End of the line for GT Spirit's Porsche 911 range

For 27 years, and spanning three generations of Porsche 911 from 1966 to 1993, the Targa model name had been synonymous with the optional fresh air body style offered as an alternative to the fixed roofed Coupé. This much-coveted version incorporated a distinctive, wide roll bar and removable roof centre section. With the short-lived fourth generation 911 – the 993, produced between 1994 and 1998 – came the even shorter-lived Targa version, produced for just two years, between 1996 and 1998, in a style that temporarily broke the mould, so to speak, of Porsche’s original concept, until its return as a high tech reincarnation in 2014.

GT Spirit Porsche 911 (993) Targa - 1996 (GT350)

GT Spirit’s constantly expanding back catalogue representing Porsche 911 production history covers all but one of the Targa variations from the first three 911 generations and so this most recent release is a very welcome extension of that coverage, moving it into the fourth generation era.

Immediately obvious from this fabulous model is how fundamental the change in the Targa concept was. Contemporary with the ‘Glasdach’ fashion seen across many of Germany’s automotive manufacturers ranges in the 1990s, the traditional Targa arrangement was replaced by a sliding glass roof centre section. From a factory production point of view, the upside to the glass roof Targa meant that the body line of the Coupé and Targa were virtually identical. From an owner’s point of view, the downside was that solar gain in the ‘glasshouse’, as it became known – was often uncomfortable. From a model collector’s point of view, the upside is most definitely the amount of light and viewing opportunity that the large extent of glazing affords to appreciating the wealth of interior detail, finished out with very attractive light grey upholstery. As with GT Spirit’s 911(964) Targa (GT805), the combination of this interior colour and metallic turquoise exterior paintwork is very pleasing indeed.

With its flattening out of the classic 911 body styling, the 993 is considered by many to be an anti-climax after the earlier G series and immediately preceding 964 series. It did, however, set the foundations of the styling of succeeding water-cooled generations of the 911 family. From the front, the model illustrates very well the less prominent front wing lines and bumper integrated front ancillary lighting. Similarly, from the rear, the smoothed rear reflector panel (still incorporating the embedded “PORSCHE” script, introduced for the 1974 model year by the G series) integrated with the rear lighting clusters is beautifully modelled in crisp, well-fitting insert parts.

Totally consistent with GT Spirit’s track record of producing superbly detailed and finished, authentic, 1/18 resincast models, this 993 Targa is extremely attractive. Not only is it a superb addition to any Porsche collection but is also significant by marking the demise of the classic Targa styling and the end of the line for the air-cooled generations of the 911.