1973 Porsche 911E Targa

In many ways this Porsche 911 possesses a lot of what makes me love these cars so much, but which has seemed to be unobtainable as prices for these early cars have elevated. It’s a mix of original spec and modifications, but it doesn’t stray far remaining true to that original design but still possessing some nice upgrades. It’s neither pristine nor a dog. This is all to say that there is just something about the general ethos of this 911 that draws me in. Here we have a Beige Grey 1973 Porsche 911E Targa, located in New York, with, the seller assumes, around 149,000 miles on it. While Beige Grey sounds about as boring as is possible it does actually look very good, and even if it’s not Tangerine or Viper Green – colors that would really attract our notice – it is still a nice alternative and gives this 911 a gritty feel that works well with its overall aesthetic. I even like the contrast of the Minilite wheels at the rear!

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1973 Porsche 911E Targa on eBay

Year: 1973
Model: 911E Targa
Engine: 2.4 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 149,000 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

This is a numbers matching 1973 911E Targa, a rust free car in excellent condition, with a strong engine, that was recently tuned (carbs tuned, valve adjustment, new spark plugs and wires, timing reset) and is ready for the next owner. You could drive this car cross country if need be (I have). The color of this 911E model is a special order in Beige Grey which is even more spectacular in person than the camera or photo’s below can show. It came w/S front spoiler and gauges. I purchased this car in October, 2005 from the 3rd owner, who purchased it on 4/96 from the 2nd owner. It was a northern California car, in immaculate condition and has remained so, under my care. Whenever it needed something, it was taken care of immediately by the best local Porsche shops (TRE when I was in LA, and Advanced Automotive of New Windsor, NY). I have all receipts since 1996 which covers my ownership and the prior owner. The odometer shows current mileage to be just under 49,000 (which I believe is actually 149,000 based upon records and previous owners as most cars of this generation have turned over the 5 digit odometer once). This car is fast, pretty and nicknamed the “minx” for good reason.

From the Kardex here is how this 911E was originally ordered, and subsequently delivered, to the original owner in New Orleans, back in 1973:
Engine # 6231368
Dealer UO = New Orleans
Date of invoice = March 1st, 1973
Color 5510 = Beige Grey
Interior 22 = Leatherette Brown, Seat Inlays Corduroy
Options : G53 (group number) which contains;
400=alloy wheels 6×15
404=stabilizer front and rear 15mm
470=Comfort-equipment
402=koni dampers,”S”-brakes
426=chrome trims on wheel housings
490=antenna left,suppression
568=colored windows

The Certificate Of Authenticity shows the production completion date as March 25th, 1973. This 911E model was one of only 1,055 E Targa’s built in 1973 (source: 911E.org) and one of the latter to roll out of the factory, before production of the last “longhoods” ended in July 1973. The E model is faster and more valuable than the 911 T’s, and second only to the S model (which are $150-$250k cars now). The E model will continue to appreciate in value, in my humble opinion, as the S already has.

The targa has factory RS steel rear fenders, with the lower body contoured to match flares.
The car was disassembled to bare metal and painted June 2001 in the original single stage color. It has a few blemishes as would be expected of a “driver” car but the quality of the paint job was obviously very good as it shows very respectably 15 years after. Both battery boxes were removed at this time, and an Optima battery was relocated to the smugglers box. The front light housings were modified for better airflow to the fender-mounted oil coolers – there is a carrera cooler in passenger side fender and Mocal cooler in driver side fender. It comes with stock rear bumperettes, rear package tray, partial tool kit, jack, and spare tire on cookie cutter rim.

The interior shows very well, and is mostly original (carpets were replaced 12 years ago with an RS kit from original fit interiors). It has two rare (and super comfortable) Scheel 300 vintage rally seats (imported from NML Auto in Germany). It has an RS door panel on the drivers side. It has 3-point seat belts, and 5-point seat belt mounting bolts. The vintage steering wheel is a Mark Donohue Raid wheel which was recovered and double wrapped in black leather. It has an original partial tool kit that is also included.
The targa top is in great shape and the targa seals were replaced in the last 12 months.

It has a set of original Bosch H1 Euro headlights, with the rare french yellow glass lens on it currently. I have both a set of clear glass lens, as well as the original US spec “sugar scoop” headlights to go with the car if the new owner desires. The hood has a set of Cibie Rally Hood Lamps (Pallas) with covers, which were remanufactured (repro) in Europe about 8 years ago. There are period correct fog lamps also on the front of the car. As the hood already had holes drilled for hood ties, we reused the holes to mount the rally lights. I have a spare rust free long hood that is available to the new owner, if he/she requests, in order to easily and quickly bring the car back to stock (the hood is primed and needs painting) from the current sports purpose look, providing reversibility if need be (although the rgruppe badge does not go with the car). The Porsche hood badge was restored and is in perfect condition.

Specs: The 2.4 E motor was converted to 40 IDA Weber carburetors (carbs were rebuilt and rejetted last year by Paul Abbott of Permance Oriented). It has a rotary fuel pump, fuel pressure gauge, MSD 6 A ignition, MSD Blaster coil, Magnecor plug wires, Petronix pointless ignition. Work done has included new timing chains, chain housing, cam end plates & up dated to oil-fed tensioners. It has SSI heat exchangers, and a sport muffler. The 915 transmission is stock, shifts great, is modified with late style spring, and has a light clutch. For brakes it has SC front calipers, s/s brake lines, Zimmerman front & rear cross drilled rotors, with a 19mm master cylinder. It has long wheel studs front & rear w/steel lug nuts and factory 3/4″ rear wheel spacers. There are 7 & 8 x 15 Fuchs wheels, (but a pair of 8×15 Minilite wheels are on the rear currently with the 7×15 Fuchs on front) with matching center caps, and an RS finish by Wiedman. Tires are 205 & 225. The suspension setup is as follows – Bilstein front struts, Bilstein front & rear sport shocks, 22mm front & 30mm rear torsion bars, 22mm adjustable front & rear sway bars, aluminum trailing arms, factory rear spring plates, and Jerry Woods rear sway bar consoles.

I am listing this locally also so I reserve the right to cancel this auction. I am part of the Early911S, Pelican and RGruppe communities, and this car is well known in these circles. My car was featured in Total 911 magazine (issue # 77) as you will see from the picture above. PCNA hand picked my story to be included in a limited edition printed book, that was presented to members of the Porsche family (Porsche Family Tree was the name of the promotion). I am available to answer any questions by calling me @ 646-727-0224.

Thank you for looking!

I’ve always liked the 911E as a middle-road between the T and the S, especially as prices for the S began to rise precipitously. An E isn’t cheap by any means, but it lags behind the S. You get a bit more refinement than in the entry-level T (though by modern standards this is negligible) along with more power from a lower-powered version of the MFI 2.4 liter found in the S. The engine in this E has received a bit of work, though it remains the number-matching unit originally delivered with the car. The transmission also appears to be the original 915 5-speed. For buyers who may want to (eventually) return this 911 to its original form having the original engine and transmission here are strong points. The interior may be more difficult to return to its original state given that it would need new seats with Corduroy inserts, but the interior as we see it now looks very nice and purposeful. Like with most 911s the crux of the matter comes down to price and at current bidding this one looks very nice: $49,100. Unsurprisingly, the reserve is unmet and we’ll have to see if bidding can rise enough to meet the seller’s reserve. In the end, this should be a chance to get an interesting 911E, but perhaps for a 911T level price.

-Rob