The Ultimate 1969 Soft Window Targa (SWT) Thread

[Harvey Weidman]

Interesting thread.
The only reason that I ever heard of for Porsche discontinuing the soft window was customer dissatisfaction.
I started at the dealer in 72 and by then the windows were brown, cracked and the vinyl was usually torn.
The main problem as I was told by customers was..when the trip started it was warm so the window was down and when it turned cold on the way home the window was too stiff to zip up so they froze...
EVERY customer with a soft window that came in our dealership begged for a glass conversion. Many came from far and wide because not every dealer thought it was worth their time to help.
We had so many conversions that I made an order list of the parts for quick reference. There was such demand from Porsche during that time that the many of the parts frequently were back-ordered and we resorted to Aase and decimated their Targa stock.
There were some ways you could always tell if the car was originally delivered with the soft window so verification should be certain.
Typical of many great ideas, it just took a while to catch on....kinda like all of the 4 cams we took out
H

[LongRanger]

. . . EVERY customer with a soft window that came in our dealership begged for a glass conversion . . .

. . . There were some ways you could always tell if the car was originally delivered with the soft window so verification should be certain . . .

Thanks for that, Harvey

OK-now ---- heeeeeeere we go . . .

So. Given . . .

..1) Harvey's account --- of miserable customers . . .

..2) . . . + given the wholesale conversions performed @(Harvey's) dealerships --- at Customer Request . . . Back-in-the-Day . . .

..3) . . . + given the un-reliability of the Kardex . . .



. . . how many SWTs are out there today . . . camouflaged by their conversion?






Which begs The Big Question . . .

[Jules Dielen]

Thanks for that, Harvey

..3) . . . + given the un-reliability of the Kardex . . .



. . . how many SWTs are out there today . . . camouflaged by their conversion?






Which begs The Big Question . . .

From the few I have seen, the Kardex is pretty good, it is the translation into english that is shown on the COA that is terrible. I think the person in charge of translating the Kardex has never SEEN a long hood (or a 356), let along have a clue what the options stood for. On my ex E, the factory muffler skirt that was listed on the Kardex was translated as 'spoiler' on the COA.

[LongRanger]

. . . I saw two 73 targas with out glass today and both did not have the captive nuts in the handle mounts, yet they had the scalloped cut outs where the window seal attached near the parcel shelf area . . .

Any pics? . . . . .

[CidTito]

[QUOTE=Harvey Weidman;760
There were some ways* you could always tell if the car was originally delivered with the soft window so verification should be certain.
H[/QUOTE]

Few ways* I can think of is :
1. Does any of the SWT parts remain like tonneau cover or tensioners remain?
2. Do underside Targa bar still have visible cutouts left on its underside?
3. Do any of the interior targa bar stripped off interior body parts bear any correct clamp markings for tensioner handles?
4. Does past records/receipts that show work having the SWT conversion (if still exist)?
5. Does the conversion will include bodywork that covers up tonneau tenex clips holes?
6. Does interior rear seat areas bear markings of being bungled with conversion, including tenex snaps for rear delete/seat areas?
7. Does it show if some cars opted for adding additional rear seats.
8. Does rear window heater wire show a fresh/non factory connection? All SWTS might have wire in place, its just having its electrical, taped off.
9. Do the openings for 10mm bolts holding the tensioner handle so correct wear?