Vehicle Details
- Year: 1973
- Make: Porsche
- Model: 911 S Targa
- VIN: 9113310541
- Mileage: 64,702mi (5-digit odometer)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Light Ivory
- Seller Type: Dealer
- Location: Fort Wayne, IN 46818
- Dealer Fees: $199
- Lot #: V-0027653
Purchased new in Indianapolis with optional Recaro Sport Seats, this Porsche 911S Targa is one of only 925 examples produced for 1973 and represents the final year of the classic long-hood 911 (F-Body). It was sold to the current owner in January of 1981 and had reportedly undergone comprehensive engine reconditioning before it was placed in storage three years later. Revisited by the owner of Sunday Motor Co. and extensively serviced over the past several months, this 911S Targa is now being offered for auction out of its home state of Indiana.
This Targa remains finished in its original Light Ivory (131) paint color and features 911S-specific trim including a lower front spoiler, aluminum rocker moldings, and wider rubbing strips on the front and rear bumpers. Other equipment includes U.S. specifications bumperettes, chrome headlights bezels, and a chrome driver’s side mirror. The car rides on factory 15” Fuchs wheels dressed in Pirelli tires including a matching full-size spare in the trunk. Patina is shown throughout, and rust is visible along the edges of both front fenders, the lower passenger door, and the passenger side front bumper. The seller adds that a full detail has been carried out within the past 7 months. Additional images are provided in the gallery.
The cabin is fitted with a pair of factory Recaro Sport Seats trimmed in black vinyl with cloth centers. Accessories include an aftermarket under-dash air-conditioning system, leather steering wheel cover, and vintage Pioneer cassette radio. The interior is described to have been relatively well preserved with the most significant flaw being a tear on the driver’s seat bolster and one small crack on the top of the dashboard.
This 911S equips a fuel-injected 2.4-liter flat-six engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox driving the rear wheels. The engine case as well as a piston, rod, and numerous other parts were replaced at Kline-Giganti VW Porsche Audi in January of 1977 when the vehicle had 33,441 miles on the odometer. Because this case was replaced (albeit a brand-new OEM Porsche case # 91110191202), the number plate on the engine is now blank. A comprehensive engine refresh was then completed in 1982 less than 1k miles before the car was placed in storage in 1983. Service items throughout the past 7 months include new batteries, new wiper blades, a new air filter, a rebuilt distributor, a refurbished fuel tank, a new fuel pump, the Bosch MFI and fuel injectors rebuilt, new fuel filters and hoses, a new fuel level sending unit, unseized throttle linkages, a new brake line and spark plugs, and an oil change. The seller reports their main goal was to get the engine running, which was achieved with a compression test showing all cylinders between 140-160 PSI, although the flywheel is seized making this Targa currently undrivable.
This sale will include a clean title.
Auction Results
- Sold for: $59,000
- Auction End: Mar 16, 2023 07:10:00PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 2
Comments (26)
Sold for $59,000
Bid in the amount of $59,000
Last few minutes... I think it's been said but just to recap, the car comes with complete and full service history since the car was brand new. Thanks!
Alex V
Cool project, but I think it will cost $150-$200k to turn it into a decent $150k 73 911S. I completed a 1972 911 project a few years ago that started off as a better condition car, almost no rust and did all the work myself. Still cost well north of $75k.
Hi folks, we're in the last few hours of the auction so I wanted to touch base. I'll be checking back in occasionally to answer any questions and will be watching closely in the last 20-30 minutes. Let me know if I missed anything here that would be helpful in determining whether or not to place any bids.
Best regards,
Alex.
@alexv I’m not questioning the authenticity at all, but I am in the middle of restoring a factory, 100M Austin Healey, all the documentation you have is basically the essence of the car. I feel it to be true with a pre-74, 911 S. thank you for your response.
@Lony61 the title does show the S designation. If you click the contact seller button, I will show you a screenshot of that.
@alexv I do see it on the vin tag, I was just wondering if you had other documentation to go along with the car.
