Targa top

A targa top is a car with removable roof roof center part and unlike a convertible with a permanently mounted safety bar.

The name Targa is a registered trademark of Porsche car models. The term is still used as a generic name for cars from other manufacturers with this particular roof structure.

Design Features

One speaks of a targa roof when the roof center portion can be completely removed between the windscreen frame and the connection of the B-pillar of a motor vehicle. At Porsche, this design has been introduced with the 911 series in 1965.

However, in 1961 made ​​an additional deliverable two-piece hardtop from the classic English Roadster Triumph TR4 a coupe. It was named by Triumph " Surrey Top"; it consisted of a tightly bolted panoramic rear window and an optional removable solid metal or top middle part. Porsche seized in 1965, this idea also, and put them in order with the above Porsche 911 Targa.

Some manufacturers remains between the windshield frame and the associated B-pillars are a bridge so that both halves of the roof can be removed individually or together, this construction is called " T-tops " or called "Top -T". This is usually by design in order to achieve the necessary rigidity of the chassis.

Partial stays there only a so-called Targa bar, which corresponds to the associated B-pillars, creating another thoughtless part. Not to be confused is the Targa bar with automatically extending roll-over bars that were installed for the first time since 1989 in the Mercedes SL.

When Porsche was in the types Porsche 993, Porsche 996 and Porsche 997 no removable roof anymore, but a large glass sunroof to the C- pillar, which can be opened into one another.

Basically, sports car than 2 - or 2 2- seater with this design, offered as standard. There are also occasional SUV and individual conversions from other types of vehicles.

The nature of the removed roof part is different, it will be fixed, collapsible, metal and glass roof parts distinguished.

Term

The term Targa from Italian in German means " sign". After Porsche repeatedly won the Targa Florio, a 1906-1977 executed long-distance race, the Porsche Targa was introduced in 1965, a 911 Cabriolet with a broad roll bar and removable and collapsible plastic roof.

Cars Manufacturers and Types

The Targa roof had its peak in the 1980s and 1990s and is currently an expiring Fahrzeugsegement, which seems to have been replaced by full convertible with classic soft top or with folding steel roof.

The basic principle of Targa roofs was strongly influenced by American, German, Italian and Japanese manufacturers since the late 1960s. To be mentioned in particular:

American manufacturers:

  • Chevrolet Corvette
  • Tesla Roadster
  • Chevrolet Camaro (as T -Top)
  • Pontiac Firebird (as T -top, even in the Variant Firebird Trans -Am)

British Manufacturer:

German manufacturers:

French Manufacturer:

Italianische Manufacturer:

  • Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
  • Ferrari 308
  • Ferrari 328
  • Ferrari 348
  • Ferrari 355 GTS
  • Ferrari 575 Superamerica
  • Fiat X1 / 9
  • Lancia Beta Spider
  • Lancia Beta Monte Carlo
  • Lamborghini silhouette
  • Siva Sirio

Japanese manufacturers:

Presence

Currently, five basic models are only offered as a Targa version:

  • Corvette C7
  • Lotus Elise
  • Koenigsegg Agera
  • Lamborghini Aventador Roadster
  • Porsche 911 Targa 4
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