1972 Porsche 911S Targa

Porsche rated their 2.4-liter boxer, fuel-injected, six-cylinder engine at 190 horsepower. The power from the engine demanded a stronger transmission than the early Type 901 'dog-leg' box. The newly developed Type 915 provided much stronger internals and a new shift pattern, with the first gear on the same plane as the second rather than being offset to the left. The dry-sump oil tank was moved ahead of the right-rear wheelhouse to provide better balance. Standard equipment on the 'S' models included Forged lightweight Fuchs 15-inch alloy wheels, with rim width increased by half-an-inch to six inches. Another standard feature, which was introduced as an option in 1968, was the Targa's heated glass rear window.

This example was originally sold new in California and features an engine upgraded to 2.7 Carrera RS specification, but still retains its original E-series 'narrow body' appearance. The engine upgrade was performed in February 2004, with correct, new 90-millimeter Mahle pistons and cylinders. The engine currently produces 210 horsepower and 202 foot-pounds of torque, a substantial improvement over the original stock, lower-compression, 2.4-liter variant.

This was the 26th of only 989 U.S.-spec 911S Targas produced for the 1972 model year. It left the factory wearing special-order Silver Metallic paint; later in its life it was repainted in black. Factory sports seats with Black Watch tartan fabric inserts highlight the black interior, along with charcoal Perlon carpeting.

Currently, the car has just over 128,000 original miles. It has full instrumentation, a stainless steel Monty exhaust, and a Wevo gear shift. There is also an owner's manual and tool kit, which includes a jack.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2014