Targa bar doesn't fit right

atnorman · atnorman's Garage

1973 911T. The stainless steel targa cover was in pretty bad shape, so I set out to buy a used one. Did lots of research to try to find out if there were differences in the size of these covers from year-to-year, couldn't find anything. Found a guy with one off a '74. Got it, it's in really nice shape, no evidence of damage. Just put it on. Something isn't right. All the holes on the front line up as well as the two threaded posts on each side that go down into the body. However, where it meets the window glass in back, there is a big gap between the steel and the glass at the corners. Fine in the center and down the sides, but bad at the corners. I've looked again. Everyone on ebay selling these claim that they fit from '69-'77 or '69-84. But try as I might, I can't get this one to seat properly. Do I have the wrong one? Or am I missing something? The original one slips right on, sits just right. Can't figure it out.

Dpmulvan · 07-23-2017, 03:58 AM

Why don't you take them both off, lay them on the floor next to each other and compare.

atnorman · atnorman's Garage

I have compared and measured. The differences are subtle and difficult to assess without a more precise means. They are clearly different enough given that one of them fits and the other one doesn't. I'm just hoping to get input from someone who knows as to whether the dimensions actually changed from one year to another.

RSTarga · 07-23-2017, 01:04 PM

That one looks like it was flattened out, doesn't look right.

Discseven · Discseven's Garage

I've seen this gap on some Targas... always wondered what was going on. Other Targas... cap follows contour of glass very nicely.

sballard · 07-28-2017, 07:41 AM

Have you tried tightening the bolts through the rear fenders that hold the cover on? I know that they are hard to access but it might help.

My problem is the opposite. The targa cover is too close to the rear glass. The gap is so close I can't get the weatherstrip to fit on the rear edge of the cover. Maybe you can try carefully bending the front edge of the cover where the cover attaches to bar to reduce the gap.