'75 Targa pros/cons

[MarkGC]

looking at a '75 Targa for $5995. Claims updated studs ..... what are the pros/cons of the 1975 model year....I know its not the most desirable, but any input will help!

Thanks

[yelcab1]

75 Targa is not worth $6K. Move up to an SC. One listed below for 9.5K but I am sure he negotiates.

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/33880637.html

[kach22i]

Both deals look good to me, then again I am a sucker.

[2.7RACER]

MarkGC,
I'm sure the low price is attractive. I would take the car to a good local independent porsche shop and get an inspection. Compression and Leak down test, oil leaks, suspension condition, rust, etc. Is there a record of recent service, like clutch replacement, other motor work?T hese old cars cost just as much as the new ones to work on. You can easily put 2 0r 3 thousand dollars into this car right away and still have a 5 or 6 thousand dollar car. If you can do most of the work yourself and enjoy that kind of thing and don't need the car for everyday use, it can be fun. If you can squeeze your budget to go for the $9500 SC, you will get a better car and less hassles. Like Bruce Anderson says, buy the newest example that your budget allows. Always remember a 1975 is a thirty year old car, everything is subject to failure and need of repair. Think about this carefully before you jump in.

[MAS]

"75 Targa is not worth $6K"

Huh? If it's in decent shape, it seems like a good price to me. What do you think it should go for? Less than a 912E?

To be sure, SC's are great cars... except that you could easily end up buying a "bulletproof" one that is shortly in need of a complete engine rebuild.

Before I bought my 77 Targa, I looked at three SC's. Two of them were nice (one an 82, very nice) but way out of my price range. The other, a 78 was more reasonably priced, but in my opinion was gutless. The 77 911S I ended up buying had way more b*lls than the 78.

-MAS

[deanp]

I paid slightly more for than that for my '76 Targa last fall. CA car some dried seals but no rust - anywhere. Came with loads of documentation, including a receipt and description of a rebuild with time-certs. PPI checked out with some oil leaks and it needs a carpet. Bought it to tinker with and drive, not concours, so no regrets.

I like the narrow body cars, and I would've preferred a long hood, but I liked the idea of the '76 being galvanized.

[yelcab1]

75 targa:
Cons':
1. magnesium case costs way too much for any engine work.
2. Thermal reactor makes the engine run too hot, needing expensive engine work too soon.
3. Body is not galvanized, possible rust issues
4. 30 years old interior, what shape is it in?
5. Skinny body, not as attractive to many as the wider body
6. When you go to sell it, you will have to deal with the stigma of a magnesium case.
7. your $6K will be $9K very easily, and very soon.
8. targa less demand than coupe.
9. May need tensioner upgrade

Pros:
1. A little lighter than an SC

1980SC
Cons:
1. may need tensioner upgrade (so does the 75)
2. may be heavier than 75, (coupe lighter than targa), but more HP.
3. Potential head studs issues

Pros:
1. Galvanized body
2. Alumimum case
3. owner claims flawless !
4. new paint
5. coupe lighter and more desirable than targa that always leaks
6. better resale
7. wide body (relative to 75)
8. 100 pelicanites will look at it for you. (vash is always game)
9. you may spend only $8.5K-$9K, and that is it.

[MarkGC]

Hey Yelcab....how did you like the GT/4? looking at one of those too, but having just sold my '82 GTSi not sure I want to go the 'F' car route EVER again......

[MAS]

In the spirit of friendly debate (keeping in mind my obvious bias)

75 targa:
Cons':

1. magnesium case costs way too much for any engine work.

Question... would this apply to all earlier 911s then? Since they had magnesium cases? (I'm genuinely wondering, not trying to make a point)

2. Thermal reactor makes the engine run too hot, needing expensive engine work too soon.

-This is assuming that the car still has thermal reactors. All of the mid-year cars I've seen had these removed ages ago. Also, one could infer from this that a 75 should have had *several* rebuilds by now, or else it would hardly be running after 30 years.


3. Body is not galvanized, possible rust issues

True... and true of all earlier cars. Although I think the 75's had partial galvanization.

4. 30 years old interior, what shape is it in?

-You could very well ask the same question of a 26 year old SC.


5. Skinny body, not as attractive to many as the wider body

-True. Although if I recall, there's only a small difference in the rear flares.


6. When you go to sell it, you will have to deal with the stigma of a magnesium case.

-Very true. Witness this topic.

7. your $6K will be $9K very easily, and very soon.

You could easily spend an extra 3k quickly on any 911.

8. targa less demand than coupe.

True. But the Targas way more fun in the summer (in my biased opinion). As for leaking... the coupes aren't that leakproof either... unfortunately

9. May need tensioner upgrade

True. Would also apply to SCs too, I think.


-MAS

[kach22i]

Good debate/breakdown.

From what little I know, the 1975 and 1976 did not galvanize the roof only, everything else is like the 1977 onward, or midyear 1976 if you want to split hairs.

Targa aint got no roof.

Get a PPI on the 75 targa and start the learning process first hand, end of debate.

