One For The Purists - Picking Up a Carrera Today

[onewhippedpuppy]

[onewhippedpuppy]

Still have two pieces of carpet that were shipped short from the kit and need to be installed, still need to swap on the other original door panel and replace the door stay, and a bunch of odds and ends. Great car though.

[Seahawk]

Nice work.

Seriously, if you ever decide to sell the car give me an opportunity to help

I really have an itch to get another Targa.

[Jim Richards]

Paul, if you don't mind being a little tippy when you drive, try this for your itch:

1991 Porsche 911 C2 Targa Tiptronic - $15000

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Nice work.

Seriously, if you ever decide to sell the car give me an opportunity to help

I really have an itch to get another Targa.

"If."

Car does look really nice though. Wasn't a big fan of the color when you first posted it, but I think I'm coming around. It looks slightly purple?

[Seahawk]

Nice. If it wasn't a Tippy we could be on our way to Hershey!

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Paul, if you don't mind being a little tippy when you drive, try this for your itch:

1991 Porsche 911 C2 Targa Tiptronic - $15000

[tabs]

I thought you were talking about a REAL Carerra from the 50's or even a 73 RS....looks like anybody can slap a Carrera name tag on anythng these days...

[RANDY P]

......OH NO, NOW I WANT A TARGA!

DAMN YOU!!!

rjp

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Nice work.

Seriously, if you ever decide to sell the car give me an opportunity to help

I really have an itch to get another Targa.

Originally Posted by BReif61

"If."

Car does look really nice though. Wasn't a big fan of the color when you first posted it, but I think I'm coming around. It looks slightly purple?

We'll be in touch Paul. The color is really what I would describe as a silver blue, though in the right light it has a little purple to it. I think it's a fantastic color on the 911, right up there with Polar Silver and Arena Red in my book.

[fastfredracing]

Looking great Matt, that should also be posted in " the right stance thread". Nice work!!

[911boost]

Matt, looking good. I like the wheels and the color combo. I just can't seem to fall in love with those lower front valences, I don't know why but dang I find them ugly...

How much noise do the Targa's make at highway speeds?

Bill

[mikeesik]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

And not one of those new fangled 996 Carreras like I normally buy, this is a good old fashioned "real" Porsche. Normally I wouldn't have two "project" cars at one time, but this was simply too good to pass up and only one hour away. I made the deal on Wednesday and am heading back to pick it up today. Here's the major details:

1988 Carrera Targa Commemorative Edition - special edition to celebrate 250,000 911s built. Exclusive diamond blue metallic paint, metallic blue interior with Ferry Porsche signature seats, color matched 15" Fuchs (included but not installed)
54,000 miles (!)
G50 gearbox with Quaife LSD and shortened 5th gear, RSR lightened flywheel, HD clutch
Safety devices 6-point bolt in cage w/harness bar and harness
Momo wheel with quick release
Momo racing seat with sliders (not installed)
RS door panels
RSR bumpers, RS America rear spoiler
16x8 & 9 HRE wheels
Fully rebuilt suspension with monoballs, sway bars, 23/29 torsion bars, custom valved Bilsteins, turbo tie rods, strut brace
993TT front brakes, 928 S4 rear brakes, 911 turbo master cyliner
The best part - recent total engine rebuild with 9.9:1 P&Cs, rebuilt heads with new valves and studs, boattailed crankcase, lightened and knife edged crank, rebuilt lightened and shot peened rods, full balance, Autothority MAF, headers, and Phase 9 race mufflers.

The car overall is in fantastic shape and awesome to drive. Despite the work being done the suspension is actually very livable, the current owner lives at the end of a rough one mile gravel road and it handled it very well. It's a car that was built to be a PCA Club Race car, and it did a few races around the 2000 timeframe. Only four races on the current engine build. I spoke with the engine builder (GK Ltd - super nice guy) who said that it was built to be a reliable race engine with minimal maintenance and still streetable, he said that it should last nearly forever if only used on the street, DE, etc. The current owner essentially parked the car in 2000 when he moved to the country and started a farm, it has seen maybe 150 miles worth of occasional use since then. All of the original parts are included - 15" Fuchs, bumpers, door panels, rear interior side panels, original mechanical bits, etc.

My plan for this one is to remove the cage, take care of the deferred maintenance, find some SSIs and a good sport muffler so I can have heat again, then drive the hell out of it. I go through a lot of cars, many posted here for your amusement, but I haven't been this excited about one for a long time. My last two nights were late ones because I couldn't sleep, I have a feeling the Maserati is going to do a lot of sitting.

