Cabriolet Carrera structural integrity

[MrScratch]

Good day
Please move thread if required.
I am a newbie, long time lover about to purchase my first 911. an 84 Cab.
I am just wondering what i can expect buying a cab over a coupe?
are the cabs much heavier and i am also wondering about any kind of roll over scenario..
can i put in roll bars? lol
looks like a straight up decapitation if it gets rolled...
I am not looking to track the car nor am i a street racer. I just want this beautiful car because i love them.
any advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks

[AFB24911S]

Hey MrScratch, welcome! Good for you!

Yeah, I would say the Cabriolets are probably a little heavier on account of the reinforcements & top mechanism and a little more dangerous on account of the lack of a rollbar. If you're concerned with safety but want open-air driving, the Targas are a great option. I have a 1977 911 Targa, and I feel safe in it.

I Googled around for a while looking for pictures of a rollover accident in a Targa or a Cabriolet, but could find none.

Another couple things to consider:

Cabriolets and Targas are going to be less rigid than a coupe. Going to stiffer suspension will make the car shake more than a coupe would.

The seals that keep Cabriolets and Targas waterproof are in varying states of availability. They're also expensive.

Coupes hold their value better.

Post some pictures of your purchase when you pick it up! Best of luck, welcome to the community! Everyone here is super helpful.

[shoooo32]

It's extremely unlikely you'd have a rollover accident cruising around in a cab. Even less likely you'd be decapitated. Cabs (and targas) are great cruisers. Buy the nicest example you can afford and enjoy!

[MrScratch]

Originally Posted by AFB24911S

Hey MrScratch, welcome! Good for you!

Yeah, I would say the Cabriolets are probably a little heavier on account of the reinforcements & top mechanism and a little more dangerous on account of the lack of a rollbar. If you're concerned with safety but want open-air driving, the Targas are a great option. I have a 1977 911 Targa, and I feel safe in it.

I Googled around for a while looking for pictures of a rollover accident in a Targa or a Cabriolet, but could find none.

Another couple things to consider:

Cabriolets and Targas are going to be less rigid than a coupe. Going to stiffer suspension will make the car shake more than a coupe would.

The seals that keep Cabriolets and Targas waterproof are in varying states of availability. They're also expensive.

Coupes hold their value better.

Post some pictures of your purchase when you pick it up! Best of luck, welcome to the community! Everyone here is super helpful.

thank you!!
I am already looking into a roll bar for it. i don't feel like grinding my face on the pavement if things go bad.. lol
The car has a new roof so i hope it's sitting well.
there is not much for sale in the way of coupes up here in Canada in my budget so i'll take that beautiful Cab!
i'm not out to race in it and just want to own one in my lifetime. Car has zero rust and looks to be in great shape.
looking forward to purchasing if all goes well.

[isby]

I have an '84 cab and love it. I don't really worry too much about the extremely unlikely event of a rollover collision. IMHO, the fact that the car has no airbags is far more concerning.

[MrScratch]

Originally Posted by shoooo32

It's extremely unlikely you'd have a rollover accident cruising around in a cab. Even less likely you'd be decapitated. Cabs (and targas) are great cruisers. Buy the nicest example you can afford and enjoy!

thank you
it's more to satisfy my wife...:/
i'll get a DAS roll bar i think.
The choices are limited up here in Canada. i do not want to go through the hell if importing from the US.
the one i'm looking at is super clean.
looking forward to it

[Bill Douglas]

Great to have you onboard Mr Scratch, and looking forward to seeing some happy pictures.

[MrScratch]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Great to have you onboard Mr Scratch, and looking forward to seeing some happy pictures.

thank you!

[Alex599]

Welcome aboard Mr. Scratch. Fellow ‘84 Cab owner in BC. I’ve had my car for nearly a decade now. I’m definitely conscious when I drive it “with enthusiasm”. It is a 40 year old machine with none of the safety features of a modern car. Put quality tires on it and you’ll be just fine!

Alex

[MrScratch]

Great!
can you recommend a tire and someone to put it on? also a Porsche mechanic
are you in Vancouver area?
do you drive all year round here?
thanks

[AFB24911S]

Us talking about safety and 35+ year old cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phh7FeLZWoQ

[MrScratch]

Originally Posted by AFB24911S

Us talking about safety and 35+ year old cars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phh7FeLZWoQ

All my cars are old...

[darrin]

Originally Posted by MrScratch

Great!
can you recommend a tire and someone to put it on? also a Porsche mechanic
are you in Vancouver area?
do you drive all year round here?
thanks

MrScratch -- let us know what size wheels/tires are currently on the car. '84 carreras can come with either 15 or 16" wheels - also let us know if you plan to drive in cold (sub 40s) weather (for all season tire recommendations) or only in warmer weather (summer tire recs).

[MrScratch]

Originally Posted by darrin

MrScratch -- let us know what size wheels/tires are currently on the car. '84 carreras can come with either 15 or 16" wheels - also let us know if you plan to drive in cold (sub 40s) weather (for all season tire recommendations) or only in warmer weather (summer tire recs).

They are 16's
i don't think so. i think the car will be only driven in the warm weather.
i might take it out when it nice here and there but i think it's going to be a fair weather friend...

[wildthing]

Take it easy and put huge gaps between you and trucks or SUVs. Make sure they can see you.

You should be fine.

