Targa Top blew off!! D'oh!!

[jeffbottman]

I drove the 911 down to NE oregon a few days ago. Loosened the top handles at a rest stop, walked around, decided to leave the top on, drove away …… WHOOOOMP! Top flies off at 70 MPH, luckily hit no vehicles. Boy did I feel bad. Circled back, picked it up, looks like a semi hit it.

Looks like insurance will cover it, to my surprise.

Daisy is thinking, "WTF, Jeff??"

[MBruns]

Been there done that, quite a surprise when its a bright sunny day and that happens, almost like the world comes to an end, BTW the results were the same !
Mike

[Cooper911SC]

Dang, Bummer! Glad no one collected it.

Cooper

[dad911]

Pelican Parts - Product Information: 964-565-002-01-707-OEM

Targa Top over $20k..... hope they don't 'salvage' the car! Not sure I'd report it, it may show up as an accident on carfax?

I'd be looking for a decent used one here or on craigslist. Or send Dan @ carsinc some pics and ask if it's repairable. He might give you a credit for the good parts towards a replacement top.

[dave 911]

How in the h@ll can they justify $20K for a new Targa top? That's mind boggling

[Charles Freeborn]

Bummer! I'll take the latches off of it if you don't need them.
-C

[McLovin]

[Jrboulder]

How in the h@ll can they justify $20K for a new Targa top? That's mind boggling

Well they probably have no plans to make more and they know that over the years they'll be able to sell them in instances just like this.

[emac]

20k. !!!!!!?????
WTF

[john walker's workshop]

i have one decent enough to rebuild. not broken, but needs a new skin.

[nene]

That is alot of Mexican Pesos! CRAZYYY! I paid way less for my 86!

[theiceman]

wow .. just wow ....

This is why i tell any new Targa owners leave the handles in ... when the handles are in and the roof is unlocked they point straight down not allowing you to lift the sun visor .. there isnt a better reminder that the roof is not locked ..

Thats not the end of the world but very disheartening ..

[AJ's 911]

An alternative is a hard targa top from Kaminari. I would consider it if I was looking to replace mine. Not sure if others can opine on the quality and fit.

Cost of $395 plus the added bonus of a solid top would make me feel more secure.

1974-1989 Porsche Targa Black Top | Kaminari

[jeffbottman]

John Walker kindly offered me an '82 top at a good price, so I will see if Dan Pechtel can use it as a base for a rebuild.

[christiandk]

No, Daisy is saying. Were you drunk dad?

Only material stuff.....be happy that it was not Daisy getting run over.

Cheers from Copenhagen

[Jdub]

You should be able to turn the latches TWO positions: First position reduces the clamp down, second position unlocks the safety hook from the body of the car.

That is, when you remove a targa top, you should need to unlatch one position, then push up and, pushing against the latches a second time, remove the hook from the body receptacle. All Targa owners should note this capability in their car - if it is missing, you might be in for trouble.

Of course, at 70mph who KNOWS how easy it is for the car to hold the top down! I bet Daisy knows!

[72T]

I appreciated reading this, if for no other reason than to know I'm not the only one who has done it. A few years back I did the same thing, but mine flew off at around 45 mph. It drifted beautifully up into the air and landed without tumbling or crashing a corner. No other vehicles hit it, so I was able to just put it back on, properly, and keep going. Didn't tell my wife, or my dog.

[jeffbottman]

Originally Posted by christiandk

No, Daisy is saying. Were you drunk dad?

Only material stuff.....be happy that it was not Daisy getting run over.

Cheers from Copenhagen

Daisy is thinking "I guess my human is not so smart. I need a new one!"

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by jeffbottman

John Walker kindly offered me an '82 top at a good price, so I will see if Dan Pechtel can use it as a base for a rebuild.

Do this. Relay the unobtanium cost of a new one to the insurance company so they will be fair on the cost of the used frame plus rebuild cost. I bet they pay every penny except deductible.

Save the small handful of pieces that are not knarled up on the original for supplementing retirement income. :-)

If you happen to get a new seal for the windshield ask Dan or the fellow in Denver about the correct seal vs. the too fat Porsche retro-fit seal.

Look at it this way, if your deductible is $1,000, that's the cost of a full rebuild. You are still even and you have the bonus of a good story.

[jeffbottman]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Do this. Relay the unobtanium cost of a new one to the insurance company so they will be fair on the cost of the used frame plus rebuild cost. I bet they pay every penny except deductible.

Save the small handful of pieces that are not knarled up on the original for supplementing retirement income. :-)

If you happen to get a new seal for the windshield ask Dan or the fellow in Denver about the correct seal vs. the too fat Porsche retro-fit seal.

Look at it this way, if your deductible is $1,000, that's the cost of a full rebuild. You are still even and you have the bonus of a good story.

Turns out Dan has experience dealing with insurance companies; I plan to point Allstate to him. I will send him the few remaining pieces and he will deduct $150 from the cost. And the deductible is only $50!