The Classic
Based upon the original 901, which first saw light towards the end of the 1950s before evolving into the iconic 911 in 1963, this 1972 Porsche 911 S 2.4 Targa is a classic with a secret.
Apr 28, 2022
For the past two years, Porsche’s Classic division has been working on a unique project to celebrate 50 years of Porsche Design. To mark the anniversary, Porsche Classic restored a 911 S 2.4 Targa from 1972 – the year that Porsche Design was founded.
In 1972, Ferdinand Alexander (the oldest son of Ferry Porsche) together with his brother Hans-Peter, founded Porsche Design, an independent product design studio.
Over the following 50 years, the studio evolved into the exclusive Porsche Design lifestyle brand, showcasing the legacy and philosophy of F.A. Porsche in a variety of product categories.
F.A. Porsche had plenty of pedigree in design before the studio was established. Earlier in his life he spent two semesters at the Ulm School of Design before leaving to work on body styling at Porsche, the department that created the Porsche 901 towards the end of the 1950s. The completed vehicle was eventually unveiled in 1963 and became the design icon known as the 911.
In tribute to F.A. Porsche, the restored 911 S 2.4 Targa is painted in solid black, and wears anodised Fuchs rims. Classic lateral stripes with a platinum satin finish and integrated Porsche Design lettering decorate the flanks. As a special highlight, the Targa roll bar has the same platinum satin finish, offering a new interpretation of the brushed stainless steel of the classic model.
The sportscar’s Targa lettering is finished in matt black. Like the special edition model, the grille on the engine cover at the rear features a ‘Porsche Design 50th Anniversary’ badge with a reproduction of Ferdinand Alexander's signature.
The interior is also dominated by the colour black, just as the F.A would have liked it: back in the 1970s, he contributed to the black colour trend in his role as head of Porsche's first design department. For example, the trim strips on the 911 gradually switched from chrome to matt black from 1973 onwards.
Uwe Makrutzki, Head of Porsche Classic Factory Restoration at Porsche AG, took responsibility for the car’s final road test after the restoration work had been completed.
"We do these test drives as a quality assurance measure after every factory restoration,” he explains. “It's always a very emotional moment for me when I drive something this unique: after all, I will have followed the process restoring this vehicle to its former glory for months before we get to this point. The thrill of getting out on the road never wears off."