1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 Targa

The 1974-5 911 Carrera Targa is amongst the rarest and perhaps least appreciated of the fast, classic 911's. The car uses all of the same running gear as the iconic 1973 2.7 RS and gives the same blistering 150mph performance from its 210bhp 911/83 engine. "Motor' magazine recorded an astonishing 0-60mph time of 5.5 seconds for a new 2.7 Carrera in 1974. The model was built for just two years and only 42 RHD cars were imported officially into the UK, of which just 11 are known to still be in use today. It is therefore massively rarer than any RS. It is also worthy of note that Porsche have never since put their top motorsport specification engine in an open car, so the 2.7 Carrera Targa is unique in the manufacturer's history.

This car is an original right hand drive early chassis number, built in late 1973 and supplied new in January 1974 to its first UK owner. It is offered for sale on behalf of a well-known British classic Porsche enthusiast who acquired the car in 2011 from its owner of the previous 23 years. At this point the car was carefully recommissioned, restored externally in its original Grand Prix white by a marque specialist and the seats were retrimmed in period-correct red light basket weave material from Southbound Motor Trimmers. Two days were spent ensuring the Targa top fitted correctly and kept out the worst of the British weather. The mechanicals were restored earlier by Alan Rouse of Essex-based Autostrasse, including rebuilding the engine and upgrading it to hydraulic cam chain tensioners. At the same time it was fully serviced, the suspension geometry reset. The complex mechanical injection system was set up by a specialist last year. Unsurprisingly it drives beautifully and the acceleration is still incredible, even by today's standards.

The car is very original and complete, including its matching number engine and all of the hard-to-find period parts such as the hugely rare original factory ducktail engine lid, 380mm steering wheel and 180mph speedo. It comes complete with a full history file including the original service book and manual and MoT certificates back to 1982. There is a current MoT to March 2014 and tax until November 2013, although being built in 1973 road tax will become free next year.

A RHD 2.7 Carrera Targa of this standard has not been offered openly to the market for some time and the scarcity of the model, both in the UK and worldwide, makes this a very exciting opportunity. With 1973 RS's regularly selling for well over £200,000 and 1974 Carrera Coupés over £100,000,- this 2.7 Carrera Targa looks like astonishingly good value for what is essentially the same motor car but with a little more wind-in-the-hair!