@alexv Thanks for the additional pictures. Can you please provide additional documentation that this is a true factory 911 S. Would it be on the title or on some other verifiable document? Thank You.
Additional photos and the video have been uploaded.
Strong 1st bid, GLWA
Just got done uploading a lot more photos, as well as a cold start video. (Seats, underbody, keys, number plates, backsides of wheels) You’ll notice some smoke from the exhaust. There is still some remnants of oil in the exhaust manifold but a good drive will clear that up. I also heard back from the owner. Here is his response regarding @Lony61’s question earlier…
“Unfortunately, the original owner isn’t around to confirm anything that happened at that point. In looking at the work invoice from Kline-Giganti Porsche (#23062), it looks as if the car could have thrown a rod. A piston and a connecting rod were replaced at the time this work was done. But, as your dad knows better than all of us, some engines need to be removed to make piston/rod repairs. I don’t know if that was the case in this instance. If it is the case, then the car essentially has 30K miles on a full dealer rebuild. That can’t be viewed as a negative.
There were other comments pertaining to rust related issues. There is, of course, what we can see on the exterior. You’ve also inspected the underbody of the car. I’m sure the pan needs some work but it is stable enough to support a full-sized spare tire on an alloy wheel. Also, although this is a Midwest based car, it is my understanding that the car was garaged the entire time that it was owned by the first owner – except for when he drove the car. The second owner, who owned the car briefly before selling it to me, also kept the car garaged. During my ownership period the car was always garaged other than when I drove it.”
@Lony61 Absolutely love to hear that. ??
I have an afflication. Eather I buy extremely original, low mile, non molested, beautiful examples or this type of project, even worse. I restored a 1963 E Type that is in a museum in New Port RI. Never make money on then or lose money, but it it the overwhelming satisfaction I get turning an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. If I win this auction this will be a most beautiful swan.
@FawsittMotors I just got quoted $250k to restore a 69S that needed similar metal/paint work and an engine rebuild. Matching numbers car that def needs saving but by someone else :)
@Bored I agree a tad optimistic, $100k would probably only cover the metal work and paint if done properly and that's assuming alot!
@FawsittMotors I think $100k minimum, at least the engine's running.
Add a $100k+ and a couple of years and you'll have a '73 911S.
Oh wow, as one currently in the middle of a Porsche project, this one is not for the faint of heart! Still, very cool potential!
This is from the heart of The Rust Belt.
@Eurogroup1, I totally agree. Planning to get those taken care of today in between some meetings. If not, I’ll absolutely be able to tomorrow.
@Lony61, first off. Thank you for the realistic bid right out of the gate. I really appreciate someone cutting right to the chase. To answer your question, it is safe to assume you’re correct but I didn’t directly ask that question to the owner. I will chat with him today and get back to you.
Good morning, folks! Excited to see the car go live! In all honesty, I expected to have more time between submitting the car and it going live so I thought I had time to get some more detailed photos (underbody, backside of all the Fuchs, keys, etc) as well as a video of the engine starting and running. I should clarify that I didn’t speak precisely about the flywheel when submitting. The flywheel is not actually seized, but rather the clutch is seized to the flywheel. With that, the engine will start and run as long as the shifter is in neutral. As stated in the description, our goal was to get the engine running, which was achieved. Once we got all the work completed, we were very pleasantly surprised by how strong the engine sounded. Anyways, thanks in an advance for coming by the auction. If you’d like to see the car in person, I’m happy to set some time aside for anyone to come by and look it over during the duration of the auction. We can put it up in the air as well if needed.
Best regards,
Alex Vorderman
Vorderman Motor Werks | Vorderman VW
Fort Wayne, IN
Please post pics of under car . How can you bid on something so rusty with no pics of the pans ? Don’t get it.
The pan’s have to be gone ? Suspension points ?
Seller, any knowledge of why a full rebuild was required at 33k miles. Did the engine throw a rod?
Bid in the amount of $52,500