|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 671
|
anyone ever make an early 911 coupe into a Targa???
Has anyone ever taken an early coupe (pre-69) and turned it into a Targa by cutting off the roof and fitting the targa bar, glass and latches?
Did it work well? Did you have the change the door frames since there is no chrome on the top part of the door? Any info would be appreciated - I am thinking of doing this - but want to test the BBS waters first to see if anyone's done this. 
Last edited by Garrett; 03-22-2003 at 04:13 PM.. |
||
03-22-2003, 03:40 PM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Surely, this would cost a fortune? Interesting to see if it has been attempted but I would have thought it would be easier to just buy a Targa.
|
||
|
03-22-2003, 03:48 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 724
|
I wouldn't do it. If it is not done right then you will have a mess. For you to go out and purchase all the parts that are in good shape would cost you a fortune. Then the install would not be cheap especially to get it done right. All said, I think it would be cheaper and better for you to sell the coupe and buy a Targa. I do admire you wanting to have a Targa. With a Targa life is good.
Tom
__________________
Ice Green '77 Targa 3.6 w/ Steve Wong chip One Way To Get More Horsepower Is To Get A Bigger Horse! "I couldn't find the sports car of my dreams, so I built it myself" Ferdinand Porsche |
||
|
03-22-2003, 03:53 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: DTX
Posts: 2,409
|
I think this would be an extremely bad idea. A point that hasn't been mentioned is the reinforcing that the targa and convertible frames go through to withstand the stress. If you didn't reinforce it, your car would literally just be held together by the floorpan.
From an economic, time (labor required) and safety standpoint, I'd strongly recommend just buying a targa. edit: I forgot to mention, pre 69 coupes are getting rarer, so you'd be taking one out of the limited population.
__________________
89 Carrera 3.4 "There is a right way to go around a corner - it's called the line." -- PCA DE speaker bryteside.com - good things happen. |
||
|
03-22-2003, 03:53 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 671
|
I think you guys are right. I actually have a 65 coupe... the 327th 911 made. I just can't get rid of this car since it's in excellent shape but I WANT A TARGA!!! Thanks for your opinions!
|
||
|
03-22-2003, 04:15 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Posts: 37,898
|
Quote:
|
||
|
03-22-2003, 05:48 PM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,609
|
Trollin', trollin' trollin'...keep those silly posts a rollin', rawhide...
__________________
"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
||
|
03-22-2003, 05:53 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Erie, PA
Posts: 450
|
I'll sell you mine! '88 with 73K miles in perfect shape. $20K
Biff |
||
|
03-22-2003, 06:11 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: I'm out there.
Posts: 13,084
|
But it seemed like such a great idea at the time...
 Actually had an aquaintance who made some beautiful drawings of a coupe-targa conversion. As it turned out, he would have to include pillars connecting the A pillars and the B pillars (like the 993 targa). He scrapped the idea. (and the coupe)
__________________
My work here is nearly finished.
Last edited by Moses; 03-22-2003 at 11:24 PM.. |
||
|
03-22-2003, 11:21 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: a few miles east of USA
Posts: 3,393
|
dont do it
__________________
Rich  '86 coupe "there you are" |
||
|
03-23-2003, 01:28 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 12,677
|
Converting a Coupe to a Targa is not trival as not only do you need to addres the change int he roof line, but you will need to modify the A, B and C pillars to add structural rigidity to the body. If you sit inside a Targa, one thing you will notice is that the foot wells for the front passengers is narrower than a coupe. This is due to the reinforcing to stablize the body.
I met a fellow (many years back) that converted Chevy hardtops to convertible. He got them directly for GM before all the trim was added and he told me it was a major hassle to add the necessary reinforceing.
__________________
Harry 1970 VW Sunroof Bus - "The Magic Bus" 1971 Jaguar XKE 2+2 V12 Coupe - {insert name here} 1973.5 911T Targa - "Smokey" 2020 MB E350 4Matic |
||
|
03-23-2003, 01:42 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: MN
Posts: 1,041
|
don't do it PLEASE
__________________
1992 964 C4 Coupe (black/black) 1982 911SC Coupe (lt blue met/black) 1965 Mustang Fastback (black/black) |
||
|
03-23-2003, 05:35 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Birmingham, MI
Posts: 307
|
Yeah, sounds like a great project! Go for it!!
Be sure to do it right though - add slantnose fenders/lights, turbo flares and a big "look at me" tail. You have inspired me to use my 356 engine to turn my 73S into a 912. I'm going to start today!
__________________
Jared Met Silver '73 911S #0793 IrishGreen '69 912 #0602 Early S Registry #454 R Gruppe #391 |
||
|
03-23-2003, 05:57 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
don't try to understand 'em...just rope and throw and brand 'em...
|
||
|
03-23-2003, 08:21 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 671
|
The reason I got this idea was there was an article in the Panorama, I believe, that talked about the factory using a coupe, then making it a Targa, then making a Coupe again. I just wanted to see if anyone had done that before, or heard of it.
And why the rude posts... I just wanted to stimulate a little discussion, not anger!!! My 65 will remain a coupe... Last edited by Garrett; 03-23-2003 at 10:41 AM.. |
||
|
03-23-2003, 10:26 AM
|
|
|
You do not have permissi
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 40,043
|
Mabye you could just buy an early coupe and go at it with a saw-zall just for the heck of it. There are plenty of 'em around
|
||
|
03-23-2003, 10:33 AM
|
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Left Coast, Canada
Posts: 4,572
|
Who wants a Targa anyway?
(He said, after carefully removing the hook from his mouth!)
__________________
'81 SC Coupe "Blue Bomber" "Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands upon the wheel."- J.D.M. |
||
|
03-23-2003, 11:14 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
You've got to think that buying a Targa is far easier than ruining a solid coupe, unless the coupe has rolled?
__________________
Harlan Chinn Pacific Northwest Region 1998 Carrera S ArcticSilverMetallic 1982 911SC PazificBlauMetallic |
||
|
03-23-2003, 01:39 PM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Worcester County, MA
Posts: 853
|
I have an 84 targa that I'll trade for your coupe. :-D
|
||
|
03-23-2003, 03:13 PM
|
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upper Back Bay Newport Beach California
Posts: 3,287
|
I have turned Coupes into Cabs, It's not that difficult the factory reinforcment peices that act like a sistered rib in a wooden boat. they are welded in at the inner sill. you could even weld an additional one in to a Cab or Targa stiffen the car. Drawback is that they are $900 per side. and also a Targa Header bar will need to be welded on to the windscreen frame. Steve
Last edited by SteveStromberg; 03-23-2003 at 03:27 PM.. |
||
|
03-23-2003, 03:24 PM
|
|
1972 Porsche 911T 2.4 MFi
1979 Porsche 911SC 3.0
1982 Porsche 911SC 3.0 litre
Katja
