Simultaneously reading the American regulatory tea leaves while reacting to consumer demand for an open-topped 911 variant, Porsche engineered a solution to capitalize on the advantages of both coupe and cabriolet bodies for their new 911 and 912 models. Looking to their race cars for inspiration as Porsche often does, Butzi Porsche hit upon a stroke of genius by combining a stainless steel trimmed roll bar, a removable top, and a foldable rear window. Offered briefly for only two model years (1967 and 1968) before transitioning to a glass wraparound rear window in 1969, the original Targa concept was a hit for the variety of four different open body configurations it offered.
Completed at the factory on 26 April 1968, likely as a special order example in Burgundy Red, this 1968 911 Soft Window Targa was ordered by William Ealer of Williamsport, Pennsylvania as noted on the Targa’s Kardex warranty card. Ealer was not conservative when ticking the options boxes at his local dealer. When the car arrived through the official US importer, Porsche of America Corporation (POAC), it was fitted from the factory with a steering column lock (useful on an open car), 911 S instrumentation, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an additional electric blower (likely for supplemental heat), chrome steel wheels with crested hub caps, bumper horns with rubber trim, and one headrest. An antenna, loudspeaker, and noise suppression were also ordered but curiously no radio. Expensive for its time, it is likely that Ealer intended to install his own when the car arrived. Finally, perhaps most interestingly, Ealer selected option 9593 “Nürburgringübersetzung” or Nürburgring gears, likely looking to stay in the right power band with this option that provided closer ratios. It’s possible he made the selection after reviewing Information Regarding Porsche Vehicles Used For Sports Purposes, a bare-bones guide supplied by Porsche’s customer race department to those looking to enhance the performance of their 911s. The consignor notes that in discussions with Ealer’s family and friends, he was a frequent visitor to Watkins Glen from his Pennsylvania home and likely took full advantage of the optional, race-derived gearset on his way through the rolling hills of Northern Pennsylvania coal country.
Prior research conducted by the consignor indicates that Ealer may have been the only driver of the car until recently. After 67,974 miles the consignor notes that the 2.0-liter flat-six engine seized. With that, the car was taken off the road and parked. It then passed between three Pennsylvania-based owners before landing with the current owner in 2014 who commenced a full bare metal restoration. The entire car was disassembled, braced to prevent flexing, placed on a rotisserie, and completely stripped. The rust, commonly found on pre-galvanized 911s, was dealt with properly. Digital photos of the restoration process while at the specialty Porsche restoration shop, Translog, are available to review in the history file. Naturally, the original color of Burgundy Red was reapplied with two-stage paint from Glasurit applied. While the body was being repaired and painted the matching-numbers engine was disassembled and rebuilt as a 2.2-liter with Dougherty DC-30 cams, 911 S pistons and cylinders, and Carrera chain tensioners. The dyno results after the rebuild showed 153 crank horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. At the same time, its special, matching aluminum-cased Type 901/74 transmission was gone through with its tighter Nürburgring gear set and 904 mainshaft confirmed as present. A suspension rebuild included an upgrade to Turbo tie rods and dual-circuit brakes with freshly rebuilt brake calipers. A stickler for the as-delivered details, the owner rightly decided to keep the original US-market chrome rimmed headlight trim, 1968-only side reflectors, chrome steel wheels, and of course the Targa Soft Window, so unique to these early Targas. In fact, today, it would be difficult to note any differences from how it was ordered by William Ealer, bar the extra helping of engine power. This combined with the tighter ratios of its Nürburgring gears delight just as much — or even more than it did 55 years ago.
