Original Targa Hardtop Reproduction

[Muf]

Dear fellow targa owners,

I plan to produce a better-than-original targa hardtop. The thing will be based on the original factory design but will even bring some improvements.
It will have the clip latches like the original had which turned out to be the best anyway. The construction is going to be very solid, the side seals will be original-like with incorporated metal frame.
The finish is going to be either semi gloss black or any body colour according to the customer's wish. Maybe even with the vinyl skin. But we shall see in future.
The estimated price will be about 1000 Euros. The top is going to be produced in the EU.

I believe we are going to be ready to produce the first series in a three months time. We already have the first laminate specimen and now we are working on the side seals.

I wish to check the potential demand.

Also maybe somebody from Pelican Parts could be interested in selling this top in the US market. If not I am ready to market it by myself.

I appreciate any comments or questions.
Thanks

Muf

[Joeaksa]

Please stay in touch and let us know how it turns out.

JoeA

[SC-targa]

I bet it won't fit in cars with power brakes and I believe that the folding top was also required for cars with AC from 74 on, though I don't know why.

Regards,

Jerry Kroeger

[svandamme]

personally , i don't care about it folding or not, it always fits behind the drivers seat unfolderd

what i would like, is an improved design , one that manages to be very rigid at the leading edge, with a rubber seal under that leading edge

so when the roof is , on , the rubber seal is tight and are no leaks or wind noise

like so:

[Moses]

Very interested.

[JP911]

I agree with Svandamme. If it isn't an improvement, from a seal standpoint, then there isn't much benefit over the original roof.

[RickM]

Do you have any pics of your progress? Are you going to reproduce the latching mechanisms or use OE?

[Muf]

Sorry, no pictures yet.
I think we will be able to present them in two months or so. I am just trying to find out about your interest in order to decide how many forms should we produce in the first series...

Many of those lucky original hardtop owners will consent that the original top is very tight, free of noise and converts the tagra into a coupé.

My ambition is to terminate all the targa owners complaints about leaking and noisy tops which are difficult and expensive to rebuild.

P.S.
The top will not fit into the trunk of cars made after September 76 due to the brake booster. But it could be stored behind the front seats of any later or earlier model. (This makes of course the back seats unusable :-( )

[widebody911]

I'm very interested in seeing the repro latches.

[wholberg]

I will be interested in seeing the finished product.

[bfegan]

I'm interested.

[Rot 911]

I have a coupe so really no dog in this hunt, but I would sure want to know what the cost of shipping to the states would be.

[Peterfrans]

I am interested. pm sent

[aldolente]

OK, we are all interested. For over 1000 Euros, I hope it will have a head liner and improved seals and reduced wind noise. I keep my top in the back seat area as well as I do not want to fold my top.
Wasn't there a hard top option for Carerras in Eurrope for a short period of time way back when? How were they rated? Any need to re-engineer what Porsche already had?

[greglepore]

I'd also me interested in a conversion top - however, I have a set of latches and seals from a trashed top, and would like to buy just the bare f/g panel.

[FrayAdjacent911]

I'd love a nice quality hard top for my Targa... after I finish with everything else.

[fryardds]

Will this fit the pre-74 cars also? My guess would be no, but I thought I would ask. Thanks.

[Zef]

I am very interested...please keep us informed on the process.

[Wayne 962]

The one that we sell, designed by JM Products, is very popular, and has gotten good feedback from our customers:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search.cgi?command=show_part_page&please_wait=N&make=POR&model=911M&section=bdytar&page=1&bookmark=2&part_number=JM-PRO-T1

See the installation instructions here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/images/jm_prod/targa_install.pdf

It works very well, because it uses an existing soft top frame. I'm not sure of the market for a complete replacement, but if you make one, we'd be happy to put it in our catalog...

-Wayne

[9magazine]

We would also love to see some photos and demo unit for our readers!

Keep us up to date!

Brian Minson
9 Magazine
http://www.9magazine.com