1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa

I mentioned last week in my feature of a beautiful Baltic Blue Porsche 911 Speedster that one of the joys of writing about cars is coming across a car that I’m familiar with, but in a build that I have not seen. The other version of that joy comes through something akin to the car we see here, a Yellow over Black 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa, where I am somewhat unfamiliar with the car itself. The Carrera 3.0 built from 1976-1977 (which was not available for the US market) is a car I have passing familiarity with as we come across them now and then. They are pretty rare and with values not quite as white-hot as their predecessor, the Carrera 2.7 MFI, I have a sense that collectors may be holding them for now until more notice is taken of them. The Carrera 2.7 MFI has garnered tremendous appeal of late due to its use of the 2.7 liter flat-six found in the ’73 Carrera RS. The Carrera 3.0 also utilizes the engine from a hallowed Porsche name, this time a naturally-aspirated version of the 3.0 liter from the Porsche 930, but even with 930 values accelerating rapidly upward they remain far from Carrera RS territory. As such the upward rise in Carrera 3.0 values has been slower than with the Carrera 2.7 MFI. However, it is very rare to come across a Targa from either the Carrera 2.7 MFI or 3.0 and the ad here suggests there are a few special details to further enhance this Carrera’s rarity.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa on Classic Driver

Year: 1977
Model: 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa
Engine: 3.0 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 27,000 km (16,778 mi)
Price: € 198,500 ($224,710)

Unique, this Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Works Turbo Look !! Specially built for one of the largest Porsche dealers in Germany at that time, Glöckler Frankfurt. The code for this extension was described by Porsche as Nr 451. This is, of course, certified with the original “Porsche Zertifikat”. The 911 Targa Carrera 3.0 is already without this expansion quite rare, and through this factory expansion an absolute “One-off”! The so-called “Werks Turbo Look” versions started by Porsche in 1984 in their program. This WTL is from 1977, and was possibly the inspiration for the later production WTL. Some years ago full body-off restored and overhauled according to the indicated values of the birth certificate. For the collector, and investor a unique chance!!

The graphics aside, which are definitely unique but also a bit off-putting, at issue here is the Nr. 451 option package, an apparent Turbo-look option group that the ad states makes this Carrera 3.0 a 1 of 1. It is my understanding that all Carrera 3.0 received a wider rear as standard, along with the option of the whale tail from the 930. Is the package we see here something else, perhaps a further widening of the rear, or is the ad confused about its uniqueness? I think the ad is correct, but cannot be sure. From some angles the pictures here do suggest a wider rear than what was standard, which would further bridge the gap between the Carrera 3.0 and the 930. And it is certainly being priced as such. Simply on appearance many might confuse the Carrera 3.0 with the later 911SC, or even the 3.2 Carrera, and the differences between the three models are subtle, but mechanically the Carrera 3.0 is a different breed possessing both more power and a lighter weight. The example here may suffer no such confusion as it has taken many of these traits to the next level, and surely makes for a great conversation piece as it is something few will have ever seen.

-Rob