After we discovered a classic Rolls Royce, and a duo of Jaguars; an E-Type and XK-140 within a mile radius of our warehouse in Philadelphia, we figured our chances of discovering another coveted classic car would be slim. The best finds can be right in your own backyard as we have discovered. On this occasion, […]
After we discovered a classic Rolls Royce, and a duo of Jaguars; an E-Type and XK-140 within a mile radius of our warehouse in Philadelphia, we figured our chances of discovering another coveted classic car would be slim. The best finds can be right in your own backyard as we have discovered. On this occasion, we uncovered a dormant 1969 Porsche 911T Targa in Northern Philadelphia where we often have a bite to eat. This is not necessarily a “Barn Find” rather, it is Philadelphia’s version of the treasures that may be hiding within and in this case, it was in the top floor parking garage of an old repair shop. The shop had been there for two generations and is not an eye catcher from the outside but once we climbed the steep ramp that was used to get cars to the second floor, it unveiled its architectural beauty. Solid, scruffy hardwood floors, big exposed beams and brick walls with grand windows that were, at some point, spray painted white to hide what was stored within.
As the story goes, we received a call from a dear friend of ours that, curiously enough, recently bought into a local chicken business. His newly acquired business partner explained that he had an old 911T sitting at a local shop. In order to settle some debts related to the business, he would be willing to sell his Porsche. When we got wind of the situation, we did exactly what we always do…anxiously jumped in our truck armed with cameras, a trailer, and a check book.
In turning the corner that would soon reveal the sitting Porsche, I could feel my heart pumping with adrenaline. Low and behold, sitting in the corner of the second floor repair shop garage was an original Irish Green Porsche 911T Targa. Being a long time California car, it had relatively solid floors and panels with only a little corrosion beginning in the door jams…side effects of East Coast living. We then proceeded to fill up the flat tires that surprisingly held air despite being flat for 15 years. Remember the steep two story ramp used to get the cars to the top floor of this garage? Well, this ramp was also used to get cars out and with no brakes compounded with a stiff steering box, the fun of getting it down the ramp began. After 20 minutes of slowly using the parking brake to ease myself down the daunting ramp, it was out and in the day light for the first time in 15 years! Feeling totally accomplished about the find (not to mention getting it down the steep ramp that conveniently enough had my enclosed trailer in rolling distance if the car where to have lost control with me in it) we left with the Porsche and visited our local lunch spot close by.
After recently ordering a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, it showed exactly how special the car is. It came in factory Irish Green with Black interior along with a laundry list of options that included comfort equipment, chrome side molding, BHKZ Ignition, Light Metal Wheels, Tinted/heated rear window, and 5-Speed Transmission! The odds must be in our favor.
Please visit our “Current Offerings” page for more photos of this spectacular Porsche find. Do you know of a dusty old European classic? Please get in touch with us via phone or email. We would love to hear about it!
