, all of which work as they should and look every bit as good now as they ever have.

And yes, we know that’s dangerously close to gushing but then this is an eminently gush-worthy car. Look at the labelling on the column stalks, for example. Isn’t it lovely?

As is the understated four-spoke steering wheel, with its black leather rim and subdued-order centre badge. As pleasing to hold as it behold, it is no more than lightly patinated and we wouldn’t even think of changing it but if originality is your thing, replacements will be available from the usual sources.

As was the case outside, the Targa top fits well inside too, and the interior headlining is good. There’s also a bag in the frunk to keep it protected while you enjoy blatting around in the sun.

All of which means that any flaws are minor. If we’re being picky – and we do try to be because we know so many of you bid without seeing the car in person – two of the allen-headed setscrews that hold the steering wheel to the boss are rounded. The trim on the radio is also broken and missing a piece.

Even less problematic is the frunk, which needs finishing; the trim looks to be new and all there, and just needs fitting. 
 

Being freshly rebuilt, the fact the 2.4-litre flat-six engine starts and idles as well as it does isn’t really a surprise, is it? As you’d expect, it’s got good oil pressure too and makes all the right noises, which in an air-cooled 911, means raising the hairs on the back of your neck.

It’s an absolute gem of an engine and the relative lack of capacity means it revs very freely indeed; we can only imagine how much fun it would be to dance up and down the gearbox as you explore the upper reaches of the tachometer.

The seller tells us that it “drives very well”, something our man found to be the case when he took it for a quick spin. 
 

With invoices on file for, we are told, £65,000 in the past eighteen months, it’s going to take you a while to make your way through them.

But, it’ll be time well invested because it’s important to understand what a thorough job he commissioned.

Sadly, as far as paperwork goes, that hefty expenditure is all there is as the car lacks any history prior to that.

While this isn’t at all unusual for an imported car, it does mean you don’t have a thick history file to lean on and must set your bids based on its current condition alone.

That said, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an import.

The Porsche doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 
 

The Targa fell out of favour for a while, with some feeling it was an unhappy halfway house between the security of the coupé and the fun of the convertible.

Things have since changed, with many enthusiasts now appreciating that that is precisely the Targa’s strength; as weathersealed as the coupé in adverse conditions and yet still offering the complete wind-in-the-hair experience when it’s sunny, the Targa really does offer it all.

And that’s just the practical side of things and doesn’t take into account the way it looks and drives, both of which are beyond reproach.

Which makes it feel like our estimate, of between £56,000 and £65,000, seem very reasonable, especially when you remember that even the upper figure represents what the seller has put into improving the car in the past eighteen months, and doesn’t even take into account what the car cost him in the first place…

Yes, you could have as much fun as he did if you bought a resto-project and did the work yourself, but if you’re looking to save a bit of money, why not box clever and buy one that’s already been done?

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