1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa

For the second of my value-911 posts I will move on to the model that followed upon the success of the 911SC. There is little that separates the 3.2 Carrera aesthetically from its predecessor, so for those in love with the design of the G-Series 911 in general either model makes for an excellent option. As the model name implies, the fundamental distinguishing characteristic of these 911s is their 3.2 liter flat-six as an upgrade over the 3.0 liter engine of the SC. Both engines are fantastically reliable when maintained properly and though their overall character may show small differences these two models stand shoulder to shoulder on nearly every 911 enthusiast’s list of cars to own. With the 3.2 Carrera available from 1984-1989, I have purposely chosen an example from the years prior to 1987 as the change to the G50 5-speed transmission for that model year has garnered the later models quite a bit more attention and as such prices can rise dramatically relative to their earlier peers. The particular example we see here, a Guards Red 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa located in California with 42K miles on it, will come at a premium due to its low mileage, but it seemed too nice to pass up and ultimately, even with the higher initial cost, it should stand an excellent chance of maintaining, or even gaining, in value over the course of its ownership.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa on eBay

Year: 1985
Model: 911 Carrera Targa
Engine: 3.2 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 42,000 mi
Price: Reserve Auction

Offered for sale is an absolutely striking, extremely original, mechanically excellent 1985 Porsche 911 Targa with only 42k original miles from new. Finished in iconic and factory original Guards Red paint over black leather, the car is as tight and sound as it is beautiful, a rare original example that comes its books and manuals (including a stamped service booklet), a binder full of service records back to the original owner, the original window sticker and clean CARFAX report. Whether you’re in the market as a seasoned Porsche collector or just as a weekend enthusiast, this exceptionally original, strong and gorgeous example deserves your serious consideration.

Delivered new by HBL Inc. Tysons Corner (the Porsche dealership in Vienna, Virginia) to Mr. Robert Green as a gift for his wife, it was lovingly cared for and used sparingly for the ensuing 12 years, until being sold with 18k miles on the odometer to a Mr. Steven Yearout of nearby Great Falls, VA. Mr. Yearout would keep the car until 2003, when he sold it with 29k miles to its third owner, a Mr. Michael Arbisi of Gainesville, FL, whose tenure with the car lasted until 2005, when it was sold with 33k miles to it’s fourth and most recent owner, Mr. Harry Rose of Miami, FL. He would keep the car for the better part of a decade, using it as a sparing weekend driver and accruing less than 10k additional miles before we were able to acquire it in a trade on a classic Mercedes earlier this year. Each of the car’s four owners always held the car in the highest regard, keeping it meticulously maintained and properly garaged.

The car’s gorgeous original Guards Red finish is exemplary, consistently deep and lustrous and marred only by the most negligible of imperfections (a few rock chips and the like), commensurate with any well-cared-for 42k mile car. The body is entirely straight with factory consistent panel fits and gaps throughout, showing absolutely no evidence of any accidents. The rubber is in excellent condition, as is the targa top, showing virtually no wear on both the exterior and the headliner. The Fuchs wheels are impeccable and wrapped in BF Goodrich tires with plenty of remaining tread. The car’s undercarriage is completely rust-free, original and untouched, further testament to the high level of care provided by its fastidious owners.

The car’s interior is equally as clean, the original black leather seats showing only nominal wear. The same can said of the carpets and interior panels with door pocket armrests that retain their shape – a common issue on more used examples of this model. The dash is free of cracks and it houses a Blaupunkt Calgary in-dash CD player. Per the original window sticker, the car left the factory with the following options:

Steering Wheel with Raised Hub
16” Forged Alloy Wheels
Automatic Heating Control
Cruise Control
Sport Shock Absorbers
Alarm System

The car’s bulletproof original 3.2L engine fires up without any smoke or hesitation, pulling strongly and smoothly through each of the transmission’s gears. Compression is even and strong, as is oil pressure, and the car’s brakes and suspension are excellent. It’s easy to understand why this era of 911s is one of the most desirable: it beautifully melds efficiency, reliability and everyday ride quality with a truly visceral, vintage driving feel that is sure to provide anyone behind the wheel a wonderfully grin-inducing experience.

If you’re in the market for a 1980s Carrera, there are very few examples that can best this exceptional 911. It checks all the right boxes: extremely original, only 42k original miles, iconic color combination, clean cosmetics and strong, well-maintained mechanicals. This is arguably one of the best examples of one of Porsche’s best creations and with the market reflecting continued and rapid appreciation, we expect interest to be considerable.

We want this car to go to great home and would be happy to answer any questions, so please feel free to email us or call us at 805-202-4557. You can also visit us online at GoodmanReed.

Like the previous Guards Red 911SC this 3.2 Carrera Targa looks in wonderful shape belying its age though representative of its low mileage. A few of the photos make the exterior paint appear somewhat dull, while other photos show the sort of gloss and pop we would expect, so the natural light may be playing some tricks on the photography. The interior has no such problems and appears almost completely original. This car is also helped by coming with a full ownership history and what looks like an ample amount of documentation of its maintenance history as well. All together, a really nice example of an early Carrera Targa. We still have quite a few days left in this auction with bidding sitting at $38,100 (reserve unmet), so it looks like we may even see this surpass $40K prior to auction’s end.

-Rob