Targa to Coupe conversion, further from stock but more desirable?

[Rich Gas]

We were just kidding around. Turbo envy. We like Targas just fine.

[Ronnie's.930]

Hey Rich, "daft" is a Targa Owners Association code word for "please Lordy, grant me a Coupe"!

[aprilkontak]

Originally Posted by Rich Gas

We were just kidding around. Turbo envy. We like Targas just fine.

Turbos have lag issues with intake plenum pressure build, fool. You can finish a fat spliff in the time it takes to attain 10.5:1. Plastic window 912 Targas will be blowing your doors off in the mean time.

My moustache is my business, choad.

Is Tim Hanson "available"?

[RSBob]

Originally Posted by Rich Gas

What does daft mean? Speak American.

What a blatant exhibition of ignominious ethnocentricity. That is American you maroon but definitely not a moron! Wanker.

[aprilkontak]

Originally Posted by RSBob

What a blatant exhibition of ignominious ethnocentricity. That is American you maroon but definitely not a moron! Wanker.

Thank you.

Ass kicking job on the rear bumper, too. My dad speaks highly of you.

[Dpmulvan]

Imagine chopping your car in half! were do I cut?? Did I measure correctly? Is that a Chinese measuring device from harbour freight?.? Ohh the pressure

[jcgranato]

I have to agree that from the outside the coupe has better lines, but I didn't buy a 911 to look at it from the outside. I bought it for the driving experience. Unless you are tracking the car, I challenge anyone to honestly say they can tell a difference in performance between a coupe and a Targa on the street. The open top driving experience is what sports car driving is all about. You all talk about the music of the flat six, well what better way to hear that symphony than in an open top car. I say keep it a Targa and enjoy the experience.

[porsche930dude]

Originally Posted by jittsl

I have both a 911 coupe and a 912 targa. If I want to travel quickly and enjoy the driving I take a coupe. If I want to cruise and enjoy the Texas spring I take the Targa. I love the open air. If I could only have one (and I could keep my race car for when I really want to enjoy rapid driving) I would probably have a 911 targa. As a PS, I have a factory '75 hardtop on my 69 (covered in vinyl to look like a soft top) and I have zero squeaks.

If it were me I would decide what I wanted and then buy the appropriate car. Unless your car is a junker to start with you will almost certainly devalue it by bastardizing it. I also suspect that you will probably be less than satisfied with your result if this really is the car you are going to learn bodywork on. There are a lot of subtle (and some not so subtle) differences between a coupe and a targa and although it has been proven that it can be done it is going to be a big job.

Since you asked our opinion about values MY OPINION is - it will cost you a lot in both labor and cash and there is no way it will end up more valuable. Coupes currently demand slightly higher prices but bastards always fetch much lower prices - there is no comparison between a wide body conversion (that emulates a factory option) and a targa to coupe conversion which is one man's folly. Once again, just my opinion.

A vinal top on a coupe? like the old muscle cars had? Now thats different.

I say keep it a targa. Leave well enough alone especially if youre not sure. And I certainly wouldnt want my car used as a body work learning experience!

[Rich Gas]

Hey Karl, I'm telling your dad. You're not very nice.
RSBob, that is not American...get real. Sounds like gibby jab to me. You are being daft.

Ron had it right above...

[MConn]

I'm in the same boat - I have an 87 Targa that I bought to possibly turn into a non-sunroof coupe. One concern is that the VIN number will always be a Targa. I think ultimately the value will be determined by the quality of the work. I'm considering the conversion because I want a simple, non-sunroof daily driver that I can personalize. One benefit of a conversion is I will get a spare Targa top for my other car, and the price of the tops is going crazy. I understand that I must pay for the conversion sacrilege - I will still have 2 911's that will remain stock.

Mike

[Bill Douglas]

I say drink a good bottle of pinot noir, something nice and light with a good alcohol content, then get the angle grinder out and turn it into a cabriolet.

Or... drink two bottles and turn it into a Speedster.

[jittsl]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

A vinal top on a coupe? like the old muscle cars had? Now thats different.

Just so we are clear here- in 75 Porsche did a one year non-folding targa top. I simply used the vinyl that would normally cover a folding top to emulate it's appearance but it is actually a removable hardtop. Less noise / no squeaks, Oh and it fits a whole lot better.

[fintstone]

Yep. It seems the elegant solution would be to buy one of the new carbon fiber hard tops for targas that are being built by now...or perhaps the fiberglas version if they wanted to paint it the color of the car.

[jittsl]

I have not tried one of the new carbon-fibre roofs (which I think are complete roof replacements) but I did try the older fibreglass sort that was attached to the soft-top frame and was not happy with the result - the fit was only marginal at best. The '75 roof, although heavy, was a very good quality piece and I think the key is that it provides an integrated monocoque. Having said that, I do realize that they are also getting pretty rare and expensive. I lucked out and managed to pick mine up for less than it would have cost to send my original soft top to Carsinc for a proper rebuild.

[Robbbyg]

Firstly you will never lose money on the conversion unless you sell it.!

its your car your taste, your circumstance etc.
conversion is easy and cheap i did my cab to coupe for 700.00 , 500 of that was for the roof. And rest for bits i bought here

Note: dont follow schematics if you go ahead with it.
Cars stretch and change shape over the years , i did mine by line of sight maintaining reflective continiity if thats a word ?

Good luck with whatever you choose as long as you drive it

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by jittsl

I have not tried one of the new carbon-fibre roofs (which I think are complete roof replacements) but I did try the older fibreglass sort that was attached to the soft-top frame and was not happy with the result - the fit was only marginal at best. The '75 roof, although heavy, was a very good quality piece and I think the key is that it provides an integrated monocoque. Having said that, I do realize that they are also getting pretty rare and expensive. I lucked out and managed to pick mine up for less than it would have cost to send my original soft top to Carsinc for a proper rebuild.

Yes...I always wanted a factory '75 hard top, but they were pricey and usually not in good condition. The new hard tops that have recently become available seem to be everything that those older ones skins which attached to the soft top frames are not. In fact, if I had a car (other than a '75, I would probably prefer the new version). Although pricey, they are a thing of beauty and attach the same as the soft top.
Composite Targa Top Development
From that link:

[jittsl]

That is a thing of beauty.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by Robbbyg

Firstly you will never lose money on the conversion unless you sell it...

Since the OP's question was would it make it more "desirable"?...my assumption was that he was concerned with marketplace value. I agree that it would not matter if one never sold the vehicle.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by jittsl

That is a thing of beauty.

It is pretty impressive! Hard for me to pull the trigger though... as I never put the top on mine and they live in the garage anyways. The best part is how little it weighs compared to the folding top.

[Jdub]

You will end up with a coupe that weighs more thanks to the additional structural material they had to put into our lovely Targas.

Coupe owners generally buy a car for how they look in it - Targa owners just feel the wind...