Curious.
Can you still find tires for the 15" Fuch's?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Matt, looking good. I like the wheels and the color combo. I just can't seem to fall in love with those lower front valences, I don't know why but dang I find them ugly...



How much noise do the Targa's make at highway speeds?



Bill

Personally I like the bumpers just because they get rid of the God forsaken 1980s accordion impact bumpers. Many a beautiful car design was ruined by those damn things. I think removing the bumpers also shaves about 50 lbs worth of weight. I still have the old ones, so someday the next owner can change them back if they like their car heavier and uglier.

The wind noise isn't bad, honestly probably comparable to any older car, be it coupe or sedan. The only real noticeable wind noise is across the top of the windshield, but you can still carry on a conversation or use the phone. Plus the exhaust is loud enough that it doesn't matter. I spent a lot of time adjusting both the top and window frames to get it pretty good. I would rate the seals and top as good but not excellent condition, new seals would probably knock out the last little bit of extra wind noise. Of course it doesn't matter with the top off, and that's how these things are best anyway.

Mike, both 15" and 16" sizes are becoming a challenge, though you still have a few options in 911 sizes. I essentially am running a 930 setup on the Carrera, and the RE11s are one of the few, if only, tires available. Fortunately they are damn good summer tires.

[911boost]

I totally agree about the lack of accordians, but I prefer the look of say the Yellowbird's bumpers. I just find the large oil coolers angular opening distracting to the curves of the car everywhere else...

Thanks, I have always been curious as to how noisy they are on the interstate. I had an 86 cab and it was difficult to have a phoen conversation at 75 mph due to the noise.

Bill

[onewhippedpuppy]

I haven't been in a Carrera cab, but everything that I've read indicates that the Targa is quieter than a cab but louder than a coupe. Makes sense, though in a 25 year old car the upkeep is a major factor as well.

[McLovin]

I had a CE like that. I bought it sight unseen (other than pictures) and had it shipped to my house.

When I saw it in person, I loved it. Loved the silver/blue exterior color (it's really a nice color on a 911), loved the plush silver carpeting, and esp. loved the metallic blue leather interior.

That one was a Targa. I've had coupes, targas and cabs. As far as noise, although it seems odd, the cab is easier to get a good seal on then the targa. I think the hard targa roof makes it more difficult, the overall flexibility of the soft top allows it to conform better to the windows and headers, and makes wind noise and water sealing easier.

But, they both can be made to seal quite well with enough time and money.

I only own Targas these days, though. I like the fresh air, almost always drive without the top on, but don't really like the look or driving experience of the cab. It's too open, too unsecure for parking topless, and it has way more cowl shake and flex than the Targa. It's too flimsy feeling for me.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Personally I like the bumpers just because they get rid of the God forsaken 1980s accordion impact bumpers. Many a beautiful car design was ruined by those damn things.

Concur. The below pic is of my 1983 SC, taken a month or so after we bought the farm...the weeds were cut but the road and driveway were still a mess.

From this angle it looks great (and I loved the car) but the front end was such a compromise of styling and NHTSA requirements it still looks odd to me. Beautiful car, but not as stunning as the pre-accordion, or, for my taste, as good looking as a 964.

However, Matt, I'll take the "Monica" bumper car off your hands when you are ready.

Edit: My 964 Targa wasn't quiet at speed but it wasn't annoying.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Coming full circle with this one, it is now for sale. Lots of pretty pictures too.

1988 911 Targa Commemorative Edition - 55k, $38k+ Invested, 986/996 Trades Considered

[onewhippedpuppy]

Closing this one out, it headed towards CO on a trailer today. I hope the new owner has fun with it, because it is a really good car that I spent a lot of time sorting out. Personally I enjoyed the car but didn't love it, watching it leave didn't make me sad. Maybe because it represented a ton of work and I didn't really get to drive it much? I think its lack of usability hurt it in my book, I tend to like cars that are equal parts fun and practical. With no A/C it was pretty much unusable for daily driving in the summer. This was about as good as Carreras get and I still prefer the water-pumpers, blasphemy! On that theme I'm going to look at a Boxster S tomorrow, more to come.......

[aigel]

You probably don't have a mountain road or canyon road 20 minutes away which you could hit early in the morning, while the family is still asleep and while it is nice and cool ... otherwise you would have gotten more use out of it!

Looks like you made a few bucks. Cleaning it up and marketing it properly probably was worth your time.

I have project fever, but it makes no sense. I don't have time between family, work and a gazillion other hobbies.

G