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I’m always intrigued by the variety of market specific vehicles that Volkswagen has produced over the years. From the myriad of Citi Golfs I’ve seen all over South Africa to the SP2 of the Brasilian market, this is a company that’s been very adept at making niche models for regional tastes. Case in point this 1975 Karmann Ghia TC for sale in São Paulo, Brasil. Produced from 1970 through 1976, this coupe was based on the Type 3 chassis and used the 1600cc “pancake” flat-4. This was the direct successor to the Type 14 Karmann Ghia and was sold only in South America. Just over 18,000 copies were ever produced.
I’m fairly certain that the very first Porsche 912 I featured here at GCFSB was one of the single-year 912E. In the three years since then, I’ve never featured it again. That is in part because the long-hood models are simply much better looking, but also they’ve tended to make more sense when their values are compared with those of their long-hood 911 brethren. Because mid-year 911s haven’t shown nearly the same high values the 912E doesn’t attract our notice quite as much. However, the long-hood 912 has begun to rise enough that they no longer seem like the wonderful values they once did. Perhaps the 912E can begin to make a little more sense. In that regard, I’m curious to have a look at where one might sell. We come across them pretty rarely, and frankly most of them are in pretty bad shape. But the one we see here, a Sepia Brown 1976 Porsche 912E with Tan interior, looks in pretty good shape. It needs work, as the seller readily admits, but the overall condition appears quite sound and perhaps the value it shows will begin to bring these into greater favor.
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!
I believe I’ve said this before, but red Porsches have pretty much gone out of style. I can’t remember the last time I saw one on the road and there’s a pretty good chance that if you do see one it will be an older model rather than a 997 or 991. I have no idea why this is the case as red cars still seem prevalent among other marques. But a red Porsche is now a rare thing. This wasn’t always the case. Or, since my memory of the ’80s may be lacking, at the very least we see red Porsches quite frequently on the second hand market. For me, the dearth of red 911s currently available is a negative. I love the look and just like with blue, red seems to contrast well with a wide variety of interior colors making for a good number of excellent color combinations. This particular red Porsche showcases that well as it sits with one of the more rare interior options. Here we have a Guards Red 1988 Porsche 930 Coupe, located in Wisconsin, with a Mahogany leather interior and 49,500 miles on it.
