longnose speedster conversion - opinions?

[haycait911]

I just came into a very decent (and cheap!) '72 targa. solid body with an '82 3.0. I'm thinking it's time for my long awaited speedster/roadster project.
basically take off the rollbar hoop and rear glass, gut doors and round over the tops, round off the windshield surround corners, rake the windshield, "R" taillights and signals, and get rid of anything that doesn't need to be there. no top and no provision for one. basically a fair weather fun roadster. I'm a bodyman so all this is not a big deal. something like Alan Townes car.
aside from the fact that I'm cutting an original 'ish' '72 , any thoughts? Don.

[SCWDP911]

I for one can't wait to see it. I think I know the car you are speaking of (Alan Townes) - saw a picture of it one time. I just remember when I saw it thinking - "wow..." that was about all that could be said. So when are you starting?!

[boba]

I am nearing the completion of my project which is a Speedster conversion, also on a '72 Targa. I may have approached my project slightly differently, but I suspect you will deal with some of the same issues I did. Mine is also a minimalist car with no top or side glass, nothing without a purpose. I will not run wipers, so no wiper motor; no heat or A/C so no blowers or vents. I started my project when I came across a NOS 89 Speedster windshield a few years ago, I have owned the Targa since 1983.

[DByers]

I say go for it! The one thing about long nose speedsters is you have to nail iit. I cant say what it is, but the only one I have really liked is the one you speak of (Alan Townes) and I think it was based off a SWB. If some thing is just not right the whole package is lost. I think the torque thrust rims complete the look like on AT's speedster. An understated paint and interior and it would work. Rear flares is almost a must with a LWB and early bumbers with no bumper guards.

Do it and keep us posted.

[SCWDP911]

Originally posted by boba
I am nearing the completion of my project which is a Speedster conversion, also on a '72 Targa. I may have approached my project slightly differently, but I suspect you will deal with some of the same issues I did. Mine is also a minimalist car with no top or side glass, nothing without a purpose. I will not run wipers, so no wiper motor; no heat or A/C so no blowers or vents. I started my project when I came across a NOS 89 Speedster windshield a few years ago, I have owned the Targa since 1983.

Pics please!

[haycait911]

Boba, +1 for pics!! Alan T. grafted a 356 rear to his. I'm not quite that ambitious but I think by bringing the top edge at the rear up and inward more the look will be preserved. bring the edge to almost the rear seatbacks should give a nice humpback look ala 356. ( can't go further , ie; real 'roadster' because the kids have to fit in somewhere). I'd love to chop the windshield but the cost of the unavoidable breakage in fitting glass prohibits that. paint has to be silver with black interior, that's just what I do. see pic. also have a line on a set of nos rs steel flares. ??? Don.

[haycait911]

the car who's fate hangs in the balance.

[silverc4s]

Don,
That Targa looks to be in REALLYgood condition. I know it's a T, but it seems a shame to cut up such a nice example. You may be able to sell it for sufficient $$ to fund overall project using a "rougher" car as a start point. It's up to you, of course.
The Townes car, by the way, was a SWB coupe the had been crashed. Mr. Townes was a bodyman at Carlsen Porsche in Palo Alto, Ca at the time, and was able to obtain the car favorably.

[911s55]

Too Nice to cut up, Quit pickin on the poor T's, let someone enjoy this as it was meant . Your project sounds fun but there's better(worse) candidates out there

[john walker's workshop]

one i did years ago.

[boba]

As you requested some pics of my Speedster project.

The beginning.



The middle.


The start of the end.

[herman maire]

are you guys thinking of something like this

[Sharonkerry]

Don-
This is way too nice a T to massacre. Place it with someone who will keep it intact.
Cheers! Sharon

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Go for it Don!

It's a tough call guys as you either start wtih a decent T or try to "restore" something that just shouldn't be. My own project proved to have waaaaaaaaaaay too much rust after getting into it. A solid T targa is the best way to go, or put another way, what T wouldn't give it's left Zenith's to be John Walker's car.

[SCWDP911]

Boba - that thing is flippin awesome! Wow, what a car! When is it slated to be "finished"? Are you anywhere near Tennessee? I would love to see that thing up close someday. I especially like the touch with using the 74 RS style front spoiler with the longnose. That is way hot to me... I am getting ready to start a similar project but a reciprocal to yours, an early S spoiler grafted on the bottom of the shortnose bumper. I am hoping the fact that you did what you did, means I can do what I want to do - I was not completely sure that the contours were the same or close enough to same. Are they or did you have to modify the spoiler to fit right? Anyway, well done!

[SCWDP911]

Originally posted by herman maire
are you guys thinking of something like this

Beauty Hermann! I prefer the 356 rear end like on Alan Townes car, but yours is really nice too. Is Alan still alive? Hope I just didn't show my complete 911 ignorance there! Where is his car now? Can anyone post some pics of it?

[Kevins911]

Hey Don, if your project doesn't pan out for some reason at least you have a useable side view miror now

[boba]

V8_ranch
I am in DFW, Texas. How close that is to you is relative.
The front bumper is a style used on some of the longnose RSR's as they evolved prior to being re-bodied in later bodywork. This bumper was and may still be available from some of the suppliers.

Regards,
Bob

[SCWDP911]

Bob, not to show further historical 911 ignorance, but is your bumper then the design that was eventually used for the short nose RS bumpers? The height of the bumper made me think it was from a 74 style model.

I am near Memphis. Have family west of Fort Worth though. Maybe I will get down there sometime. Love to see that car. Hats off to you on it.

[Jeff Alton]

I think it is time for the BOBA longhood speedster build up thread......

Cheers