1970 Porsche 911 2.2S Targa
Chassis no. 9110310513
Engine no. 6301883

A 'modern classic' if ever there was one, Porsche's long-running 911 arrived in 1964, replacing the 356 that had secured the fledgling company's reputation as producer of some of the world's finest sporting cars. The iconic 911 would take this reputation to an even more exulted level on both the road and the racetrack.

The first of countless upgrades came in 1966 with the introduction of the 911S. Easily distinguishable by its stylish Fuchs five-spoked alloy wheels, the 'S' featured a heavily revised engine producing 160bhp, the increased urge raising top speed by 10mph to 135mph (217km/h). A lengthened wheelbase introduced in 1969 improved the 911's sometimes wayward handling, and then in 1970 the engine underwent the first of many enlargements, to 2.2 litres, in which form it produced 180bhp on Bosch mechanical fuel injection when installed in the top-of-the-range 'S' models.

Two years after the original coupé's introduction, a convertible 911 - the 'Targa', named in honour of Porsche's numerous victories in the Sicilian classic - arrived in 1966. Expected US safety legislation had prompted an ingenious approach to the soft-top 911, the Targa sporting a hefty roll-over bar to protect the occupants in the event of an inversion together with removable roof and rear hood sections, which were stowed in the boot. For 1969 a quieter and less leak-prone fixed rear window replaced the less than perfect rear hood, and the ever-popular Targa would continue in this form well into the 1990s, sharing countless mechanical and styling developments with its closed cousin along the way.

The car offered here is one of the rare C-programme (1970) 911S Targa models with the 2.2-Litre engine, only 729 of which were produced, and with 180bhp on tap was one of the two most powerful models in the range, the other being the 911S coupé. A matching-numbers example, chassis number '9110310513' was delivered new to the USA and is believed to have been on static display for most of its life (1982-2015) at Auburn Automotive Heritage in Indiana from where the current owner bought the car.

Well preserved, the Porsche did not need a full restoration but the perfectionist owner wanted it to be perfect and commissioned a full 'last nut and bolt' restoration. It is offered fresh from the completion of this concours-standard restoration (undertaken between 2015 and 2019) and comes with a photographic record and invoices totalling over €120,000. The latter total includes bills of €25,000 for the engine rebuild. Originally finished in Burgundy with beige/tan interior, the car now has Pepita interior trim (the expensive and difficult to find door pockets are new).

Driven barely 100 kilometres since completion, the Targa is presented in excellent condition throughout. At the time of cataloguing the final suspension adjustment had yet to be carried out, hence the car's low appearance in the photographs. A highly desirable top-of-the-range model in a very attractive colour-combination, this superb Porsche 911S Targa is worthy of the closest inspection. The car is offered with Belgian registration papers, old US title, and the aforementioned restoration invoices and an incredible amount of restoration photos.