$800 for targa work? too much or outa luck?

[jfw834]

Well, my 79 targa has a roof that is not in horrible shape but for cosmetics could use freshening up. I took it to get an estimate to remove/replace the vinyl and headliner and refit it to my car so that the gaps at front and back are correct. guy said that the actual fit of the top is very good and that the rubber is not bad either. so he proceeded to quote me $800 for leaving the inner workings as is and just redoing the vinyl and headliner.

he came on a good recomendation so i'm sure the job will be done well but to me that just seems REALLY steep when the top just needs "refreshing" as he put it. He said it would be OEM materials and over the phone he said the worst case scenario would be a "complete rebuild" of the top for $800. But when I got there he said "oh it isn't" that bad but then still quoted me $800 for a "refreshening".

i don't have time right now to do any work on the top myself and wouldn't trust myself to do it right either.....what do you guys think?

[scottb]

Dan Pechtel at Cars, Inc. in New Jersey will do the whole thing for about the same price. True, you'll have to spend some money on shipping and insurance, but Dan is reputed to be THE BEST when it comes to Targa tops. Palo Alto upholstery is reputed to be good, but I don't know their pricing.

If it were my top, I'd ship it to Dan or up to PA.

[bfegan]

Dan's the man! He did my top[ and the result is great. Rebuilt from a to z...$850. I consider it $ well spent.

[K. Roman]

I spent a grand for a complete job with new rain gutter, rubber, respray of metal parts, replacing some broken inner ribs, new vinyl top, pretty much everything. It looks brand new and fits perfectly. In Palo Alto.

used to called TargaTops.com sites gone though. Anyone know the new name?

[dandrews64]

targatops.com is palo alto upholstery.

they did steve911's top and he likes it.

they quoted my around 800 for K. Romans job minus rain gutters and inner ribs.

K did they do the windshield and or targa bar seals at all? or who did if at all?

Anybody got a Marin or Sonoma county referral? Franzini's in San Rafael?

Thanks, and good luck!

[Drago]

I'm taking mine in today to a guy JW recommended locally here in Seattle.

Karl at Paul's Upholstery in the University District...JW said he's been doing Targa tops for almost 30 years.

$400 for new OEM vinyl and headliner...and I already have a headliner for it.

[ruf-porsche]

Buy the top material and a six pack of beer and wait for a nice hot sunny day to work on the Top. Cost me less than $200.00 to do the top myself.

This was my first time at recovering the top to a PORSCHE.





Thread can be found at

targa top stretch!!

[jfw834]

I think i would be really not ok with shipping my top to someone not local....i guess most people are agreeing with me that it seems a bit steep, but maybe thats just how it is. I know this guy would do a bang up job. I think i will get a couple more estimates around LA. Seems like I should be able to get almost a full rebuild for that quote which means that mine (which only needs vinyl and headliner) could possibly be done for more like 500 which is what I was excpecting.

anyways, i'm probably going to hold off for now and wait. got other things in mind anyways and it's not like i use the top that much out here!!

ruf-porsche, your top looks great. where are you located, i'll hire you!

[scottb]

JFW: Not much risk in shipping it. UPS insurance is only like $.35 per $100 of value. Shops like Cars, Inc. and PA are really experienced, and the quality of the work first rate. If I ever need a new Targa top, either it'll be DIY or I'll ship it up north or to New Jersey.

If you're worried about getting hosed, keep in mind that places like Cars, Inc. and PA Upholstery have been around for awhile, and wouldn't be around much longer if they got a bad reputation. Other than the shipping and insurance expenses, there's not much downside IMHO.

[K. Roman]

Originally posted by dandrews64
targatops.com is palo alto upholstery.
they quoted my around 800 for K. Romans job minus rain gutters and inner ribs.

K did they do the windshield and or targa bar seals at all? or who did if at all?

Thanks, and good luck!

No, I purchased a targa bar seal and installed it myself about a year ago.
And I think my front windshield may need a new seal too.

Things still leak to be honest. But the top looks good, and there is much less wind noise in the cabin.

[70SWT]

Originally posted by scottb
JFW: Not much risk in shipping it. UPS insurance is only like $.35 per $100 of value.

But, be prepared to go a few rounds when trying to make a claim for something they destroyed (in my experience, destroyed with what looked like extreme prejudice...) They hate paying a claim.

[dj393]

I will do a complete refresh of your top for $600 (including headliner, replacement foam, webbing and new vinyl skin as well as refinish of rain gutters.) I will try to post some pics of tops I have done. Tom Charlesworth (the National Porsche Club of America Tech Chairman) has seen my work if you need a reference. He said that my tops look like concourse - Feel free to contact him. He has referred several people to me. I also do seat recovers as well if anyone needs their seats re-done.

[jfw834]

only thing is with shipping it out, they don't have the car to fine tune the fit once it is recovered..... isn't that a big advantage to have both car and top when recovering? mine is shrunk and doesn't fit quite right with larger than normal gaps in rear and wavy front, etc.

[scottb]

Originally posted by jfw834
only thing is with shipping it out, they don't have the car to fine tune the fit once it is recovered..... isn't that a big advantage to have both car and top when recovering? mine is shrunk and doesn't fit quite right with larger than normal gaps in rear and wavy front, etc.

That's a valid point. You should call Dan Pechtel and discuss it with him. From what I understand, his customer service and follow-up are really good, and I'm sure he'd be willing to help you "tweak" the top to get it just right. He's got a very good reputation.

[bfegan]

Dan's instructions for fitting the top upon its return are excellent. He tells you what and how to do it. There is more to it than just replacing the vinyl and the headliner.

Apparently the Carrera tops were originally assembled with a glue which has not held up. If you have a late model Carrera, the odds are high that the glue has turned to goo and the burlap and everything associated with it will have to be replaced as well.

Even if you don't use Dan, call him. He is very willing to give advice and discuss the tops. He drives a Targa himself.

[wowzer911]

Buy the restoration kit for $200 and DIY

[geof33]

To the DIY thing... I've done a few. It isn't "hard" but it is challenging if you don't have some good wrench sense. There are numerous articles on how etc. Some are good, some kinda suck.

It's a tough call to know if the webbing is shot on the inside. If it is, then the project becomes A TON more difficult. Most likely the burlap, foam etc is ready to go.

One piece of advice if you DIY, ok, two... patience is a virtue, and get EVERY ounce of old glue off you possibly can.

Good luck. BTW 800.00 for just a vinyl/headliner job. Too much.

[Drago]

Just got my car back yesterday. Karle at Paul's Auto Upholstery in Seattle custom made and fit the outer vinyl. I had a headliner that the PO gave me. $400 out the door. Now if I could just find the time to repaint the Targa bar...



I took more pic's but they all came out blurry. Maybe I'll hire Island911 to be my personal photographer

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I just ordered a kit from Auto's International. will be sure to post a step by step in the next few weeks.

[Chuck Moreland]

I've installed these myself 2 or 3 times. It really isn't that hard and I've been very happy with the results, even the first time.