Through The Ages: 911 Targa’s Roll Bar

The history of the Targa roll bar reflects a blend of technological foresight, stylistic creativity, and bold problem-solving in response to emerging challenges in automotive design. From the earliest stages of the Porsche 901—later introduced as the 911—it was evident that the lineup needed an open-top variant to complement the Coupé. In 1962, representatives from Porsche, Karosseriewerk Reutter, and Karmann convened to evaluate possible approaches. Three concepts were debated: a traditional soft top, a roadster with a reduced frame, and a convertible featuring a fixed roll bar.