Remembering the Porsche 911 Targa

Although not a brand new release, I felt that taking a look at Schuco’s current catalogue 1/43 model, as well as its latest version 1/18 release, would make an interesting change.

Porsche 911 Targa - 1971 (45 036 7700)

Released last year to supplement Schuco’s longer running 1/43 Coupé stablemate, two Targa models were introduced simultaneously – this metallic blue example (Porsche L324 Blaumetallic) and an accessorised silver metallic ‘Skiurlaub’ (skiing holiday) version (45 036 7800).

Schuco’s catalogue defines them as modelling the 911 Targa of 1971 and, so, by definition, the second and last year of the 2.2 litre models. Period correct details included the silver-trimmed louvre grille and gold “PORSCHE” lettering on the engine lid, together with representation of the brushed Nirosta steel roll-over bar with side ventilation slots. A nice, additional detailing touch is the inclusion of the factory orderable brightwork wheel arch trim option. A separate, optional, Targa roof panel is supplied in the model’s packaging. Given that Schuco has modelled the early 1970 glass rear window 911 Targa, the pair are comfortably unchallenged by Minichamps long running 1/43 model of the early, 1960s, series soft rear window 901/911 Targa. All in all, a very attractive little addition to any 1/43 Porsche collection and which will no doubt be supplemented by further colour variations (with and without skis) in due course.

Porsche 911 S Targa - 1973 (45 004 7100)

Moving upwards in size, to the latest diecast 911 Targa release in 1/18 from Schuco, comes this 1973 version in bright green. Although again not a brand new release in terms of the base model, but a new, fifth colour version, this one absolutely ticks all the boxes for me – right year and right colour.

Being a model of the 1973 Targa, it represents the ultimate version of the 2.4 litre F series 911 before major updating as the G series for 1974, in light of increasingly stringent US safety requirements. Period correct details on this one include the black-trimmed louvre grille and “PORSCHE” lettering on the engine lid over that fabulous-looking Porsche L225 Vipergrün paintwork that was so much part of the seventies look. The classic five-spoke Fuchs alloys, which were then standard ’S’ package fittings, just make the perfect finishing touch to the image.

There is, however, just one downside I found with this eye-catching release. Probably due, largely, to life’s distractions over the past two years, Schuco’s initial introduction and successive releases of colour variations of this model were not fully on my radar until I did the background research for this review. So what is that downside? Well it is that of the four previous colour versions to date three of them have also been exactly the right version from right year and in right colour models: 2019 - L022 Bahiarot (45 003 6200), 2020 - L117 Hellgelb (45 003 6400) and 2021 - L018 Blutorange (45 003 9200). So I’m sensing that I might be teetering at the top of that slippery slope so familiar to diecast collectors.