1989 911 Targa is Reborn as a Speedster

Giving the 1989 Porsche 911 Targa a New Lease of Life

Nothing in this world is better than seeing a classic car come back to life or turn into something better. For petrol heads, it can be a moment of pure jubilation. One such petrol head convinced himself that it was time to give his 1989 911 Targa a new life. He was convinced his car would be better off as a Speedster, and so in the late 1990s, he began his journey to convert the car into a Speedster. Such news might not be new for all you Porsche lovers out there, as you might be accustomed to seeing so many restorations, conversions and revamps. 

Many shops such as RWB and Singer have attempted to breathe life into old Porsche cars, especially the 911 models. However, you can never get enough of a really good thing. The 911 holds a special place in the hearts of Porsche lovers as it is the most famous and successful sports car that Porsche has produced so far. The car has a number of versions, of which the 1989 911 Targa is the least famous. But that is the point of restorations! You may not start off with a crown jewel, but with the right kind of passion, you can transform a regular car into something awesome.  

DP Motorsport Was The Way To Go

The owner of the Targa chose to entrust German auto-tuning company DP Motorsport with the modification of his car. DP Motorsport specializes in modifying Porsches and so naturally they were a great choice for the Targa Speedster project. The shop heard the owner’s idea and started work on changing the car into a retro-looking Speedster. They added a Carrera widebody kit to the Targa with wide wheel housings, a low front bumper, and bespoke side sills. Car enthusiasts have really fallen in love with the car saying that it really resembles a military fighter jet. 

>>Join the conversation about DP Motorsport's Speedster right here in the Rennlist Forum!

The Magic Continued Further

The changes to the wheel housings allowed DP Motorsport to add 7 x 16 -inch rims both back and front. These rims were fitted with 205/55 Continental Sport Contact tires in the front and 245/45 in the rear. Other than that, DP Motorsport added brand-new torsion bars and H&R spacer discs to the race car. A dual-headed exhaust was also fitted to the rear with classic-themed ‘Porsche’ decals pasted on the sides and back. When all was decided, the final touch to the exterior was in the form of a new paint job. The entire car got bathed in a special Nardo Gray color which really accentuated the retro-modern fusion the owner was hoping for.  

>>Join the conversation about DP Motorsport's Speedster right here in the Rennlist Forum!

Engine and Suspension

For the folks at DP Motorsport, the tuning work would not be complete without engine and suspension upgrades. The car had a stock 218-hp 3.2-liter boxer engine that provided considerable motivation for such a small, lightweight car. The factory specs for this model stated that the 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa 3.2 was capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in 6 seconds, which was really quick for its time. The folks at DP Motorsport remapped the engine’s ECU and installed Schrick camshafts, a larger throttle, and an aftermarket exhaust manifold. Their efforts cranked up the power to a beefy 260 horsepower. To improve handling and ride quality, they also installed a height-adjustable coilover KW suspension.  

>>Join the conversation about DP Motorsport's Speedster right here in the Rennlist Forum!

Sublime Interior

The interior was surprisingly well-kept and intact, so the folks at DP Motorsport didn’t see the need to do anything on the inside. The leather seats still look very shiny, the steering wheel is wrapped in soft leatherette trim, and the floor has been well-maintained with a black carpet. The entire interior is black except the gear knob which is silver to contrast with the exterior color. All the levers, dials and meters are in great condition.

>>Join the conversation about DP Motorsport's Speedster right here in the Rennlist Forum!

The Future Is Bright

Contrary to how the car appears, the owner of this 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa 3.2 is not done with it yet. He still feels that he can draw more out of this legend of a sports car, and he still intends to use DP Motorsport to get the work done. With the awesome work that has already been done, we can expect much more from the shop in the future.   

>>Join the conversation about DP Motorsport's Speedster right here in the Rennlist Forum!

For more advice on maintaining your Porsche check out the how-to sections of Rennlist.com.