74 Carrera Targa value

Darrell E · 01-16-2007, 02:10 PM

Hi Guys:
I ran across an interesting 74 Carrera Targa. The car is completely original and is a numbers matching US version thats had the engine rebuilt with Euro pistons (but retained CIS). Mileage is high at 180K. Engine was rebuilt about 100k ago. No rust and car is in very nice condition overall given its mileage. Owner is asking $19.5 which seems a little high, but how many numbers matching Carrera Targas are left out there? I'd be interested in the board's opinion.

Thanks.

GothingNC · 03:49 AM

Mileage is very high.
100,000 miles on the rebuilt motor and I assume it's a 2.7?
How many miles on the clutch?
Is there any rust, how is the paint?
Targa is usually worth less then a coupe.

Probably $12,000 at the most?

You can pick up a Carrera with 1/2 the mileage for about the same price.

Darrell E · 01-17-2007, 05:19 AM

John, thanks for the input.
No doubt the mileage is very high. I've followed the high mileage thread in this forum with interest.
The motor is a 2.7 apparently rebuilt very well as there are no leaks, but I'm sure another rebuild is on the horizon. (Good excuse for a Euro RS version)
Clutch is new (<5k miles)
No rust, paint is good to excellent.
I'd definitely prefer a coupe and I know there are other models (SC's and 84-89 Carreras) for the same $$ with less miles, but this is more about what the value is for a relatively rare specific model. Its sort of the same case you see with RS America's. No real performance gain over a standard 964, but market values far exceed those of the standard models for reasons of rarity.

GothingNC · 01-17-2007, 05:27 AM

A car may be low production model but value and demand on a collectible car is determined by the market.

IMHO I think a late model Carrera or SC coupe in comparable condtion will most likely be valued a bit more then a 74 Carrera Targa with CIS.

I think the Euro verison of the ealry Carrera will fetch more $$.

Darrell E · 01-17-2007, 05:42 AM

I agree. There's a 75 Euro Carrera in your neck of the woods for $75k! (talk about crazy). I certainly wasn't wasn't claiming that this car should be worth more than a late model Carrera or SC, however I do think its worth more than a standard mid-year S. The question is really how much. My gut tells me $12k is a great deal and $15k wouldn't be crazy if you wanted to own a unique car and not worry about ever reselling it or recouping costs. I'm just looking for opinions and I appreciate yours.

racer · 01-17-2007, 12:43 PM

IIRC, there were only about 500 1974 Carrera Targas, and the number of them still out there is surely diminishing. Could have been fewer, though.

That said, the only features vs a same year 911S are rear flares (with 7" rims), ducktail spoiler and some interior peices. A 200K mile example is likely in need of another rebuild.

I am not sure what the difference is between the Euro and US pistons in 1974. Perhaps higher compression? I believe the "real" euro Carreras had MFI injection, so, the retention of CIS doesn't make sense in the example cited at the beginning of the thread. The Euro motors were rated at about 200-210hp, the US versions had about 170 (167-175 depending on source and DIN vs SAE ratings)

Pricing a 30+ year old car is difficult. It all comes down to overal condition, scarcity and your desire to own one.

A true 1975 Euro Carrera either had the same high comp MFI 2.7 or perhaps a 3.0 liter motor. Still rated at over 200hp. US versions were losing HP due to more stringent emissions, they dropped from 167hp to 157hp.

Jay H · 07:08 AM

In regards to this '74 Carrera's collectibility, I think that the mileage on this car really hurts it's future as a 'collector car'. At 180k, it's just not going to appeal to a collector. If a collector really wants a '74 Carrera Targa, more searching and patience will find a much lower mileage example that is probably in better condition too.

If there were in fact 500 of these cars, that's a ton of production and doesn't make it a really rare car. I'm not sure any US specification 2.7 liter car will be truly collectible in the sense that the resale value will increase (over normal inflation rates) dramatically over time. We may see that the only real collectible 2.7's will be the ones that are bone stock, untouched, fully original cars with extremely low mileage (such as cars with under 20,000 miles or so). Then, you may see a pretty decent premium on the car just due to being a low mileage, original Porsche. The 2.7 stigma will still apply though...

The US Carrera's do have a loyal and solid following and the seller of this car may in fact be hoping he can cash in on someone who MUST have a US spec mid year Carrera. Otherwise, as Racer acurately points out, these Carreras don't have too much going for them as far as performance goes. If Porsche would have made the US Carreras with the Euro 3.0 liter motor (probably almost impossible due to US laws in place for emissions, etc) or a high output 2.7 with over 200-210 hp, the US Carrera market would be HOT and these cars would be fetching top dollar, regardless of mileage. But, they are just slightly modified 2.7 liter cars.

I suppose a small premium could be paid for this car just due to the fact that it really IS a mid year US Carrera, but I wouldn't over pay. If I wanted something to drive, I'd rather have a normal, everyday '77 2.7 with a fresh motor and drivetrain with 90,000 on the clock for $10,000. Not $20k for this car. It isn't worth $10k of premium.

As far as price goes, I'm with John D. on this one. $12k tops.

Just my $.02.

Jay
90 964, 84 3.2

Darrell E · 01-18-2007, 10:11 AM

Thanks for the input guys. This car has been for sale for several months so the $20k price is clearly way too high.

It will be interesting to watch the earlier car market progess as more and more states get into the emissions/smog game like CA has. Those of us that like to tinker and "hot rod" our Porsches will increasingly be limited to earlier cars. Here in MD, we can only avoid the smog man with pre-77 cars. So if you want to play with things like headers, carbs and such, you're limited in the chassis you can use. Really clean, rust free examples of pre-77 cars will keep getting harder to find and I predict prices will go up. Anyway it'll be interesting to watch.

Thanks again for the input.

GothingNC · 01-18-2007, 10:17 AM

Glad I'm not in MD with the smog issues.

Pre-1999 cars are exempt in NC

topgub · 01-26-2007, 08:24 AM

I have a '75 Carrera Targa, which is the rarest of all of the mid-year Carreras (273 built). I believe the '74 Carrera Targa was next, somewhere in the 400's. They built more coupes both years and they are more desirable; I would have preferred a coupe but I got a super deal on it. I agree with the other guys, $12K is about it, maybe a little more if you've really got to have it. FYI, there's no performance gain using Euro pistons with CIS. Porsche's engineers knew what they were doing when they designed those CIS pistons for the CIS injection system.

evergreen · 07:57 PM

good to see this '74 U.S. Carrera Targa going for pretty decent money...... $30,250...... on Jan 18 2008 in Arizona.
Link>http://www.rmauctions.com/CarDetails.cfm?SaleCode=AZ08&CarID=r158&Currency=

sorry- sloppy cut & paste -- in case RM link ever expires.