Produced between 1993 and 1998, the 993 was the last of the air-cooled Porsches, making it a favorite amongst hard-core 911 extremists for its similarities to the original late-60s 911. For those five short years, it was only within the final three that Porsche created its Targa variant. In the time leading up to its release, Stuttgart claimed that it would not produce such a model, but as soon as 1995 rolled around, there it was, featuring a convertible body with a retractable glass roof.
The 993 breached the market just as Porsche was beginning its slow recovery from a series of financial troubles wrought by the recession of the late 80s and early 90s. The German automaker desperately needed a hit, and thankfully, the 993 delivered.
For many folks, the 993 represents a final expression of purity in motoring experience, with a dearth of driving aides and electronic supervision provided for those behind the wheel. The horizontally opposed, six-cylinder engine is mounted in the correct place, and even though the suspension was updated, anyone who took a corner with any kind of alacrity was advised to keep his or her foot down. A novice-move like lifting mid-corner was usually something that would end with a pirouette into the surrounding terrain, which is just one reason fans love this vehicle.
Given the “last is best” mentality of buying an historic sports car, the 993 is highly desirable in the used-car market, with the rare Targa model even more so. It’s certainly a favorite amongst Porsche lovers, and well-maintained examples often command a surprisingly high price tag.
As technology continues its relentless march into infinity, with hybrid systems, autonomous-driving, and alternative fuels eventually permeating each and every vehicle niche out there, that price will no doubt continue to rise, lending further credit to the 993 Targa’s claim to automotive sainthood.
Click past the jump to read more about the Porsche 911 Targa (993).
Porsche 911 Targa (993) originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 21 January 2015 10:00 EST.
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