1974 Porsche 911 Targa 5-Speed Manual

Here is a 1974 Porsche 911 Targa 5-Speed Manual which has been in the hands of the current custodian – a licensed mechanic actively earning his living in the trade – for 14 years, prior to which it was with a 20-year owner. When the current owner purchased this first-year G-body, the car had been stored approximately 10 years and he undertook refurbishment work, the biggest items being a rebuild of the 2.7 litre flat-six air-cooled engine, the 915 five-speed transaxle and replacing the leather covering the high-back front bucket seats as well as the targa top itself. The owner has driven the car approximately 20,000 fair weather km during this period, so these refurbishments remain relatively fresh. The car is finished in a shade of slate blue, re-painted from original silver in past ownership, over a black interior with leather seats.

The car was refinished in the current slate blue under previous ownership. The black removable Targa roof panel was procured by the current owner and remains in nice condition, top and bottom, given that the car has been stored in the owner’s workshop – in which most of our car review video was shot. It is equipped with a brushed Targa bar giving a stainless-steel look, sugar scoop headlight rings, and impact bumpers, the latter two of which are colour-coded. The owner notes some flaws in the paint, each photographed in our gallery, some with a coin for perspective, and some fraying of fabric fore of the targa bar. As well, there is the start of rust in the driver’s door jamb, there is a replacement pre-formed door sill included in the sale, all photographed in our gallery.

Black 15” Fuchs wheels are staggered and are lined in Michelin Defender tires, 195/65 up front and 215/60 in the rear. The tires were installed in 2015, date codes showing 2014 and 2015 are in our photographs. There is a compact spare tire housed in the front trunk, designed to be stored in the car uninflated. Under the Fuchs are ventilated discs at all four corners. As part of the refurbishment, tie rods were upgraded to parts for a Turbo model.

The front high back bucket and rear folding seats are covered in black leather, the fronts’ leather was replaced under current ownership. In the cabin, there is an analog clock currently disconnected due to a short, as well as a heated fixed rear window. A modern Kenwood AM/FM/CD with USB and auxiliary inputs has been fitted, complemented by door-mounted speakers and a Kenwood amplifier in the front trunk; though no rear speakers are in the car, it is pre-wired for them.

Instrumentation by VDO is fronted by the four-spoke steering wheel with a face branded PORSCHE. The odometer is centrally mounted through the wheel, with a maximum reading of 8000 RPM and a red line of 6250 RPM. Also within the steering wheel view are two oil gauges, temperature and pressure, to the left and a 150 MPH speedometer to the right. There is also the aforementioned analog clock to the far right and a fuel and oil level combo gauge to the left – all labeled VDO. Within the speedo is a five-digit odometer showing under 11,000 miles, believed to have rolled over once, true mileage unknown, and a trip odometer, both functional.

The 2.7 litre flat-six was factory rated at HP. The rebuild of the engine completed in 2014 included replacement of pistons, cylinders, timing chains, timing chain tensioner locks and cam carrier housings. With the transmission rebuild, bushings in the shifter tunnel were replaced as were synchros for first, second and third gears. Other mechanical work at that time included replacement of flex hoses, spark plugs, spark plug wires, fuel injectors as well as the cups holding them and an alternator update with an internal voltage regulator. Most recently, a valve adjustment was carried out, the brake master cylinder was replaced and the fuel line shifted to run through the shifter tunnel – all in September 2024. Oil was most recently changed in late 2023. For Ontario buyers, the licensed mechanic owner is of the mind that the car will pass an Ontario safety check as it currently sits.

This 1974 Porsche 911 Targa 5-Speed Manual is available with two keys and original owner’s manuals as photographed from the 14-year owner in Cambridge, Ontario.

More videos and Photo Gallery appear below. 

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