PICK OF THE DAY: Almost There 1972 Porsche 911 T Targa

While the earlier short-wheelbase Porsche 911s have been in extraordinary demand lately, the “longhood” cars of 1972 remain some of the most coveted. 1972 brought fuel injection to the base 911 T (in the US) such that the full line, with the E and the S, now had MFI linked to the competent  2.4 liter motor. 1972 is also sought after as it was the only year that featured an external oil flap, located just aft of the passenger door. Aside from the visual difference, it correlated to the tank itself being moved in front of the rear wheels, which improved balance and handling, minimized oil surge and kept rocks and debris from damaging the shell. The rumor is that gas station attendants (which were still prevalent at the time)—unfamiliar with the location of the tank (and likely the motor as well)—assumed the flap was for gasoline and were no doubt surprised when the fuel quickly reached the top of the tank. Owners in turn were at least as surprised when their motors seized. Thus in 1973, Porsche returned the tank to its previous position and eliminated the flap. The ’72 E-Modelle and ’73 F-Modelle isn’t too far behind the earlier short-wheelbase cars, with recent auction prices eclipsing $100,000 for an S, $70-80K for an E and $60-70K for the Ts. This ’72 T Targa will need some love to bring it to that level, but it doesn’t appear far off. It has the matching numbers engine and transmission and appears to have an original interior, though it will need some attention including upholstery repair, dashboard (both relatively inexpensive), and door pockets (these aren’t cheap). In addition, while the floor pans look to be solid, it will need some rust repair in the undercarriage and typical areas on the body. Finally, given the thickness of paint on the car from numerous resprays, a quality bare-metal paint job would go a long way to bring the car up to a high standard (rust spots and skewed trim could be addressed at the same time). Besides the model year, its has some other pluses: its original Glacier Blue color is perfect for an early 70s 911 and it matches its Certificate of Authenticity. It has a well-documented history including the highly-prized maintenance book and ample service records. Furthermore, it is a nicely optioned car with S gauges and trim, leather steering wheel (swathed in an additional aftermarket cover in the photos), and tinted glass. The seller’s asking price of $45,000 is justifiable, albeit a little strong as there is work to be done and, despite their collectivity, they don’t fetch much in No. 3 or No. 4 driver condition. That said, the market continues to escalate and it won’t be long before anything under $50K is a bargain. Find it here on Craigslist in Tuscon AZ.