1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or Not?

[Bret]

Ok just what the heck am I looking at hear?

More Pictures = 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose Waletail

The car belongs to a neighbor friend of mine who inherited it from a family member who passed away recently. The overall condition isn't that great but it all seems to be there.

It’s a 76 Targa (Made 9/75) but I’m confused about a couple of things. First of all I didn’t think that the slant nose came out until much later but I’ve found a couple of references on the web to a kit being available and am wondering if that isn’t what I am looking at because my friend said that he seems to recall it being a kit.

I was also informed that the engine was replaced about a year or so back with a 3.0L from an early 80’s 911 but that’s all second (third) hand information. Looking at the engine compartment it looks like there’s a disconnected A/C compressor, but I don’t see the controls on the dash.

The VIN# is 9116210456. Anybody know anyway to confirm what I am looking at?

Thoughts?

 

[DrEntropy]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

Take the VIN to any dealer and they should be able to get the originating info.

Expressing my opinion of the front end would get me kicked off the forum. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

...but "free" is good.

 

[Bret]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

Thanks Doc,

Some of the 911 Porsche folks I've asked have pointed out some of the problems with this little gem. Topping the list seems to be the fact that the front air dam is fiberglass (personally I would have thought they’d use fiberglass fro a front air dam) and fit & finish of the finders. Along with that most think the first Slant Noses' didn't come out until the 80's.

Something they told me to look at is to see if the finders are fiberglass. There does seem to be some bondo on one of the rear finder flairs but that could be due to repaired damage that showed up after another accident. Anyway I guess I’ll have to have another look today.

As for the looks – I was never a fan of the slant nose P-cars & didn’t have the heart to tell the guy that I thought it was an ugly car. But hey, like you said – free is free.

 

[Steve]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

CHARACTERISTICS OF AN AFTER MARKET JOB:

1) 4 studs at the four corners on the underside of the louvers
2) Splash guards attached to the 4 studs
3) Imperfect headlight door jambs
4) Japanese headlight motors
5) Wiring to lighting
6) Welded light buckets that intrude onto the wheel hose skirts
7) Evident mig-welding of 3 separate insert panels to factory fender
8) Windshield washer reservoir in left fender changed (or cut down)
9) Dents in the battery area of the skirt to fit under buckets
10) Cut out of the bumper shock support to fit buckets
11) Composite or plastic rear vent slats
12) No octane sticker on back of fabricated gas lid door


CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REAL DEAL:

1) Wood rear vent slats
2) Dual oil cooler in rear qtr vents with screens
3) Jack extensions extended factory welded to rockers
4) Factory stamped part number on rocker panels
5) Two piece rear vent hole
6) Exact die cuts in the corners of louvers

It appears that the original Porsche 935 (slant nose) did come out in the 70's but I believe that they only produced it in coupe form, the factory not offering the other options until the 80's.

I have a book at home that might tell us for sure, but I won't be there for another five or six hours........

 

[sammyb]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

Steve is right (as usual!)

The 935 was made in VERY limited quantity in the late 70s. Chances are that this '76 is not real. Most of the slantnoses are conversions -- some by owners, and some by dealers -- but dealer conversions apply almost entirely to 80s cars.

The value of a slantnose is entirely in its documentation, otherwise, it's just another personalized car.

The trouble with the slantnose is that it is a dated look -- much like a Testarossa's cheese-grater sides, or a TR7/8's wedge exterior with plaid cloth interior! (Hey, Porsches had plaid interiors too!)

It's okay to like the look, but it actually slows appreciation, because it is so dated...appreciation happens with the 30-year nostalgia mark.

 

[Steve]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

I know of a gentleman who has an original factory 935 coupe in red mothballed away, nominal mileage, from his dealership days (Jim Jeffords, the race driver).

 

[Bret]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

Ok so it’s pretty obvious that this is an aftermarket kit. I guess the next bit of information I need to get for my neighbor is “what’s it worth?”

I know a gentlemen in the San Diego MG Club that was selling an 80 something Slant nosed Waletail awhile back – assuming it was the real deal – he was asking about $6500-7500 for it. So if I had to guess I’d say that if it was in pristine condition it would sell for about two or three less than the real McCoy. All that coupled with the high miles (~264,000) I'd make a rough guess at $3000 to $4000 tops if it was my money.

The good news is that it looks to be pretty much cancer (rust) free. However as you can tell by the photos its body isn’t in the best of shape – the old gal who owned it managed to damage every corner before she passed away. While it seems to run fine it was the recipient of a power plant swap not too long ago. The neighbor insists the motor is either an 83 or an 84’ vintage.

If it was mine I’d research what it’d cost to either replace or fix the damaged finders and possibly revert it back to the normal. But minus the outlandish slant nose & fold away headlights, but keep the flared finders and wider rubber.

Personally I’m not a body & finder man and would much rather have a strait body with horrible mechanicals than the other way around.

 

[mattmacklind3]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

If it was mine Id just drive it into the ground and forget about it!

 

[Bret]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

[ QUOTE ]
If it was mine Id just drive it into the ground and forget about it!

[/ QUOTE ]And at the end of the day, this may be my final advice to my friend too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[kennypinkerton]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

I always liked the 930 look.

 

[jackq]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

Makes me want to go back to the shop tonite and hug both of my 911s...my 70E and 75S...parked next to my 76 and 77 B roadsters and 69 MGC-GT....

 

[kennypinkerton]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

Hug 'em hard!

 

[DrEntropy]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

I respect Porsches. I like the complexity. Elegant, well engineered and fast/quick. But I've said it afore: I'll work on 'em all day (and have), but when it comes to "fun per dollar" I'll OWN an LBC.

 

[kennypinkerton]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif Well said Doc.

 

[macino62]

Re: 1976' Porsche 911 Targa Slantnose - Real or No

that car would have had a 2.7 if it was stock. ...unless it was a 3.0 European Carrera...which it most likely isn't. The 3.0 that has been transplanted in this car is from a 78-83 911SC.

Realistically, this car, if mechanically sound...would be worth between 7 and 12K...depending on overall condition.

My experience is that cars like this are a can of worms.

Mike

-'73 911S (a real one..viper green)
-'67 912 (polo red)
-'66 912 (slate grey)
-'70 911T (unoriginal yellow)