1996 Porsche 911 (993) Targa

We are truly delighted to be able to offer one of these very special and rare 911 Targas, delivered to its first owner mid-way through 1996.

It would be fair to say that the car has had a busy life, the odometer now rapidly approaching 175,000 miles.

Before you recall in horror, there is a raft of paperwork to show that the car has been subject to plenty of love, care, and attention on its journey through life.

Furthermore, talk to any Porsche expert and they will confirm that 911s do not like to stand idle for months on end, they are better used.

And that is why our seller has decided to part with the Targa. It is part of a collection of cars and sadly is not getting the use it deserves.

Our seller owned a 911 Targa in the late 90s and from what we can gather always regretted parting with it. Thus, when the opportunity came some four years ago to by another one, he jumped at the chance.

The car was purchased from an airline pilot who owned it for around seven years.

It starts, goes, handles, rides and stops exactly as it should, all accompanied by the glorious soundtrack of that legendary flat 6 engine.

Amongst the car’s recent adventures, was a wonderful trip to the Le Mans Classic in 2019. The car attracted lots of admiring glances and was in its element on the near deserted back roads of France.

We are painting a picture, designed to tease and excite you into coveting this lovely 911. There’s lots more fun to be had, so read on and find out more about our terrific Targa.

Close inspection reveals that all the panels are free of any ripples, dents, creases or bumps. The doors shut with that reassuring metallic clunk, a sound that will be familiar to any seasoned 911 owner.

We like the sparkling blue paint finish, though there are a few areas that a new owner may wish to address.

The nose cone bears the marks from a life well-lived, the scratches possibly from luggage dragged in and out of the front luggage bay. The bonnet too has some stone chips. They did not bother our seller and they may well not bother you!

There are also some stone chips to the left-hand rear wing.

The period alloy wheels are in fair condition, though close inspection does reveal the early signs of light corrosion creeping in. A refurb may well be in order. Premium tyres are fitted, as one would expect, Bridgestone Potenzas to the rear, Pirelli P Zeros to the front. Good rubber equates to good ownership in our books.

Remarkable, if you didn’t know the mileage, you could pass the interior off for a car that has done a fraction of the distance. The biggest giveaway is the wear to the gear knob! Lots of snappy gearchanges from owners having fun. Easy to sort, but we think it rather tells the story of the car’s life.

Yes, there is some wear to the grey leather on the driver’s seat bolster and the passenger seat has a mark on the head rest area.

Overall though, the tough as old boots interior has stood the test of time rather well.

Ergonomics are a tad eccentric. Knobs and switches are not always located in the most obvious places, but you soon become accustomed to the car’s inbuilt foibles. Most importantly, everything works!

The door cards, mats and carpets are in decent nick and let’s not forget the practical nature of the car as it has four seats. We do slightly jest as the rear perches are probably best only occupied by those who are vertically challenged. Children will love them.

The glass roof opens as it should, so no excuses for not opening it at every available opportunity when the sun doth shine.

The air conditioning works too if you cannot face the thought of alfresco motoring.

A trawl through the photographs of our car’s underside will reveal nothing of any note. It all looks to be well preserved, clean, and undamaged by the ravages of time. There are various trays and covers in place.

The engine bay is a crowded one and it is awfully hard to get a proper look at the important stuff. This is why a good maintenance history is so important, as it really needs experts with the right equipment to make sure that all is well.

We always like to see plenty of paperwork with a Porsche 911 and there is lots to go at here. There is also the reassurance of a multitude of stamps in the service book from both main agents and specialists.

Our seller had well-known specialist Zuffenhaus carry out a major service in 2018. In addition, the following works were also done:

• Brake fluid change

• Gearbox oil change

• New rear shock absorbers and anti-roll bar links

• New CV boot

• Bleed clutch

• Four-wheel geometry check

He spent the princely sum of £2041.79. The car has been little used since, though of course has been regularly MoTed which confirms the mileage.

You will see that an oil leak has been mentioned, but we are told that this is so slight as to not warrant the expense and disturbance that investigation will cause.

The last tester also commented on a red warning light. This is for the rear spoiler and had the tester known his 911s, he would have understood that this light extinguishes once you drive the car! The miserable so and so would not alter his findings even when his error was pointed out.

The current certificate expires in April of next year.

911 values are on the rise, a testament to the car’s ongoing appeal amongst car enthusiasts. The Targa is a comparatively rare beast and being one of last air-cooled cars to be produced only increases the car’s appeal.

As far as we can tell, there will be no unpleasant surprises for the car’s new owner, and it is just waiting for exciting new adventures.

We estimate the car will sell for between £23,000 and £29,000, a small price for a lot of car. Summer is on the way, so what better time to purchase a Targa-spec Porsche.

Viewing is always encouraged, within government guidelines of course. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.