EXTENDED POST
Decisions…decisions…..! One of the key questions to be answered when restoring a classic car is “Just how far do I go?” Do I want an immaculate concourse garage queen, or am I really looking for a classic weekend tourer that I can belt around country roads and happily park at a pub for lunch.
The team at NINEAUTO are working through these decisions together with customer and friend Clive Hammond as they restore his 73 911 Targa S. With prices of these pre-impact bumper cars skyrocketing, investment in originality will pay dividends should Clive ever decide to sell.
As with so many classic cars, the road to ownership is not always about scouring the classifieds and simply negotiating a price. Clive’s journey was not so direct.
One day, Clive’s wife noticed a photo of the Targa on a work colleague’s desk. Her colleague just happened to mention that his friend was considering selling the car. After a hasty call from wife to husband, Clive was on the phone arranging an inspection. It was clearly a predetermined outcome, as, with cheque already made out and burning a hole in his pocket, Clive drove to Ballarat to buy the car that “he must have”. Clive readily admits that it was love at first sight and his decision to buy was “heart over head”. That was 16 years ago, and Clive and his wife drove the Targa every week until 2 years ago, when the mechanical and cosmetic issues grew larger and into the need for total res
toration. The car was parked up until recently when Clive decided it was time for a makeover.
Looking like it had seen better days, the white 73 Targa arrived at the NINEAUTO premises in Highett on the back of a flatbed truck. The car was rolled gently off and into the restoring room. NINEAUTO’s Stuart Drummond proceeded to carefully disassemble the Targa whilst assessing each component for wear and suitability for restoration.
Early Days
Back in late ’73, the Targa was sold new in UK spec to a customer who picked up the car directly from the Stuttgart factory. Delivered in Greenland White (Little known paint code 2210!), the car was spec’d with a 5 speed 915 gearbox powered by a 2.4lt 6 cylinder S engine. Extravagant options included black leather pepita sports seats, Koni sports shocks, driver’s mirror (!), rear wiper blade, trims around the wheel guards, 85lt long range fuel tank and black Porsche lettering above the sills. With 190hp at 6,500 rpm and weighing in at a little over 1050kg, (and of course after a brief run in!), I’m sure the new owner would have been tempted by the 0-100km/h in 6.5sec acceleration and the 225km/h top speed, as he sped down the autobahns west, from Stuttgart to home in England.
Restoration underway
Fast forward to 2015. The pre-galvanised body had succumbed to time and weather. Rust ate away at the door hinge panels, B pillars, kidney bowls and around the fuel filler flap. After all the parts were removed, the body was sent away to a well known panel and paint specialist to remove the rust, restore each panel before a bare metal respray all over.
The bodywork complete, the shell was recently delivered back to NINEAUTO for re-assembly. As you can see, Stuart and the team have begun the process in earnest.
Long gone is the original 2.4lt motor. It was replaced at some point with a more powerful and torquey 3lt SC engine. Despite the replacement, the engine didn’t run and was worn out.
Stuart has carefully reconditioned the entire motor replacing the typical suspects being rings, bearings rod bolts, chains and guides. Surprisingly the pistons and barrels were in good condition and only needed a light machining. The heads were also reconditioned with new valves, guides and springs. At the same time, the alternator and starter motor were also overhauled. Each part was cleaned, restored or replaced. Tinware was stripped and repainted. New SSI stainless exhaust was fitted replacing the rusted old heat exchangers.
The finished engine is a labour of love. Stuart has added his flair by electroplating the fixings and pipework. It now looks better than new! Clive will no doubt enjoy the 3lt’s full 204hp and 265 NM of torque on his weekend country runs.
Like the engine, the 915 box was not in great condition. Stuart stripped the unit, to clean and inspect the wear parts. It wasn’t too bad but the worn synchros were clearly the cause of baulking and the common 915 “graunch” on second and third shifts. Now overhauled, the 915 has been re-shimmed to factory tolerances including replacement of the synchro and dog clutch on each gear. The box will now feel tight and positive like it did in 1973.
The brakes have received the same treatment with a full overhaul of calipers whilst the disks and pads have been replaced.
Likewise the shocks and suspension have been replaced and Stuart is in the process of fitting the newly powder coated trailing arms as part of the new assembly.
Stay tuned to next issue as the build progresses and Clive makes the call on the interior and wheels!