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by MarkGC
Hey Yelcab....how did you like the GT/4? looking at one of those too, but having just sold my '82 GTSi not sure I want to go the 'F' car route EVER again......

Mark
The GT4 is fun, but not addicting like the 911.
The sound of 4 webers sucking down air and fuel just a few feet from your ears sure is fun. Just watch the maintenance, it costs to keep it running. Oh, I can stop any oil leak on the 911, I gave up on the GT4 and just put a pan underneath. The italians don't know how to design a pee-less engine
By the way, the GT4 has a good 30HP more than the 82GTSi.

[yelcab1]

I have lucked out on my 80SC. Bought for $8500 with 17 inch wheels and new tires, CD changer and a fresh interior, and no broken studs.

Since then, I added $1200 for necessary work like tensioner upgrades, fixed the CIS injection little issues, changed fluids, tuned up, oil hoses, dedal bushings, hood shocks etc.

I used up another $800 for unnecessary stuff like 930S steering wheel, some tools yet used, brake lines, ignition wires.

It is now bulletproof, although I am secretly hoping the tranmission blows so I can get into it.

Seriously, you can get a very nice clean bullet proof ready-to-drive never-worry-again 911SC for $9-$10K in California. There are still plenty to go around. Why take a chance on a 911S?

[exc911ence]

When you start weighing pros and cons, you might start to realize that no 911 is really worth the risk.

65-73
RUST!!!

74-77
Pulled head studs
Chain tensioner failure

78-82
Broken head studs
Chain tensioner failure

84-89
Broken head studs

964
Oil leaks
Dual distributor belt failure

993
Hmm... finally a good one although only time will tell!

996
Porous engine cases
Early engine failures

The moral of the story then? If you don't have a 993. your 911 is total crap. At least that's the consensus of all of you naysayers out there.

The 75 911S is a great car... I know, I had one. You're not going to find a mid-year car that hasn't been rebuilt and still has its original exhaust system. With a mild rebuild, you're looking at an easy 200+hp (mine was dynoed at 220hp) and with the car weighing in around 1125 kilos (targa), it'll move!

Everyone here seems to have an opinion on the mid-year cars but how many have actually owned one? I bet the number could be counted on one hand as opposed to the massive number of "experts" that just spout the same old BS that they've read or heard second hand.

Oh yeah, a 75 911S is a steal at $6K. Period. If you don't buy it, send me the details!

[kach22i]

If I looked at the car the way we have, without ever knowing the joy of driving one, I would swear every Porsche owner was completly NUTS.

[Shuie]

If it is straight and it runs, its a bargain at $6k

[MarkGC]

http://ep.com/js/mi/c0/n0/1699229.html

I had a '69 911E that I ground up restored years ago, including switching to non-leveling suspension....it was fun, just thinking about getting back into Porsches now.

[KobaltBlau]

Originally posted by yelcab1
Mark
The GT4 is fun, but not addicting like the 911.

More detail pleeeze....on the driving comparison (any other ferrari owners welcome to jump in!)

thanks yelcab, I have always liked the GT4 but never driven one.

Andy

[MarkGC]

KobaltBlau: my 308 GTSi (think Magnum P.I.)....sits as low or lower than a 914; heat from radiator up front and engine in back and sun from above made in a very exhausting car to drive; very noisy (nothing sounds like a Ferrari 'flat' engine @ redline inches from your head); very heavy car, my 911 was very light in compairison; did not feel as tight in corners as my 911, not as quick in acceleration.

Downside: it attracts crowds like heck! No such thing as a 5 minute gas stop; vandalism is a very real threat ....and reliability issues mean you must have: cell phone, AAA delux membership, emergency cash and preferably a strong passenger to help push it off the road.....

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by KobaltBlau
More detail pleeeze....on the driving comparison (any other ferrari owners welcome to jump in!)

thanks yelcab, I have always liked the GT4 but never driven one.

Andy

Fun side:
1. Wonderful sounding engine, at 7K RPM like a jet taking off.
2. Straight line performance with 4 carbs is like a jet being thrown off the USS Enterprise

Cons:
1. 14 inch wheels and tires are limted to HR rated tires (130MPH)so I don't even push it
2. 3000 lbs with me in it and a fulll tank of gas so I can't toss it
3. Slow steering (it is 30 years old) so it takes more effort if I want to toss it
4. Brakes, what brakes?
5. hand brakes, what hand brakes?
6. AC, what AC?
7. Engineering, what's engineering?
8. Reliability, rely on your AAA membership and your ATT cell phone
9. Remember to check your fire extinguisher, you need it.

The well adjusted webers will make you forget the con's though.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by MarkGC
KobaltBlau: my 308 GTSi (think Magnum P.I.)....

My buddy has a 1981, red of course. The mechanical fuel injection heats up after running. He struggles with it to get it started again, something about tiny bubbles in the line.

It attracts a crowd, people even take pictures of it.

Once the gas throttle got stuck in the open position. He had to shut it off at highway speed and pop the cltuch to start again- scary stuff. Glad he got it fixed.

The car is an investment (+$30,000), better left sitting than driving unlike a Porsche. Love it, hate it.

Note: His car sits much higher than mine. Note to self, measure front height.