Targa Skin

[strep]

Just got off the phone with Kevin. The body guy that some recommended in Los Angeles. He does not paint the Targa skin. He will send it out to be powder coated. Is this OK I have heard things about not powder coating this part. I think, not sure.
Thanks

[ScottKelly911]

I'm assuming you are talking about the Targa Bar, mine's powder coated semi gloss black and has a really nice finish. I would suggest it.

[MikeSid]

I think you are talking about the targa bar. When new, the part is simply painted, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't powder coat it. I also don't see any reason to why you should.

[strep]

Scott Kelly do you have a pic.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Not to hijack this thread, but is there a definitive listing somewhere of which years/models had the stainless Targa bar and which had the black ones? Was there ever a factory standard (not special order) "other color" or treatment of the Targa bar? Just curious.

[MAPC]

I thought that it was brushed stainless through 73 and black after that.

[Silveresrty911S]

Originally posted by MAPC
I thought that it was brushed stainless through 73 and black after that.

Yep. Still made of stainless but painted satin black thru early 90's targas

[Jerome Ryals]

Also not to hijack this thread I have a targa bar skin S/S for sale, needs a good cleaning up. Jerome

[ScottKelly911]

Originally posted by strep
Scott Kelly do you have a pic.

no close ups, but you can see what it looks like on my early car in this pic

[FranksPlace2]

My '77 is brushed stainless, not black.

Frank

[MikeSid]

I've seen a lot of the middle year cars with brushed stainless and always wondered when exactly the painted bar came into play. Everything I've read seems to indicate that the factory produced brushed stainless through 1974 and changed to painted for the 1975 model year. I'm not sure if brushed was optional from 75 though 77. Clearly, all the SC's were produced with painted bars.

At this point, so many owners have changed their targa bar finish that only the concours crowd would be concerned with this inquiry. If you're not going for strict originality, it's simply a matter of personal preference. Powder coating, while not used by the factory at any time, would still be a very durable and attractive finish, and would resemble the look of a painted targa bar.

[scottb]

Originally posted by strep
Just got off the phone with Kevin. The body guy that some recommended in Los Angeles.

If Kevin says it, I treat his word as gospel!

[Dan in Pasadena]

What is "Kevin's" last name, shop name and number, city? If he's that good, let some of us other guys at him.

[scottb]

Kevin's Pelican name is KevinP73. Here's his info:

Automotive Innovations and Restoration
15020 Oxnard St. Unit E
Van Nuys, Ca. 91411
818 786 2181

[KevinP73]

I've gotten into the habit of powder coating Targa bars only because painting them got to be too problematic. My guess is that all those years of being Armour All'd with the topand all the silicone sealent used to seal the car from the elements left the part so impregnated with silicone that paintng was next to impossible. Also spraying semi gloss paint is a bit of a PITA.
In some cases I like to match the car's color on the bar but thats a real no no with the purists.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Scott and also Kevin

Kevin, I am looking at a Targa that has a 1/2" - 3/4" hole drilled in the exact top center (presumably for a cell phone antenna in the past). The antenna has been removed and put a rubber plug put in there, but the Targa bar is dented around ythe hole for an inch or so around it.

Have you ever repaired this type of damage? Is welding in a repair piece, metal finishing and repainting/powdercoating present too big a problem to be worth doing because it is stainless? What does it cost to just buy a good condition used Targa bar (still needing paint probably)from say, PartsHeaven or someone, versus fixing this one?

[KevinP73]

I'd just buy a good one. Stainless isn't that hard to weld but why bother when used covers are easy to find and cheap. I think I've got a good one in the spare parts locker.

[safe]

From the top of mt head: I think the bar became black as standard with the SC, but with brushed finish as an option. 74-77 Carrerras has black bars and I thing black bars were an option for the standard 74-77.
Its all in "Original Porsche" by Peter Morgan.

Edit: It became standard 1980 (black trim M496).

[Tom F2]

Kevin, would you, please, tell me what is the specification for the powder coat, e.g., percent gloss, material, etc.? I have my local powder coater do engine sheet metal in 30% gloss black polyester. It's close to the same as the window trim on my Targa, but I don't know whether it will be a good match if I have my entire Targa bar done with it. Thank you.

[KevinP73]

I really don't have a % number on that. The shop I work with has allways provided a satisfactory product so I haven't needed to explore the details.