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I’ve featured just about every 911 model at one point or another and I’m fairly certain this particular model I’ve featured only one other time. We simply do not come across the 2.7-liter Carrera Targa very often, certainly much less frequently than the Carrera Coupe of the same vintage, so when we come across one it’s almost always worth stopping in to take a look. This one possesses added interest in that it comes in a rare Salmon Metallic exterior and retains much of its originality. The Carrera was the top-of-the-line model for ’74, distinguished from the base 911 most significantly by a higher horsepower engine (175 hp v. 150 hp) and from the 911S by its Carrera graphics – deleted on this Targa – ducktail rear spoiler and wider rear fenders. While all of the mid-year 911s have suffered reduced values relative to most of their long-hood predecessors, the Carreras have reached values that can exceed those of the 911T and in some cases even the 911E. They’re a far cry from their European brothers, which were basically an impact-bumpered Carrera RS Touring, but still attract plenty of notice. The one we have here was first owned by former Portland Trailblazer Sidney Wicks: a Salmon Metallic 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa, located in Oregon, with Cinnamon interior and 92,500 miles on it.
I’ve seen this car around a few times and for whatever reason have passed it by. Perhaps I thought it was priced too high; perhaps other cars took precedence. Regardless, I think it deserves some attention and, at the very least, if I did indeed pass it by because of price, then that problem has been solved as it is now up for auction without reserve. The market will decide its fate. This Porsche began life as an entry-level 911T, but has since been transformed into a far more aggressive looking and driving build. The engine is now a built 3.4 liter flat-6. We don’t have much information about the engine other than those details. I’d guess it originally was an early 3.2 liter especially since it remains mated to a 915 5-speed transmission. It is now said to be making 275 hp. That’s a substantial upgrade in power and should transform the entire character of this 911. The aesthetics fit the general ethos of quite a few modified 911s, especially those which have been backdated. The interior is spartan, but purposeful, and the exterior features a widened rear along with wider, fatter, tires to help fill out those fenders. I’d imagine given the extra power, those wider tires will be much appreciated!
We speak a lot about the performance value to be found with the 996. That designation applies most to the 996 Turbo, surely one of the best performance values on the market, but also to the standard 996 Carrera. The GT3 and GT2 have typically been considered exceptions, but when I look around at other available options within the 911 line I’m beginning to wonder whether the 996 GT3 shouldn’t also be held in such company (the GT2 is still very expensive). Granted the price of a GT3 will come in well above most other examples of the 996, including a X50 equipped 996TT, but as a total package, and for fans of natural aspiration, the GT3 brings a lot to the table. The example here showcases some of that nice value potential: a Speed Yellow 2004 Porsche 911 GT3, located in Georgia, with 25,820 miles on it.
The 1999 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe we featured back in April remains for sale. With its Mirage Metallic over Boxster Red color combination this is one of the prettiest 996s we’ve come across, but the consensus was that the price was too high. Well, it’s probably still too high, but it has been lowered by nearly $5K and now sits at $32K. If that price were lowered another $5K I suspect we’d see this 911 snapped up pretty quickly, but at least we are moving in the right direction. We’ll see whether it has any takers.
The below post originally appeared on our site April 15, 2016:
We don’t feature many of the newer model year 911s very often, but this one struck me for a number of reasons. Foremost, of course, it’s a very rare exterior color. That will always grab our attention. But I was also struck by the price. It hardly makes sense to classify any car as cheap when it has a price tag of $100K, but in a relative sense that’s exactly how this one strikes me. The color is Meissen Blue, a shade Porsche made available in the late 1950s for the 356. Seeing it on a modern Porsche really shows the juxtaposition of old and new style. It’s absolutely a unique look for the 997 and brings a softness to the Turbo’s lines that belies its performance abilities.
