Porsche not only designs some fabulous cars that evolve timelessly through the ages. Under its Porsche Design brand, the company is responsible for other Porsche branded merchandise and interesting lifestyle products. Watches, eyewear, Bluetooth-connected audio systems, shoes, ballpoint pens, apparel, and even kitchenware, are some products that Porsche Design is known to make.
2022 is a year that marks the 50th anniversary of Porsche design. So as a celebration, Porsche Design and the team at the Porsche Classic restoration factory went to great lengths to restore a 1972 911 T 2.4 Targa, and make it a little more special
Porsche Design 50 Years Ago
The grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was the designer of the original Porsche 911. In 1972, Alexander Porsche and his brother, Hans-Peter, started Porsche Design, an independent product design studio.
Since the 1950s, Porsche Design had been designing car-related accessories like apparel, luggage, bags, scale model cars. Watches were also something of particular interest to F.A Porsche. Like the 911, Porsche Design evolved and expanded its horizon to designing more products unrelated to the automotive space. Things like sunglasses, industrial products, household appliances, furniture, and consumer goods.
The design company now operates under Porsche AG. While Porsche Design debuted its first modern watch series in 2014. The first Porsche Design timepiece was the Chronograph 1 in 1972. We will get to why that is important in a moment.
1972 911 Targa By Classic
To mark the anniversary of Porsche Design, naturally a 1972 model year 911 T 2.4 Targa was found and restored to its former glory by Porsche Classic. The classic 911 Targa is said to have been found in poor condition. Porsche reports that several key components were also missing. But it was not that big of an issue. Porsche decided to upgrade the engine as well as its chassis to a 911 S 2.4 Targa spec.
In 1972, the 911 T 2.4 Targa’s engine made 130 hp and 144 lb-ft. Its 2.4-liter flat-6 engine and dry-sump lubrication. The restored model was upgraded with mechanical fuel injection and power output has been improved to 187 hp. It is finished in black exterior paint with a black interior. Accented by the black-gray checkered upholstery, a pattern Porsche calls ‘Sport-Tex’.
The Fuchs rims are anodized. The side stripes with the Porsche Design lettering use a Platinum satin finish. The classic Targa roll bar is finished similarly. This was done as a contrast to the brushed stainless steel of the classic model. A matte black finish can be found on the Targa badge. But a special treat is the ‘Porsche Design 50th Anniversary’ emblem placed on the grille on the engine cover at the rear. It features a reproduction of F.A. Porsche’s signature. Finishing off the factory restoration project is a special box containing detailed vehicle documentation, a key pouch, which is an F.A. Porsche original, and a model of the restored vehicle has also been made.
The 911 Targa Restoration Process
The classic 911 was manufactured the same year Porsche Design, the company, was launched. The German automaker claims that the classic model took two whole years to revive and restore to its former glory.
Like neurotic Porsche purists are, Porsche Classic usually works to restore any old model to its original spec and design. However, Uwe Makrutzki, Head of Porsche Classic Factory Restoration, said, “We deliberately took a different approach with this project. We've created a unique vehicle that blends tradition and present-day and bears the signature of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche". The reason to go black was that it was Ferdinand Alexander’s preferred color.
However, the most challenging operation was the interior. The seat upholstery was particularly difficult, trying to make modern materials conform to historic dimensions. Porsche says that the strength and elasticity of the chosen material made it difficult to finish the 50-year-old seats.
Inspiration For The 1972 911 Targa
The color scheme and special touches we see on the ‘72 911 Targa pay homage to F.A. Porsche of course and his love for the color black. The color scheme is also a tribute to his first watch, the Chronograph 1. The timepiece was extra special because it was the first watch in history to use a black case and a black dial. It was considered innovative at the time.
To further mark the occasion, Porsche Design created a modern limited edition Chronograph 1, limited to 500 examples. Porsche has also designed a modern 992 911 Targa GTS with a similar design scheme to the classic 911 Targa. This $200,000 special edition sportscar will be limited to 750 examples. Understandably, there is no word on the price of the restored classic car. What a shame.