The Early 911 Targa: A Bright Bar Against Dark Bodywork

Historical feature: the Targa debuted in September 1965. Porsche’s retrospective is dated May 26, 2020; this photograph is from July 2015.

From this angle, a narrow section of the early 911 Targa’s bright bar is visible behind the side window. The roof panel is in place, yet that silver detail still distinguishes the upper body. Dark paint, black roof material and reflective trim create separate visual layers.

The bar was part of the original idea

Porsche’s May 2020 history dates the Targa’s public debut to the Frankfurt motor show in September 1965. Its fixed safety bar and removable roof section offered a different approach to open-air driving. The company records the Targa joining the model range in autumn 1966.

That context makes the source photograph’s identification of a 1967 car relevant. It shows an early expression of a design element that would remain central to the Targa’s identity, even as later generations changed the roof mechanism.

What a front view reveals

The bright headlamp surrounds and bumper trim establish a horizontal line across the nose. The bar provides a contrasting vertical note farther back. Against the dark body, both are easy to notice without needing a vivid accent paint.

This is a photograph of a car at a historic driving event, not a factory specification sheet. The available image description does not establish an official paint name, so the body is described here simply as dark. Reflections from the roadside trees also affect its apparent hue.

For a Targa color reference, this distinction is useful: first study the relationship between bodywork, bar and trim, then confirm the paint separately. A broader side view would reveal more of the bar. This near-frontal photograph instead emphasizes the bright trim across the nose, with the bar providing a smaller accent farther back.

Source: Porsche’s May 26, 2020 Targa history.