Sixty-year anniversary of the Targa Cabrio: Stuttgart celebration under protective banner
In the Swinging Sixties, a new concept in automotive design began to flourish, transforming the landscape of the classic car industry. Known as the Targa concept, this innovative design featured removable roof parts, a sturdy B-pillar in front of rigid triangular windows, and a rear roof that towered like a small mountain.
The term 'Targa' was coined by Porsche in 1965, with the introduction of the Porsche 911, which included a wide roll bar and removable roof section. This iconic car set the stage for a trend that would spread to various brands, including Fiat X1/9, Matra 530, Opel Kadett Aero, Ferrari Dino 246 GTS, V8 Corvette, Alfa Spider, MG B, VW Beetle, Mercedes SL (R 107), Triumph Stag, BMW 2002 and its Topcabriolet versions, Lotus Elise, Tesla Roadster, Bugatti Veyron Sport, and Koenigsegg Jesko.
During the 1960s, the Alfa Spider and MG B were classic, fold-free soft-top cars that found themselves pushed into a niche due to the popularity of the Targa concept. On the other hand, the Opel Kadett Aero and the Nissan 100 NX, sold from 1990 to 1995, were two-seater cars that adopted the Targa concept, finding favour among young people and car enthusiasts.
The Toyota MR2, demonstrated in two generations, showcased how well the T-Bar and Targa ideas could be combined with mid-engine fun. Meanwhile, the Porsche 912, introduced in the same decade, featured stylistic elements that became iconic.
The Targa concept was not just about style and fun; it also focused on safety. Protection against injury in rollover accidents was provided by cars like the Triumph 4 with Surrey Top in 1961 and the Toyota Sports 800 in early 1965. The Mercedes SL (R 107) opted for an expensive, allegedly rollover-resistant windshield frame or a robust 'Targa' skeleton a la Triumph Stag during the 1960s.
In the late 1970s, fast sports cars and Targa roofs or T-Bar roofs with a fixed middle bar became almost symbiotic. Nissan launched the Nissan ZX Fairlady in the late 1970s as the first production car with a removable T-top roof. Honda countered the Nissan 100 NX with its two-seater CRX del Sol.
The Baur coachbuilder produced the open-air version of the BMW 2002 from 1971 to 1975 and later converted the first 3-series (E21 and E30) into Topcabriolets. The Nissan ZX Fairlady, once the world's best-selling sports car, also featured a removable T-Roof.
In more recent times, the Lotus Elise and Tesla Roadster, introduced in 2008 and 1990 respectively, are modern examples of the Targa concept. Hypercars like the Bugatti Veyron Sport and Koenigsegg Jesko have also implemented the Targa concept, showcasing windshield-free driving and the waiver of heavy body reinforcements.
The Targa concept, born in the Swinging Sixties, has continued to evolve and adapt, leaving a lasting impact on the world of automotive design.
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