Better Late than Never - New Member Hello

[2ndTARGA]

I keep seeing other new members make great introductions and finally realized I should have done the same a few months back. I've been reading and benefiting from this site for some time and it's by far the best auto BB I've seen.

I recently bought a '77 Targa to "replace" the '75 Targa I used to own. The sad part is that there were 26 years of Porsche-less existence in the middle. I bought a brand new metallic brown '75 car in Columbus Ohio and auto-crossed it in central Ohio in the late '70s. I added a very neat Castell turbo kit but removed it before I did any real damage. I sold the car in Houston in 1980 before I, or many of us knew what lie ahead for those infamous magnesium cased, smog controlled engines.

This recent purchase is almost identical to my '75, (except for year and color.) I really liked the full bright SS trim and Targa hoop back then - and now. I got it on eBay - without PPI!!! and only since have realized how lucky I am that it doesn't have major problems. (so far) However, there were a few undisclosed "issues" - but fortunately not with the body or the engine. It came with every shop receipt since day one - over $30K all told including bare metal repaint and $10K engine rebuild in 1996. I pitty the poor prior owners. (There were three.) The last one added the 16" Fuchs but I have the original cookie cutters as well.

In the past three months, with your collective help, I've managed the following:

New motor and trans mounts, clutch cable and helper springs (front and rear)
Rebuilt the shift linkage
Did a partial drop to replace the disintegrated sound insulation pad. - huge improvement!
Added the right hand mirror
Replaced the heater flapper valves and cables.
New sunvisors
Repaired the broken inner mount for the driver's door stop - big pain!!

It runs and drives great now and I'm looking forward to making more improvements - aftermarket A/C, remote locking, and one day soon I fear, first gear synchros. And maybe lower it a bit more.

Thanks to everyone who makes this community great. I'm glad I found you.

Ron

[kycarguy 935]

Welcome to the forum and if you aren't already you will be addicted to this site like the rest of us. Thats a really nice clean 77 you have.

[imcarthur]

Looks like you've spent some time detailing. Great looking car. Welcome (belatedly).

Ian

[bobcat0]

Hi 2ndTARGA -

Great looking car...welcome aboard...

[jkarolyi]

Nice car in a cool color. And yes, I would lower it a bit more...Euro height specs.

[450knotOffice]

Well hello there Ron! Your car is in unbelievably good shape for its age (for ANY age actually). It looks great.

It sounds like you've been busy. Keep up the great work.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Looks fantastic - now drop that little darling down a couple of inches and she will look even better.

Welcome.

[ulrichd]

Aaaarg, an uncracked Cork colored dash - I've been looking for one of those forever.

Ulrich

[FastCarFan]

Welcome. I used to autocross with the SCCA in Columbus in the early '80s. Did you autocross at Powell Speedway? Powell was a lot of fun. I autocrossed an '82 RX-7 GS.

In fact, I really caught the Porsche bug while watching 2 Porsches in particular autocross -- an orange '73 911S & a lime green '74 911 Carrera.

Doug

[2ndTARGA]

Thanks Doug -

Yes, Powell Speedway was great - I used to run the OSU Sports Car Club and we auto-X'd there all the time in the early and mid-70's. I ran mostly in a BRG Sunbeam Tiger but later in my brown 911S. I also ran several times with GDAC in Dayton. I was in Texas by 1980 so I probably missed you.

I think the track must be a housing development by now but it was a great place to run.

Ron

[livi]

Stunning - looks brand new ! Particularly like the interior. That color is gorgeous.

Welcome !

[FastCarFan]

Ron,

I did miss you...I grew up in Columbus but was away at college in from 1977-1981. I drove by the site of Powell Speedway a couple of years ago & it is now part of a development. But for MANY years it sat there, unused with weeds growing through the pavement. You would not believe how developed Powell is now. I am sure Old Man Murphy, who owned the track, (or his children) made a TON of $$$ when they finally sold the land.

Sunbeam Tiger...very cool!

Doug

Doug

[goat]

Ron.
Very nice targa, I have seen very few with the chrome trime option, looks sweet.
You are right over the hill from me, hope to meet you some time.
tim.

[Paulporsche]

Looks great. The interior is the same as my 77 coupe. Try lowering the rear to the same or just slightly more than the tire diameter, and the fronts about 5/8" higher than that and you should have an even better look.

[Zef]

Beautiful Classic...welcome aboard !!!

[2ndTARGA]

Thanks to all for the complements and the warm welcomes. I'm now going to move the lowering project to the top of the list. In the repair archives I got there was mention of it being lowered to euro specs back when it was new, but it doesn't look that way to me. One thing I know is that the tire height that the most recent PO chose with the new 16' rims makes for about an inch greater diameter than the original - so the bottom of the car is now higher than before.

I'll look at the lowering threads and send new photos when it's more hunkered down.

Ron

[Miguel Antonett]

Nice looking targa!

If you lower it some it would look even better.