964 Targa

[Woody.GT]

I've always wanted a 911, I've always wanted a 964 Targa. I came a whisker away in 2002 for my 30th birthday and nearly bought one for £14k. Someone rightly pointed out at the time that whilst I could afford to buy it, I'd struggle to afford to run it. That sent me off down a very enjoyable Alfa Romeo path, I bought an Alfa Spider instead and then a GT Junior. which I still have. But still the 964 itch was there. So with my 50th upcoming I decided to try and make it happen. As is always the case, when you want one there's never any available and prices are always high! Anyway, sometimes luck does come your way and I had seen a white 964 targa locally for many years and recently it had been parked up on a driveway not moving. I spoke to the owner and he said he hadn't been able to drive it recently due to ill health. He'd owned it for 20 years and had bought locally. It had recently had a full engine rebuild at a renowned local specialist, 65,000 miles, 2 owners, full service history. On paper it ticked every box but as it has been sat outside the body is a little sorry for itself. Up on a ramp and all looked good structurally so I took the plunge and a deal was done. White would not have been my first choice in colour but again with so many other things being right it was too good to pass up.
What a fantastic car. Beautifully built and weighted, everything feels just right. It has not disappointed one bit. I had plans initially to replace the D-90's wheels with Cups and lower it a little but the stock original look is really growing on me and I'm going to keep it this way for the foreseeable. I'll drive it daily for the summer and see what niggles come out.
One very happy (nearly) 50 year old!
I'll post some more pics on my Insta @woody.gt

[MrVert]

Very nice!

Looks great in white

[RiccardoG]

Great story, nice car! I was in the same boat in 2001 but actually did take the plunge back then and bought a manual 962 coupe (2WD). It was LHD as back then they were cheaper but also, at 6ft5, fitted me much better (don;t quite fit in the RHD cars). Owned it two years and then, a bit like you, decided there was too much $$ risk in the long term and got a new MINI Cooper instead. Running joke on the forums at the time was stating "engine rebuild!" as the solution to any issue, no matter how trivial, as so many did indeed require rebuilds.

I later moved from air to water cooled (despite being an air cooled purist at the time) to a 997. That was 10 yr ago and still own it, love it and now a classic too in my view.

Love the D90s on your car. I always thought that any 964 sits a bit high, especially at the front. To me the D90 with a slight;y lowered look is the "killer 964".

Really hope you enjoy it, hard earned after so many years.