Targa Top recondition or exchange

[RPS500]

Hello, I am relatively new to the site and will post pictures soon. I spoke with Dan at Cars Inc today discussed the exchange program that's offered.

As Dan stated, the exchange top will look brand new and will fit as it should. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the fit of a completely new top vs. reconditioning the one on the car. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

[Bob Kontak]

Dan is a straight shooter. If you are not happy with the top he will stand behind it.

I was in his shop in NJ and he had a few finished ones laying around. They are hypnotic.

[Hotwatermusic]

Originally Posted by RPS500

Hello, I am relatively new to the site and will post pictures soon. I spoke with Dan at Cars Inc today discussed the exchange program that's offered.

As Dan stated, the exchange top will look brand new and will fit as it should. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the fit of a completely new top vs. reconditioning the one on the car. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Considering the price "quoted" for a brand new top here on Pelican and else where--and help me out here guys if I am wrong--is like $20,000, I don't know how many people have first hand knowledge of how a BRAND NEW top actually fits. Unless they bought their Targa new and can remember how it fit back then, of course. I am interested as well to know how many people here are original owners of their Targa and can remember how the top fit, how much/little wind noise there was, and if it leaked--fresh of the dealer's lot.

[HarryD]

Don't know how a new top fits but I just got my top back from Dan.

He told me it had been recovered before but the guts were original.

Fit is 1000% better. Seems quieter on my short run I was able to do before I needed to go out of town.

In this thread (Targa top Tech), are my comments and some pictures:

Originally Posted by HarryD

I just got my renewed Targa Top from Dan.

I took it out of the box, opened it fully and placed on my car.

No issues, no drama.

What a difference in look and the seals. Thanks Dan!

[RPS500]

Thanks Harry, Sorry, I meant to say a "new top" via Dan. I just had the seals replaced after what looked to be 24 years on the car. I was just curious if I would be better served exchanging the top with Dan or waiting 3 days and having him renew the top original to the car.

[HarryD]

No problems. I meant to say that since I got my Taerga in 2002, I had no clue how a factory new top would fit.

Anyway, I sent mine to Dan and three weeks later (including Christmas and New Years) it was back. Unless you really need to drive your car, I would say send him yours and wait.

[nesslar]

I bought a rebuilt (beautifully) top from Dan; fantastic, lasting quality and great fit. Period. He has many 'rebuild' options I believe, so no need to exchange, but then, a totaly rebuilt top is better than new with what he does to properly strengthen and reinforce. He is a magician.....

[porwolf]

Here are my $0.02. I bought my 79 Targa brand new. The Targa top originally fitted like a glove. It went into the back very smooth and slipped into the front easily but nice and tight. I never noticed wind noises. I drove the car in severe rains and the inside stayed completely dry. Not a drop of water inside. I even took it skiing quite a few times. It was nice and cosy inside. 3 years later I got a Landcruiser, much more practical for skiing windsufing and everyday LA traffic streets and parking lots. That's why the 79 Targa only got 50,000 miles of exercise. Now it's on the road again after resting for a long time. Drives like new and the Taga top still fits like new. I only had to replace the rear pin covers and it needs a headliner stretching.

[ybn533]

Hi,
How can I get to Dan?
I'm looking for a face lift for targa top.

Thanks,
Yaron

[porwolf]

Here is Dan: Vintage Porsche Parts and Targa Tops for Porsche

[vulcan300]

I have first hand experience with a replacement top from Dan. Unfortunately the replacement top wasn't a good fit for my car. I was on my way home from Philly and stopped into Dan's shop to pick up a rebuilt top in exchange for the rebuild fee and my own top as a core. The fit of the new top looked good, and at low speeds it seemed like all was well. It wasn't until I was on the highway and well on my way home that I realized something wasn't right. It sounded like there was a jet engine above the car whenever I hit 80 Mph. When I got home and let Dan know he gave me a bunch of suggestions on adjusting the fit but nothing helped.

After a week of adjusting the fit Dan offered to send me my original top once he'd finished rebuilding it. It arrived a few weeks later and I packed up the exchange top and sent it back. My original newly rebuilt top fit like a glove and the noise was gone at highway speeds. Dan was super helpful throughout the whole process and very professional.

So the moral of this story is that Dan is a good guy who stands behind his excellent work and it is always best to have the top for your car rebuilt versus taking an exchange.

J