Here is the story of my 1979 SC Targa. In 1979 I drove a '72 Targa that I bought used in 1973, my daily driver then. It worked pretty well and I was happy with it especially with the roof off. In 1979 I came into some money. I saw Porsche ads in the paper stating that the new SC's start at $22,000. I heard good things about the SC's from my mechanics, trashing earlier '70s 911s because of the engine problems. The SC's, they said, are bomb-proof.
I thought, OK, why not take one of those out for a spin and see how they compare to my '72. The nearest dealer told me those $22,000 don't exist because Porsches are sold packed with options that bring them up to over $30,000. And 911's were hard to get for dealers because the factory rationed them. That is why the dealers tried to get their moneys worth with the options. But, I was told, Bob Smith in Hollywood has one without options, another Targa.
I went there, took the car for a spin and was thrilled with the difference to my '72. But I was in no hurry to buy it because I still had a perfectly good '72, that was just completely repainted with all the glass out. Did all the disassembly and reassembly myself. So I let the dealer know I would only consider buying the '79 Targa if the price were right. I gave them my price of $25,000. They said no way, the best they could do is around $29,000. I said good bye and here is my telephone number, call me if you change your mind. The dealer called me back a couple of weeks later. The car is stiil here, and they are willing to accomodate me. I went back but as I arrived in the price went up to $28,500. I said not really, call me back if you are ready. Two more dealer calls after that, and 3 months later I finally drove the car home for only a little more than my original $25.000 price.
The car had been a demonstration car and had 3,000 miles dealer miles on it but that did not bother me because I intended to keep it for qiute a few years anyway. The history of this car was interseting: Because in 1979 it was difficult for Bob Smith, Hollywood, to get as many 911's from the factory as he wanted he arranged for associates to get a few extra ones as German delivery cars, to be picked up in Stuttgart and shipped to the US individually. So, my car is a US California spec car that made a little detour getting here. I was happy with it from the get go and sold the '72 Targa. The '79 Targa became my regular daily driver and went everywhere including ski trips to the Siarra Nevada.
Then in 1982 I got a Landcruiser FJ60 for $10,500. I wanted a comfortabel 4X4, 4-door for skiing because I was tired of having to put on snow chains and also I got into windsurfing. For that the Landcruiser was the perfect car and it also proved the perfect car for every day use in Los Angeles. Tough, high off the ground, great for the rotted streets in the city, lots of room, not too conspicuous, the perfect "urban assault vehicle". So my Targa, after all these years, inincluding a long hibernation break, is now back on the road and driven on good days strictly for pleasure. The'82 Landcruiser still does daily duty and is going strong with about 700,000 miles on it's back.
My 1979 SC Targa, two years ago, still with the original factory paint :
