Targa vs coupe differences

[Mighty Quinn]

I have a 69 targa and it’s a project, I knew that.

It has way more rot than car now that I’m at bare metal, and the torsion tube is finished!

I have located a coupe chassis with a crashed front end that has almost no rot.

My front clip has never been hit and has minimal rust.

I want to bring the back of the coupe and the front clip from A pillars forward and make the two become one.

My question is regarding my doors.... are they much different than a coupe door?
I don’t have door glass and am wondering if glass and regulators differ from coupe to targa?

Also, my targa has a bit more sheet metal surrounding the passenger footwell area where heater tube emerges from the rocker panel. The coupe I’m looking at doesn’t have that extra layer of sheet metal and nothing has been cut or rotted away.

Is there a bit more added sheet metal to these areas when a chassis was destined to be a targa?

[jac1976]

Quick answer. The Targa had added structural support for torsional rigidity to compensate for the lack of a solid roof. The doors differ in that the Targa’s have no window frames. I believe, but am not sure, that the glass itself is different. Someone else with much more knowledge will chime in.

[Mighty Quinn]

Perfect answer, thanks.

My doors are mint and the donor chassis doesn’t come with doors so I wanted to make sure before pulling the trigger on the purchase

[rattlsnak]

Think the doors are the same (not including the brace on the inside) The window frames are removable on the coupe doors.

[dicklague]

Differences? Well the targa looks like a Targa. You know a topless 911 with a handle. And a coupe looks like a coupe.

the doors are the same.

[roblav]

Targas have structural re-enforcement at both rear sides (corners) of the cockpit. I can't recall with confidence, but I believe re-enforcements also existed on Targas at the two front corners of the cockpit as well. You can probably take a coupe and then weld in the sheet steel.

The rear fenders are also different... and probably the rear cowl.

[Arne2]

From a legal standpoint, you may want to research how your local DMV will title/register the resulting car. Since the VINs are located on the A-pillar, front slam panel and the trunk floor near the smuggler's box, you could end up with mis-matched VINs (A-pillar from coupe, front clip from targa). They may require a state-assigned VIN and reconstructed/salvage title. If you are planning to keep the car when done, it may not matter much. But it could have a bearing on future sale of the car, and some insurers may balk at covering a reconstructed car.

[pmax]

Yes, targa are for fun, coupes for serious business.

[RSBob]

Originally Posted by dicklague

Differences? Well the targa looks like a Targa. You know a topless 911 with a handle. And a coupe looks like a coupe.

the doors are the same.

Loved this answer. So Dick what’s the differences between a man and a woman?

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Difference between the two? With a Targa, the driver can reach his hand out the window and wipe the taillight lenses clean, midcorner! Can't do that in a Coupe.

*Shameless plagiarism of the original observation by member, tirwin.

[jac1976]

Originally Posted by RSBob

So Dick what’s the differences between a man and a woman?

If this was Jeopardy, you win.