Mystery: 1970 and 1971 soft-window Targas...do they really exist?

jkarolyi · 04-19-2005, 08:49 PM

OK, time to solve one of the more perplexing mysteries of Porsche production.

We've all seen the rare '69 911s with the soft window option, and I'd always thought that '69 was the last year you could get that. But recently I was reading the 911 & 912 Restorer's Guide to Authenticity and they mentioned that you could special order it all the way until 1971.

I had noticed previously that my '71 911E's owners manual had instructions for folding and caring for the soft window folding top. I thought it was a strange leftover from past years manuals, but now that I read this perhaps not! I don't recall the soft-window instructions in the '72 911E owners manual I used to have. Can anyone double check for me?

So has anyone actually seen or heard of any '70 or '71 models with the soft-window? I have a fantasy in my head of a silver '71 S soft window Targa...mmmmmm.

kycarguy 935 · 04-19-2005, 09:14 PM

I havent seen a 70 or 71 soft window in my 19 years around Porsche's.

Bobboloo · Bobboloo's Garage

Yes,

One of the members here either had or still has a 71' T Sporto softy he rescued from a field in Texas. I'm not sure but I think it was Mark Wilson. Anyway they do exsist.

Interesting note. The soft window was not an option. It actually was standard equipment. It just so happens that the glass window was an option to the softy. So basically most Targas were optioned with glass and only a few were left with the standard soft window. Until it was discontinued around 72' or so.

jkarolyi · 04-19-2005, 09:27 PM

Actually, according to the book, what you said is true for the '68 model only. Starting in '69, it was standard and the soft window a special order option. I'll have to do a search on Mark Wilson and ask him more about his softy.

darkbeer · 04-20-2005, 02:38 AM

solid (non folding ) tops were standard too, & the folding ones were optional...but 'strangely' all USA bound Targas had folding tops....pump up the sticker price, baby !!!!

lots of 67 68 69 softies were "converted" to glass windows by owners trying to look "up to date"....I converted my 67 back to it's original soft window in 1980 (before softies became politically correct)...I remember the guy at the wreaking yard was only too glad to trade me my glass window for a (what he concidered useless) soft window set up....

the more things change...the more they stay the same !!!

jpnovak · 04-20-2005, 06:09 AM

Yes, the SWT was std for 67. Glass was an option in 68 and became standard in 69. The SWT was an option through 71. many early cars were converted to glass and the tops went somewhere. There is some good information in the archives.

For those who have a SWT there is a bit of information missing from the archives. What do the hoop mounting brackets look like? Some good pictures would be fantastic. I know there is a bolt mount for the upper hoop and the lower hoop slips into place. I can make my own bracket but would like to know how it was done at the factory.

tangerine69s · 04-20-2005, 06:24 AM

Hello,

I own a 1968 911L soft window targa and I have the extra manual for soft targa care and operation.

Do you have an extra manual just for the soft top or is it mixed with the regular targa one?

Check the complete manual:
http://www.oldautoradio.com/manualsFrames.htm

Josep

jkarolyi · 10:08 AM

Thanks Bobby for Mark Wilson's name...did a search and came up with these three examples of '70 and '71 Softies!

A sharp gold '71 911E:
71 Soft Window

Here's a thread on LWB softies that includes pics of a gorgeous Irish Green '70 911E and Mark Wilson's blue '71 911T Sporto project, which he sold for about $1000! Wish I had been around when he offered it for sale...
Show me pics of your long wheelbase soft window targas!!!

Mystery solved! Thanks guys.

jkarolyi · 04-20-2005, 01:40 PM

Josep, the instructions for the folding top for my '71 E are included in the regular owner's manual, which covers both coupes and targas.

limble · 04-20-2005, 05:05 PM

I'm looking at an original 70 owners manual and it has the Targa as a folding top and a flexible rear window. Sure wish I had one.

70flatsix · 70flatsix's Garage

From what I have read and learned over the years, the option for a soft/foldable rear targa window ended in 1972. I do not know if any were actually manufactured in 1972. I have seen two 911's with that option that were manufactured in 1971. My Irish Green 911E was manufactured in November of 1969, to be sold in 1970. I've read that when asked how many were manufactured in 1969 and 1970, the factory says "only a handfulll." I'm not sure how many "a handful" is. Again, from what I've read a best guess is less than 100 manufactured with that option for those two years. Can't say about 1972.
Converting to a soft window targa would be quite a project. Carrara Charlie, a member of this BB, was in the process of converting his 911. His insight might be helpful!
The downside of owning a soft window targa:
1) Your car is less secure.
2) It takes you approximately 10 minutes to take the window down, cover both sides of the window with a cotton towel or flannel, and install the boot; or to remove the boot and the towels, zip the window back up and store the towels and the boot.
3) The sound level from the wind, the engine, and the exhaust note in the rear seats is approximately 115 db at 120 kph.
4) The soft rear window will leak a little onto your interior in a gentle rain. and
5) You will be the envy of every other Porsche 911 targa owner who sees your car!
The upside: I recently read that a 911 targa with the soft window option was worth approximately $3-5,000 more than a regular 911 targa.
Hope this helps! Rock

Navaros911 · 05-04-2005, 05:46 AM

I know I would pay extra for the soft window targa.... it just looks a lot better with only that roll bar.

I've got a nice pic from one in one of my Porsche picture books... don't know which year, but I thought it was a '70 model.

When I get home I'll post the pic.

Navaros911 · 05-06-2005, 05:31 PM

Well, here's the picture... still don't know exactly which year, but the chrome makes me think pre 73 and the strip under the door says pre 70... I believe it's still a short wheelbase.

The book says it's a 73, but that is just wrong.

jkarolyi · 05-06-2005, 06:44 PM

The torsion bar cover indicates short-wheelbase '68 or older. Almost all of those were soft-window...the truly rare ones are the'69-'71 long-wheelbase ones.

70SATMan · 05-06-2005, 08:41 PM

Unless the wheels are retrofitted...67 or 68

Gilles Devos · 03-01-2016, 11:23 PM

Hi guys,

Mystery solved ! I have a 911 2.2T 1971 Targa with the M473 option which is 'soft window'. Hereby some pictures of the car and the certificate of authenticity.

Regards,

Gilles

pretzelman · 02-20-2017, 11:38 AM

Thank you for all the comments about the soft window early 911's.
I was the owner of the 1971 911E Gold Soft Window. It was great to read the threads about these cars.
Let me start at the end. The Gold 71 E was a factory special order car. One of 12
shipped to the US after 1969 so I was told by Porsche.
To all the of those who thought the value was uncertain that car was bought in 2008
for a private collection for $ 40,000.00 Today it is probably worth twice that.
I drove it and enjoyed it for 20 years. Bought it in 1988 for 10,000.00
Enjoyed 100,000 miles.
Yes it is rare. But even more rare was 20 years behind the wheel.

witz · 12-25-2019, 03:57 PM

I recently bought a targa softie and was wondering if it was a factory softie or one that was fitted with a soft window. I found the owners manual that had the vin number printed there and instructions for the targa. Built date of 9/69
I guess very few came that way.

Targa68 · Targa68's Garage

But what about the roll bar? Was it solid or had air vents?

Targa68 · Targa68's Garage

My 1968