1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa

The Porsche Targa: 60 Years of Open-Air Engineering .

For nearly 60 years, Porsche has been perfecting the art of open-air driving—and few designs have become as instantly recognizable as the Porsche Targa.

The story began at the 1965 Frankfurt Motor Show, where Porsche introduced a new kind of open-top sports car. The idea was simple but clever: give drivers the thrill of open-air motoring while addressing growing safety concerns, particularly in the United States. The concept was named after the legendary Targa Florio, the infamous Sicilian endurance race where Porsche had enjoyed considerable success. Porsche patented the Targa design in August 1965, and by the fall of 1966, the Targa was offered across the 911, 911 S and 912 lineups—quickly becoming a hit. Fortunately, the name stuck and the Targa Bar, went on to define the silhouette for generations and became an icon of its own. More than just a styling feature, it serves as a structural backbone—instantly recognizable and uniquely Porsche.

This Porsche is the "G" Body style produced from 1974-1989. The 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa here is finished in the iconic Porsche color of Guards Red (027). Under the decklid is Porsche's legendary 3.2-liter flat-six, fuel-injected and producing approximately 220 horsepower, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. A top speed of aprox 148 MPH. The odometer shows 68,492 original miles.

Best of all, this Porsche retains its original Guards Red paint, Black leather interior, engine, and transmission from the Porsche factory in Stuttgart. It remains remarkably true to the car that left the factory more than four decades ago.

The car's story is just as special.In January 1985, Lewis Spitz and his wife, Beverly, purchased the Porsche new from Jess Jones Porsche in West New York, New Jersey. The original window sticker indicates a MSRP of $35,975.00. The Spitz's enjoyed the car for nearly three decades, taking it on countless weekend drives throughout the Northeast and making memories along the way. In October 2013, the Targa passed to family friend Pino Angiulli, who kept the car in the family for another nine years.

In 2022, I had the privilege of becoming its next caretaker. That's really what this Porsche represents: not just 60 years of clever engineering and iconic design, but a piece of history that has been driven, enjoyed, cared for, and passed from one enthusiast to the next. After all, the best Porsches aren't simply owned. They're cared for, driven, and handed down. This car will be handed down to my son.