Breathing Life Back into a 1978 Porsche Targa 911 SC
When our little blue 1978 Porsche Targa 911 SC came to us a few years back, she’d seen better days. Our customer had taken her on as a project that just ended up being too big. And so, she was handed over as a part exchange for a different Porsche that delivered instant driving satisfaction. Our two year journey working to recondition this beautiful vehicle back to her former glory began.
Despite her less than attractive looks at the outset, our newest addition to the collection had everything that was needed to become a desirable sportscar again. She just needed some tender loving care and some serious cleaning! There was no need to restore her, just recondition the existing parts. Our team set to work taking the engine apart, giving everything a good clean, replacing seals, carpets and finishing off with a respray of the body. We believe the results were well worth the effort.
Although she’d certainly seen better days, this 1978 Porsche Targa 911 SC had all the makings to return to her classic Porsche looks.
Porsche safety first!
When it comes to motoring there are two important aspects you simply can’t do without. Of course, that’s the engine to get you going, and the brakes so you can stop! Our Targa 911 SC needed some work around her wheels after having sat in a shed for, who knows how long?
The wheel house repair section up front needed work before we were able to get to the braking sections where front and backcallipers were replaced along with the two front brake discs and rear pads.
To enhance the brakes even further our blue beauty had her wheels updated to 15” Fuchs five-leaf aluminium wheels. Not only do these enhance brake cooling – a boon for drives along twisting coastal roads – they are far lighter than the steel wheels these earlier Porsche 911’s were released with. The result is faster acceleration and improved handling.
Having sorted out the brakes, it was time to get her going! A new 12Volt Bosch battery was put in after re-installing the engine. We’d removed the engine to disassemble and check for damaged components. Along with cleaning each part of the accumulated decades of grime, we replaced seals, spark plugs and carefully inspected ring sets, bearings and bushes. Our engine rebuild kit was the perfect companion for this work.
Happy that she was back in tip-top condition, the engine was re-installed. Turning her over the first time was utter joy – there is nothing quite like the sound of a well-conditioned Porsche Targa 911 SC motor!
Notes from our 1978 Porsche Targa 911 SC interior
To say that our blue baby was a little mucky on the inside would be a slight under-statement. With dust inches thick and some questionable smells coming from the trunk area, it was easier to simply replace the trunk carpet set than try to fit a wet and dry vac into that confined space!
Removing the carpet exposed a little rust in the boot area which enable us to remove, treat and repair the area before replacing the carpets. The rest of the interior was given a deep clean bringing it back to it’s as-new glory.
Our reconditioned petrol blue 1978 Porsche Targa 911 SC is now in better condition than when she left the Porsche factory 43 years ago.
While working on the interior, the Targa’s roof was taken care of. Seals around the rear window and the cloth cover were restored and where needed, replaced. The result is a water tight removeable roof that looks great either up or down.
All mechanisms for enabling the Porsche Targa roof work easily have been restored with the Targa top restoration kit. The removable T-top roof panel system, that the Porsche Targa gets its name from can now be taken off with ease and stored in the cubby section behind the rear seats. Porsche Targa simply means a Porsche with a T-shaped removable roof panel system.
The camel coloured leather interior was deep cleaned and returned to its former luxuriously plush condition. The results of the work are astounding – it we do say so ourselves!
To bring the exterior up to the same standard as the interior, the body was resprayed the classic petrol blue colour it was released from the factory with. Our blue 1978 Porsche Targa 911 SC is now as comfortable on the inside as it is gorgeous on the exterior.
Is this car for sale?
The answer to that is yes! You can find more information over at Fairmont Sports and Classics who have been kind enough to put this stunning example of a Targa up for sale on their website. Fairmont say “Fairmont Sports and Classics are excited to offer this exceptional, Porsche 911 3.0 Carrera Targa. Finished in fabulous Petrol Blue, this gorgeous Targa has been the subject of an extensive, high-end recommission carried out by the Porsche specialists at Design 911 in 2021.”.
The final word on our Porsche Targa
As we’ve noted before in a previous blog, the Porsche Targa series are one of the best investments you can make in cars. These models, particularly those with air-cooled engines, not only hold their value, but have been appreciating in recent years.
Although the 1978 Targa SC isn’t one of the most expensive Porsches you can buy, it is one of the most recognisable and beautiful machines Porsche has ever made. The classic lines and ingenious sunroof design make it a very desirable sportscar. These motors are at the very pinnacle of sportscar engineering and any model will set you back several thousand pounds – even if they need extensive reconditioning work like our blue beauty did!
Today, a Porsche Targa can go for as much as £40,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle. We’ll be advertising our little blue Porsche Targa for sale in the coming months. Keep an eye on our website for further tips on the best parts for your own Porsche project and news of the impending Porsche Targa sale!
