The 911 Targa, an icon of Porsche design, has come to be defined by its unique aluminum roll bar with three vertical vents and “targa” script. Over the years, it left such a lasting impression on the car’s drivers and fans that Porsche returned to this design for its newest-generation Targa.

The 911 S Targa offered here is the second-to-last 1972 model built, and it was sold new on August 22, 1972, by Porsche Glöckler Sportwagen Zentrum in Frankfurt. It was then privately imported to the United States by Richard Lee Mang in the mid-1970s, who is believed to be the car’s second owner. In 1992, the car was taken off the road and placed into a dry garage for storage. Ten years later, it was sold to C.F. Broers, of Vermillion, South Dakota, who eventually offered it for sale to the current owners. They in turn returned the car to Europe with 119,800 miles showing on its odometer.

A comprehensive two-year restoration was recently completed by a Porsche specialist in Europe. The consignor describes the body as being in very good condition overall, with some minor rust repair necessary, as would be expected from a 42-year-old vehicle; nonetheless, all of the body panels remain original. After the tub was completely stripped, it was prepared for the cathodic dip tank process. The body was then primed using an electrostatic process, which ensures that the entire shell will be fully protected from future corrosion. It was then repainted in its original color, Sepia Brown, using a downdraft spray booth, exactly the way the car would have been refinished by the factory.

All seals and weather-stripping are new, and all trim and frames, including the bumpers, door handles, window frames, and side-view mirrors, were newly chromed or re-anodized. A completely new interior was installed, with tan leather throughout and a deeply upholstered Recaro sport seat for the driver.

Mechanically, the powerful 2.4-liter engine was rebuilt and the heads were restored with new valves. The crankshaft is still standard-measure, and new old stock Mahle pistons and cylinders were installed, along with new bearings and gaskets. A brand-new but original exchange Bosch mechanical fuel-injection system was purchased from Porsche Classic in Germany, and it operates perfectly. A dynamometer test of the fresh engine produced an impressive average of 195 horsepower. The five-speed transaxle and braking system were both fully rebuilt, while the Koni shock absorbers were also restored before being reinstalled. The speedometer, tachometer, clock, and all other instruments have been carefully restored to perfect working order.

The car wears a full set of correct 6x15-inch Fuchs “Windmill” light-alloy wheels, and it is supplied with its tool roll, jack, and spare tire. More than 500 photographs of this car’s incredibly detailed restoration are also included in the sale.

This Porsche has been well documented and is supplied with its original owner’s manual, original pair of keys and key holder, and a file of service invoices. With just 1,500 kilometers recorded since its completion, this handsome Targa is ready to provide its next owner with many more years of enjoyable driving, and it is sure to be a future collectible.