When the new 2021 Porsche 911 Targa got introduced this year, it made us think of all the other forgotten targa-top cars. Introduced by Porsche as a way of making their convertibles safer in case of rollovers and to provide the benefits of both a coupe and a convertible, targa-top cars feature a removable roof section that rolls behind the seats. And although Porsche was the first one to use and trademark the term, numerous iconic sports cars offer targa-top versions that seem to be unfairly neglected. All in all, it’s the perfect car for driving in the summer with the wind in your hair, while experiencing top-notch performance.
Targa-tops were quite appealing to many manufacturers who decided to copy Porsche and deliver a combination of a coupe and convertible. In this article, we wrote about ten sports cars whose Targa-top versions too often get neglected.
10 Fiat X1/9
People not only have forgotten that the X1/9 was offered with a targa top, but they have forgotten it even existed. The X1/9 was among the first cars to offer mid-engined motoring to the masses, attainable for anyone with modest means, at the time when mid-engined sports cars were considered luxurious and expensive.
The X1/9 was launched in 1972, and besides its exotic looks, it took most of the mechanical parts of previous Fiat models. The engine and the four-speed gearbox were borrowed from the 128, and because they were placed in the middle, the handling was such a joy. Unfortunately, buying one today is costly and a real challenge, due to their diminishing numbers these past years.
9 Acura NSX-T
When Acura launched the NSX-T, it never explained what the T-stood for, because the name Targa was already trademarked by Porsche, but we all knew. However, the NSX-T even after so many years, still drives fantastically. That’s due to its joyous engine and amazing chassis.
It can reach 60mph in only 4.8 seconds, a number that matches well its elegant and phenomenal look. Not to mention how well it handles in corners, like an $80,000 car. It’s the ultimate Japanese Porsche Targa, but less known and more underrated.
8 Bentley Continental SC
When people mention open-top Bentleys, everyone thinks about the convertible ones. However, in the company’s hundred-year history, there’s only one targa top car. And that’s the Continental Sedanca Coupe, which was based on the Continental T and launched in 1998 at the Paris Auto Show with a price of $319, 000.
The SC featured a 6.75 liter V8 turbo with a 406 horsepower output. However, what really made it famous at that time was the roof, which got forgotten shortly after the ‘90s. Today, spotting it on the street is an event that should be celebrated, let alone owning one.
7 Chevrolet Corvette
The weirdest thing about the Chevrolet Corvette is that everyone tends to forget that it is offered with a Targa top. In fact, for more than 35 years of the Corvette, the targa top was available. For example, the early concepts for the C3 Corvette featured a targa top which was quite problematic for the car’s aerodynamics.
Moving along, the 1984 C4 Corvette improved the aerodynamics, and used the top in a production car. Although there have been some fixed roof variations, the targa top was present for most of the time, even for today’s C8 Corvette.
6 Toyota MR2
We know that Toyota has a reputation for building boring cars, but the second generation MR2 is anything but boring. Mk1 MR2’s replacement featured a new design, one that has aged well today. And its targa top might not be as fancy as some other options here, but it works and it’s relatively quick.
On the other hand, the MR2 Mk2’s engine doesn’t accelerate right in, but still as soon as it does, it handles perfectly. Although it doesn’t have much power, the MR2, with its great aerodynamics doesn’t need it.
5 Bristol 412
The Bristol 412 gives you the feeling of a Bentley if they weren’t swallowed up by Rolls-Royce. The 412 is a non-conventional beautiful car, too huge to be considered a classic. Nevertheless, besides the amazing targa top, the 412’s performance is truly spectacular, almost muscular.
Even with all this weight, the British brute handles amazingly; all the torque turns the car into a gentleman’s hot rod. Only when the car corners, its weight become slightly noticeable. Otherwise, the comfort, sound, and looks make the 412 a perfect candidate for a cruising, wind in the hair, type of car.
4 Triumph TR4
The TR4 is an extremely underrated classic sports car that probably invented the targa top and beat Porsche to it by five years, depending on your definition of the term. The Triumph introduced the targa top in 1961 with the TR4, but the TR5 is the most sophisticated version of it.
The top works amazingly, especially with the section of the rear window that reduces the rattle and shakes, which usually comes as a package in Triumph cars. And most importantly, the TR4 is even more lightweight than the Porsche 911 and has more torque, which makes the driving experience amazing.
3 Toyota Supra
The Supra is among Toyota’s most famous models and it is known for a lot of things. However, what people always forget is that it’s offered with a targa top. Although Toyota removed the roof from the third generation A70 Supra in 1987, the Supra Sport Roof model in 1993 brought it back.
Unfortunately, today’s new Supra is sold as a coupe, leaving us reminiscent for the time when it had a targa top, which explains the high prices for a used one today.
2 Ferrari F355 GTS
The F355 GTS is probably Ferrari’s first genuine racing supercar, released for the sole reason to compete with the 993. The F355 is not only visually stunning, although related to the 308; it is also extremely easy to drive, whether you’re going to the supermarket or the racetrack.
On the other hand, the targa top gives you enough fresh air, but not too much, making it the perfect targa top car for high speeds. And lastly, the F355 GTS is one of the rarest Ferraris out there, with a sound so scary; it calls for you to go fast.
1 TVR Tuscan S
TVR cars are not usually known for their reliability or their practicality, but as soon as you drive the Tuscan S, you change your mind. Only sitting on the Tuscan S feel like an out-of-body experience, almost like being in a futuristic sci-fi Hollywood movie.
Wind in your hair, the sound of the waves right by your side, until you encounter humanity’s biggest risk. But even if you do, no worries, the Tuscan S has proven to be a very submissive car, handling and accelerating perfectly when you need it to.