Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 500667S
Engine No. 962082
Transmission No. 103885
While the Porsche 911 was first introduced as a fastback coupe, the
idea of an open version had always lingered among its
designers-rooted in the brand's legacy of open-air driving, from
early 356 Cabriolets to the iconic Speedster. But as the 1960s
progressed, growing U.S. safety concerns around rollover protection
threatened the future of convertibles. In response, Porsche
anticipated regulatory changes and consumer desire for open-top
driving by creating a bold new solution: the Targa. Conceived by
Butzi Porsche, the so-called "Safety Convertible" design debuted in
1967 and featured a brushed stainless steel roll hoop, a removable
roof panel, and a soft foldable plastic rear window-allowing for
multiple open-air configurations. The original "soft window"
design, produced for just two model years before transitioning to a
wraparound glass version for 1969, is now highly coveted by Porsche
collectors-especially when combined with the top-of-the-line high
performance 911 S specification, thereby creating the most costly
series-production 911 available for 1967.
This rare 911 S Soft Window Targa, chassis number 500667S, is just
one of 483 produced for 1967 and was originally finished in Polo
Red over a Black-upholstered interior. Its Kardex Warranty card
records that the car was sent to the United States to Porsche of
America Corp (POAC) with its first owner noted as Richard Jacobs of
New Rochelle, New York just north of New York City. At a point, the
car traveled to The Golden State as evidenced by its California
blue plates as photographed in 2011 and in these images it should
be noted that the Targa was not updated with a hard glass rear
window like so many early Targas.
In 2018, a full and comprehensive, photo-documented restoration was
initiated by Henk Baars' team at CarparcUSA in Costa Mesa,
California, meticulously addressing each system and component over
the next five years. The car was completely stripped, primed to
protect against the elements, and placed on a factory-specification
Celette chassis jig before metal repairs took place. While the
Targa was very complete and solid, the Carparc team removed any
sign of corrosion or damage before placement on a rotisserie for a
final prime and color coat.
Rather than feel restricted to the original color combination,
original Porsche color books were examined before selecting
Kristallblau or Crystal Blue, a rarely seen optional shade that
first appeared in the factory Lesonal-Werke "Special Colors" book
as color code 52254. To match the rare shade, a medium blue leather
interior featuring Recaro sport seats was selected with charcoal
carpeting and black leather trim. At the same time the
matching-numbers high-compression 2.0-liter flat-six was completely
rebuilt. The five-speed Type 901 transmission also received the
same attention. Images of the work illustrate the efforts taken to
renew the heart of the car from its Weber carburetors to the
exhaust system to factory fresh condition. Naturally, a team so
versed in the details of the early 911 S and soft window Targas
would leave no stone unturned thoroughly renewing the fueling,
braking, suspension, and steering systems along with, of course,
its folding soft rear window. Even the front trunk-mounted optional
Webasto gas heater received a full rebuild!
After a thorough running-in and sorting phase necessary after any
serious restoration, the car left Southern California for the first
time in decades joining the current owner's ever-growing
Porsche-focused collection featuring numerous early 911s.
Resplendent in a little-known shade of blue that escapes even
seasoned Porsche enthusiasts, the car has been a star within the
collection yet has remained unseen by the greater Porsche community
until now. Offered for the first time since the completion of its
restoration, this rare soft window 911 S offers not only the
unrepeatable vintage Porsche experience but instant star status at
any Porsche-themed event on the horizon.
