What's in the issue

Back in the day, dodgy paintwork, cracked leather and compromised furnishings were all major bargaining points. In the main, cars exhibiting such wear were avoided, but as old Porsches became valuable and, er, old, such damage began to be regarded as ‘charming originality’. The term patina became part of Porsche vernacular, along with widespread awareness you’d pay extra for what it represents. This wear and tear, once to a vehicle’s detriment, now carries a hefty price tag.

Funny how things change, isn’t it? Along the same lines, specification previously proving unpopular is now referred to as rare. It’s the kind of spin capable of making the most shameless of politicians blush. Bonkers paint colour and horrific interior? “One of only a handful manufactured in this configuration,” as the sales pitch would doubtless read. As we all know, in the classic car world, rare equates to hugely desirable, which translates as premium pricing. Don’t get me wrong, there are collectors keen to own ‘the only one of this’ or ‘the first of that’, of which unusual specification serves a very real purpose. It’s also totally true to say unorthodox specification makes for an interesting P-car, irrespective of how little its make-up might be represented in the wider Porsche pantheon. The 911 on the cover of this issue of Classic Porsche magazine is a case in point.

The combination of boxes ticked at the point of manufacture make for an intriguing proposition. It’s a right-hand drive Carrera 3.0 Targa, which is a rare thing in itself, but then there’s Minerva Blue, a shade more often associated with 911 Turbos. A check of the gearknob confirms this is a Sportomatic-equipped Minerva Blue Carrera 3.0 Targa. Oh, and it’s rolling on ‘cookie cutter’ wheels. Exacting specification, to be sure, but subjected to fastidious restoration at the hands of trusted marque specialists, this brilliant blue semi-open-top 911 carries value far greater than ones and zeros. You see, it belonged to the owner’s late father in the early 1980s. In the here and now, it’s a physical link to their friendship. You can’t put a price on sentimental value.