1987 Targa Top Restoration

Bearded Viking · 05:43 PM

The Targa Top on my 1987 911 Carrera was in need of a full restoration and considering the top is 20 years old, it was not in horrible shape. Jack of Jeda/Generations Auto Upholstery in San Jose, CA will take on the job. Tom Amon of Mobile Works West highly recommends Jack and since Tom has done stellar work on my Porsche over the past year, I decided to give Jack a call. I visited Jack this morning at his shop in San Jose and he was super nice and patient with me. He's been in the upholstery business for a long time and is very familiar with Porsche cars, old and new, and more importantly, Targa Tops. My timing was perfect as he had a restored 1981 Targa Top that belong to another customer in the shop. The top looked amazing, and he explained the entire restoration process with me. I pick up my restored top next Saturday. It should be completed by Thursday, but since I live near San Francisco, and he plans to be in his shop next Saturday for a few hours, I decided meet him then. Plus, if any minor adjustments need to be made for final fitment, he can take care of it.

Here are the before pictures.... After pictures to be posted next Saturday evening.

If you look close at the upper right side, you'll notice the leading edge of the vinyl is curled up. Yes, lots of wind noise on the driver side...

Here's a side shot of the driver side leading edge. Vinyl is shrinking up and stitched seam is coming undone

Here's a shot of the inside. I tore the headliner out last summer because it was sagging and rubbing the top of my head. You can see the water stains and yes, small amounts of mildew too. And I thought I was going to "just" replace the headliner last year. Hah!

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Is this an extra seal you (or a PO) installed? I've never seen this on a Targa before.

Oh, I know what you mean about the headliner sagging. Did the same thing myself...kept bugging the heck outta me when it would rub on the top of my head.

Getting ready to send mine off to Dan Petchel, at carsinc.

Randy

Bearded Viking · 06-23-2007, 07:28 PM

Extra seal the previous owner had installed. Luckily, it's just wedged in there. Jack from Generations pointed that out to me today. I had no idea it was "extra". I'm just glad they did not glue it to the rubber seal. I think they were trying to stop wind noise....Nice catch rcecale!

KCinBR · KCinBR's Garage

I understand that Dan of Carsinc does a great job with these tops, I saw one yesterday that he had done earlier this year and it looked great.

I however am a DIY dummy and dont pay others to do something that I think I can do my self, I at least screw it up first then pay them

.

I ordered the materials form Dan of Carsinc and did the job my self, I have about $275 total in materials. I did not replace the headliner.

It's a lot of work but if you have the ability to do other repairs on your 911 you probably can do the recover.

Here's a few pics:
Front view before

rear view before

front vieiw after

rear view after, Targa bar has since been powder coated

Bearded Viking · 06-24-2007, 03:56 PM

KC, your Targa Top came out nice. Nice job. Was wind noise cut down at all?

HarryD · 06-24-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bearded Viking
Extra seal the previous owner had installed. Luckily, it's just wedged in there. Jack from Generations pointed that out to me today. I had no idea it was "extra". I'm just glad they did not glue it to the rubber seal. I think they were trying to stop wind noise....Nice catch rcecale!

FYI,

My PO did the same thing in a vain attempt to cut wind noise. He had little success. I removed the extra material and readjusted the top to fit and 90+% of my wind noise was gone.

Bearded Viking · 07-19-2007, 09:25 PM

I picked up the top from Jack one week after dropping it off and it was completed as promised.
The top came out looking fantastic! Jack and I put the top in place and no adjustments were necessary, perfect fit!

Nothing to catch the wind anymore! No more wind noise!

New side seal from Porsche. Looks good!

Headliner looks awesome.

Touched up the frame as well. Looks brand new!

The man himself, Jack Davis of Jeda Generations in San Jose , CA.
(Recommended by Tom Amon of Mobile Works West)

Okay, maybe I photoshopped Jack & the P-Car in front of my workplace.

GothingNC · 07-20-2007, 04:04 AM

Very, Very nice

I love how the finished headliner looks.

Mine has the droopy look and I'm contemplating a DIY replacement.

84toy · 07-20-2007, 06:06 AM

Nice job. That fits much better than the top I had re-done. I think there is some value in having the car available for fitment instead of shipping across the country and having to live with whatever results you happen to get..

I'm curious as to what was done on the front seal? Was it replaced? See #4 in this thread

What was the price if you don't mind saying? I have another top that needs to be done and I'm close enough to go to San Jose.....I prefer a local job this time.

SC-targa · 07-20-2007, 06:17 AM

Looks very nice. What's a ballpark cost estimate for a rebuilding like that?

Bearded Viking · 07-20-2007, 07:31 AM

84toy "That fits much better than the top I had re-done. I think there is some value in having the car available for fitment instead of shipping across the country and having to live with whatever results you happen to get.."

This is pretty much what Jack said and it was nice to have him there for final fitment.

The front seal was not replaced, but I had Jack remove the extra seal (See before pic above) the PO installed to cut the wind noise. It was the side seal that was replaced.

84toy & SC-targa
Check your PM for price.