[Alex599]

Originally Posted by MrScratch

Great!
can you recommend a tire and someone to put it on? also a Porsche mechanic
are you in Vancouver area?
do you drive all year round here?
thanks

I’m in the South Okanagan so my season is March to November.As for a mechanic, try Jeff at turn 3 in Langley, I’ll be taking my transaxle and engine to them this winter for a bit of love. Tire wise I run 16” Continental extreme contacts. I’m very satisfied with them. As others said; head on a swivel!

[Schulisco]

https://www.stuttcars.com/porsche-911-sc-g-series-1978-1983/

US models in general had an additional reinforment plate on the passengers side of the frunk to increase protection in case of a front crash. They were welded in manually in the factory. On drivers side in the frunk is the battery which works as a reinforcement by itself. Also the bigger rear bumpers were added and the ride height was higher than ROW spec to fulfill US crash regulations as the ROW bumpers were too low due to the ROW ride height. Also the bumpers were equipped with shocks/dampers. ROW models had simple steel tubes instead to be replaced after a crash. The dampers were the reason why the side bellow bumpers were introduced. Cabrios and Targas had additional reinforcements in the ground plate and in the A and B pillars. Therefore these cars require other floor mats. Compared to modern standards are the G body cars pretty soft and not very crash proof. Compared to the era of cars they're pretty solid and advanced developed in crumple zones. Both cab & targa bodies are winding when going over bumps. They're not as stiff as modern cars. This you have to take in concern. Also stiffer shocks made that situation even worsier. Bilstein shocks were a factory option for a more sportier/more firm handling. It's highly recommended to use the bilstein series option in maximum on a cab/targa. But many owners added the way more stiffer Bilstein sporty street suspension, which is by far the hardest/stiffest suspension available for 911's. It's way harder than many race suspensions from Bilstein and others. The body suffers on them very much. Best suspension for a cab/targa is stock suspension from Boge/Sachs.
The Targas were the result of US crash regulations as they had the roll over bar and a fixed rear window. They have been advertised as "security cabriolet" in the 70ies. That's where the name "Targa" is coming from which means "shield" in italian. Also US models had door reinforments to increase side impact protection. Later they were standard on all G body cars. Don't forget: In the end it's fairly old construction with roots in the 60ies...smoothly enhanced over the decades. But still not a modern car. If you're seeking for more security then a 964 might be a better (and unfortunately far more expensive) option...they had 70% of the car reconstructed and new designed, modern coil over suspensions, ABS and airbags.

In general the targas are louder than the cabriolets from wind noise. This is caused by worn rubber sealings and the fact that the roll bar is standing in the wind and the surface of the cabrio roof is more even.

PCA and others provided some quite good videos about the 911:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPo5Pv5og9g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isCMSo-PHYk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYHx1imG2Lc
https://youtu.be/wnrFolQLR4k?si=52YeNpLt4JpdxVyv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZlLro_avJk&list=PLR0VqbBaNjTO6xehEZCJIwaVFAZzEtRRj

and many more. Many things are valid for both 911 SC and Carrera. The main differences concern the drivetrain.
This is one of my favourite videos about Porsches in YT, some young canadians bought three aircooled 911's and driving them home to Kitchener, Ontario.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28hl_7zojy0
So years ago there was not too much hazzle to import these cars afaics...don't know how's today...

Thomas

[darrin]

Originally Posted by MrScratch

They are 16's
i don't think so. i think the car will be only driven in the warm weather.
i might take it out when it nice here and there but i think it's going to be a fair weather friend...

Got it -- While they were crappy in the snow, I REALLY enjoyed how my car drove/handled with 205/55-16 (f) and 225/50-16 (rear) Michelin Pilot Sport AS3+ tires (and understand the new as4 tires are even nicer) -- the advantage of all season tires is that their rubber composition remains compliant/soft in colder weather.

While I found previous experiences with all season tires on other cars to be VERY mediocore/compromised from a performance/drive quality standpoint, I actually preferred the warm weather ride/handling on my michelins over the Continental ExtremeContact summer tires they replaced. Being able to comfortably drive my targa on cold/clear days/roads was a big bonus to me (our carreras have surprisingly powerful heating systems that made driving in 40f weather with the top off/down pretty fun) https://www.tirerack.com/tires/michelin-pilot-sport-all-season-4?ef_id=CjwKCAiAyJS7BhBiEiwAyS9uNVbsBxevH5AL4M5JO0 nWs4LVnWE1UV1T5frYw0XnkEHiBkbCvWoIZBoCJQAQAvD_BwE: G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3!!!!x!!&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_rH_8RXvES7A0hG5DeU-eyMyo6I&gclid=CjwKCAiAyJS7BhBiEiwAyS9uNVbsBxevH5AL4M5JO0nW s4LVnWE1UV1T5frYw0XnkEHiBkbCvWoIZBoCJQAQAvD_BwE

[MrScratch]

Originally Posted by Alex599

I’m in the South Okanagan so my season is March to November.As for a mechanic, try Jeff at turn 3 in Langley, I’ll be taking my transaxle and engine to them this winter for a bit of love. Tire wise I run 16” Continental extreme contacts. I’m very satisfied with them. As others said; head on a swivel!

thank you
sure hoping to get the car. i think i'm first in line to offer but i think there are a few peeps looking at it.
I could get a newer one for a lot less but i really want an older air cooled

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by MrScratch

but i really want an older air cooled

Yeah, good game plan. With the help of all the resources here and a couple of workshop manuals, you can do most of the work yourself keeping ownership costs right down. Newer cars; it's not so easy.