Softwindow Kit Price if available? A survey for prices...

[virtuoso]

After having some conversations about this topic (my car has a conversion kit in it) I wanted to test the market and answer some questions...

If someone could provide a softwindow conversion kit for Targas, what would people be willing to pay for the whole kit?

Details:
-The kit would be high quality but would not be specifically for restoration but more for custom conversions

-The kit might not be exactly like the original versions but could have a different way of functioning instead of the tension handles

-The could contain the tonneau cover (is that necessary for everyone to be interested?) or not...thoughts?

-The kit would include the top, the top and bottom hoops, and tension handles with hardware (a full kit to install with instructions)

Give me some idea what price people would pay and what kind of interest there is for this product. Thanks all!

[Joeaksa]

Dave,

I bought a parts kit from Mark Wilson recently. It is not complete and will need to have various extra bits sourced and others made outright.

Paid $900 or so (forget exactly the amount) and as you cannot get these parts elsewhere, felt very glad to find them. For a complete kit "almost ready to bolt on" would feel that $2000 or so would not be unreasonable. Would be nice to see it at $1500 but not sure thats possible.

Joe A

[virtuoso]

Thanks for the input Joeaksa!

[JonT]

I would be interested in such a conversion but would have to see more pics of the final result and working components to make a decision.

[virtuoso]

Just looking for pricing ideas at this point assuming it works as the original did and the quality is good (if not better). Mine appears to be a tad thicker than the original but I am not expert on these.

Mine is shown here for some basic reference on quality:

[virtuoso]

bump

[rsNINESOOPER]

I would be very interested in a Softwindow "conversion kit" provided that it was as close to the original without sacrificing affordability or qualithy. A kit that supplies everything needed, hard parts, soft top, and detailed instructions w/ templates for mounting locations etc. so that NO other parts would have to be sourced would be of interest.
As far as price is concerned I would think that $800-$1200 tops would be the price range to target. Anything more and I would personally rather source an original set up at the $1500-$2000 mark. I have been involved in production fab metal/wood for some time and after seeing what a softwindow set up consists of I would think a decent profit margin exists if one were to produce them.

I would buy one-

[virtuoso]

rsNINESOOPER...thanks for the feedback!
The idea would be to source a kit complete with an option for a tonneau cover or without.

[snbush67]

I could see paying 1000.00, I wonder how much weight would be saved?

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by rsNINESOOPER
I would be very interested in a Softwindow "conversion kit" provided that it was as close to the original without sacrificing affordability or qualithy. A kit that supplies everything needed, hard parts, soft top, and detailed instructions w/ templates for mounting locations etc. so that NO other parts would have to be sourced would be of interest.
As far as price is concerned I would think that $800-$1200 tops would be the price range to target. Anything more and I would personally rather source an original set up at the $1500-$2000 mark. I have been involved in production fab metal/wood for some time and after seeing what a softwindow set up consists of I would think a decent profit margin exists if one were to produce them.

I would buy one-

Agree with the above except that trying to source original parts is almost impossible these days. The one gent who was selling bits on the left coast has closed shop and thats it as far as I know of.

Might be a good time to look into our making parts... and doing it ourselves.

[virtuoso]

I have heard through other threads that those parts are virtually non existant. I saw one set online recently that was a tattered mess for $2,100! I think we can make up a very nice set for ourselves and help out some fellow Targa owners. I am not interested in making a business of this just to offset the setup costs of fabrication.

[70flatsix]

While I was looking/shopping for a 911 targa in 2000/2001, I was told by several people that a targa with the soft/foldable rear window option installed was "worth" $3,000 more than a comparable targa with the the hard glass window installed. Not sure if that price difference was accurate then or even now, but it is food for though if you are thinking about making the conversion. In my humble opinion, I do think the 911 targa with the soft/foldable rear window option is more attractive, but it isn't as practical!

[virtuoso]

Mine makes me feel a little better about the safety of my little "Porsche nuts" that ride in the back more than a Cab would...I did not like the installment quality of mine but am going to redo it as a test for a kit.
People ask a lot of questions when they see mine is a 74 with the conversion.

[Allenk]

These guys claim to make the rear window.
http://www.worlduph.com/porsche4T.htm#TOPS

I don't know the cost.

[virtuoso]

thanks AllenK

$800 for German Vinyl and $555 for Domestic Vinyl...German matches existing Targa vinyl.

Or so they say...I have not seen the work.

[70flatsix]

I had the soft/foldable targa window replaced on my 911E in 2002. Cost from a local shop was $800 installed. I believe he sourced the replacement window from World Upholstery, installing the window made of domestic vinyl.

There is a downside to owning a soft window targa:
1) Your car is less secure.
2) It takes you approximately 8-10 minutes to unzip the window and carefully fold the window down behind the rear seats while covering both sides of the window with a cotton towel or flannel, and then finally install the boot; or to remove the boot and the towels, zip the window back up and store the towels and the boot in the trunk.
3) The noise level from the wind mixed with the air intake noise and the exhaust note of my mfi 2.2 liter engine exceeds 115 db at 120 kph in the rear seats. My kids are deaf after riding about 30 minutes with the targa top off and the rear window folded down!
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!

[virtuoso]

Local as in Delaware? How does the Domestic Vinyl look compared to the Targa top itself. I believe my Targa top and read softwindow were replaced together because they match exactly. Send pics!

[70flatsix]

Soft rear window was replaced by a shop located in Salisbury, MD. Guy who did the install said Porsche does it differently than everyone else. (Gee, like we've never heard that before!)
Here are a couple of pictures. The boot, which came with the car and it is unknow if it is original or aftermarket, is a very tight fit over the soft/foldable rear window. I have to fasten the boot in a particular sequence or it won't fit!

[virtuoso]

Nice car! Love the color.

The top itself "appears" a tad different in pic 1 than mine as mine has a "flap" over the zipper and it is hard to tell but looks like yours does not. Does the OEM version have this flap? If so I would want that reproduced as well in my kit.

I am interested to see how the tonneau cover works on the inside...any snaps inside or only on the body side? Send pics if you happen to have those.

I have contacted the shop that did my conversion and am awaiting responses for prices as the quality of my top seems to be even better than some of the original ones I have seen although I never paid much attention before now (sort of embarrassed due to mine not being original or restored)

(and I do not have the cover piece on mine as of yet but will more than likely upon replacement)...hence why mine has a small tear at the end of the zipper from the top flying out at...well let's say above posted speed limits

[CurtEgerer]

Hey 70flatsix - good to see you posting again. One of my favorite Targas for sure!



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