Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 11880185
Engine No. 3281112
Transmission No. 9284103
Simultaneously reading the American regulatory tea leaves while
reacting to consumer demand for an open-topped 911 variant, Porsche
engineered a solution to capitalize on the advantages of both coupe
and cabriolet bodies for their new 911 and 912 models. Looking to
their race cars for inspiration as Porsche often does, Butzi
Porsche hit upon a stroke of genius by combining a stainless steel
trimmed roll bar, a removable top, and a foldable rear window.
Offered briefly for only two model years (1967 and 1968) before
transitioning to a glass wraparound rear window in 1969, the
original Targa concept was a hit for the variety of four different
open body configurations it offered.
Completed at the factory on 26 April 1968, likely as a special
order example in Burgundy Red, this 1968 911 Soft Window Targa was
ordered by William Ealer of Williamsport, Pennsylvania as noted on
the Targa's Kardex warranty card. Ealer was not conservative when
ticking the options boxes at his local dealer. When the car arrived
through the official US importer, Porsche of America Corporation
(POAC), it was fitted from the factory with a steering column lock
(useful on an open car), 911 S instrumentation, a leather-wrapped
steering wheel, an additional electric blower (likely for
supplemental heat), chrome steel wheels with crested hub caps,
bumper horns with rubber trim, and one headrest. An antenna,
loudspeaker, and noise suppression were also ordered but curiously
no radio. Expensive for its time, it is likely that Ealer intended
to install his own when the car arrived. Finally, perhaps most
interestingly, Ealer selected option 9593 "N�rburgring�bersetzung"
or N�rburgring gears, likely looking to stay in the right power
band with this option that provided closer ratios. It's possible he
made the selection after reviewing Information Regarding Porsche
Vehicles Used For Sports Purposes, a bare-bones guide supplied by
Porsche's customer race department to those looking to enhance the
performance of their 911s. The consignor notes that in discussions
with Ealer's family and friends, he was a frequent visitor to
Watkins Glen from his Pennsylvania home and likely took full
advantage of the optional, race-derived gearset on his way through
the rolling hills of Northern Pennsylvania coal country.
Prior research conducted by the consignor indicates that Ealer may
have been the only driver of the car until recently. After 67,974
miles the consignor notes that the 2.0-liter flat-six engine
seized. With that, the car was taken off the road and parked. It
then passed between three Pennsylvania-based owners before landing
with the current owner in 2014 who commenced a full bare metal
restoration. The entire car was disassembled, braced to prevent
flexing, placed on a rotisserie, and completely stripped. The rust,
commonly found on pre-galvanized 911s, was dealt with properly.
Digital photos of the restoration process while at the specialty
Porsche restoration shop, Translog, are available to review in the
history file. Naturally, the original color of Burgundy Red was
reapplied with two-stage paint from Glasurit applied. While the
body was being repaired and painted the matching-numbers engine was
disassembled and rebuilt as a 2.2-liter with Dougherty DC-30 cams,
911 S pistons and cylinders, and Carrera chain tensioners. The dyno
results after the rebuild showed 153 crank horsepower and 163 lb-ft
of torque. At the same time, its special, matching aluminum-cased
Type 901/74 transmission was gone through with its tighter
N�rburgring gear set and 904 mainshaft confirmed as present. A
suspension rebuild included an upgrade to Turbo tie rods and
dual-circuit brakes with freshly rebuilt brake calipers. A stickler
for the as-delivered details, the owner rightly decided to keep the
original US-market chrome rimmed headlight trim, 1968-only side
reflectors, chrome steel wheels, and of course the Targa Soft
Window, so unique to these early Targas. In fact, today, it would
be difficult to note any differences from how it was ordered by
William Ealer, bar the extra helping of engine power. This combined
with the tighter ratios of its N�rburgring gears delight just as
much - or even more than it did 55 years ago.
