20 Cool Targa-Roofed Classic Cars
Targa roofs strike that perfect balance between coupe and convertible—just enough open air to feel the breeze, without fully committing to the chaos of a soft top.
I remember riding in an old Porsche 914 with the roof panel stashed in the trunk.
The sun was out, the engine was buzzing behind our heads, and it felt like we were getting away with something just a little rebellious.
Targa-roofed classics don’t just look cool—they feel like a secret handshake between style and engineering, built for drivers who want their freedom with a side of flair.
1. Porsche 911 Targa
Nothing says ‘I’ve made it’ quite like cruising in a Porsche 911 Targa with its distinctive stainless steel roll bar.
Born in 1967 as Porsche’s clever response to expected U.S. safety regulations, the Targa became an icon in its own right. The name comes from the Targa Florio race in Sicily where Porsche dominated.
Early models featured a removable roof section and plastic rear window, creating that unmistakable silhouette that turns heads decades later.
2. Ferrari 308 GTS
Rocketed to fame by Tom Selleck in ‘Magnum, P.I.’, the Ferrari 308 GTS became the poster car for an entire generation.
Its angular Pininfarina-designed body housed a symphonic V8 engine that produced a soundtrack worthy of La Scala.
Removing the targa top revealed an elegant tan leather interior that complemented the classic Rosso Corsa exterior.
While not Ferrari’s most powerful creation, the 308 GTS perfectly balanced performance, style, and that essential Italian drama.
3. Chevrolet Corvette C3
Muscle meets sophistication in the C3 Corvette’s T-top configuration. Launched in 1968, this ‘Vette introduced many Americans to the joy of semi-open-air motoring through its removable roof panels that stored neatly in the trunk.
Inspired by the Mako Shark II concept car, the C3’s swooping fenders and aggressive stance made it an instant classic.
Under the hood lurked engines ranging from sensible small-blocks to tire-shredding big-block V8s that defined American performance during the muscle car era.
4. Toyota Supra A70 Turbo Targa
Before ‘Fast and Furious’ fame, the A70 Supra Turbo Targa was quietly revolutionizing Japanese performance.
With its removable roof panels and 7M-GTE turbocharged inline-six engine, this technological tour de force delivered near-supercar performance at a fraction of European prices.
Pop-up headlights, wide fenders, and that distinctive angular greenhouse defined its unmistakable profile.
The cockpit wrapped around the driver with a fighter-jet inspired array of gauges and controls – all accessible to the open sky with the targa panels removed.
5. Datsun 280ZX T-Top
Long before Nissan became a global powerhouse, their Datsun 280ZX T-Top was bringing affordable targa-style excitement to the masses.
Launched in 1978, this evolution of the legendary Z-car combined Japanese reliability with surprising luxury.
Gold BBS-style wheels, two-tone paint, and those unmistakable removable glass roof panels made it the epitome of late-70s cool.
The digital dashboard and talking warning system (“Lights are on!”) added futuristic flair that had neighbors peeking over fences whenever one rumbled down the street.
6. Nissan 300ZX (Z31) T-Top
Wedge-shaped perfection with pop-up headlights, the Z31-generation 300ZX T-Top embraced the digital 1980s with gusto.
Its angular cockpit featured digital gauges, voice warnings, and power everything – pure tech-forward luxury compared to its predecessors.
The removable glass roof panels transformed this technological cocoon into an open-air experience.
Turbo models packed serious punch with their VG30ET engine, while the distinctive rear louvers and boxy proportions screamed Reagan-era optimism.
7. Pontiac Firebird Trans Am T-Top
Burnt rubber and Hollywood glory defined the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am T-Top after its star turn in ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’
That screaming chicken hood decal, gold snowflake wheels, and removable roof panels created automotive iconography that still resonates today.
Under the shaker hood scoop lurked Pontiac’s potent 400 cubic inch V8 engine.
The interior featured engine-turned aluminum dash panels and a Formula steering wheel that became the command center for countless teenage driving fantasies.
8. Buick Regal Grand National T-Top
Menacing in murdered-out black, the Grand National T-Top was the unexpected supercar slayer of the 1980s.
Its turbocharged V6 engine embarrassed Corvettes and Ferraris in stoplight drag races while its removable roof panels let you hear the turbo’s distinctive whistle.
The all-black exterior with blacked-out trim and sinister stance earned it the nickname “Darth Vader on wheels.”
Inside, the analog gauges and straightforward controls focused on performance rather than luxury – this was a muscle car for the modern age.
9. Ferrari 328 GTS
Evolution perfected the Ferrari 328 GTS, refining its predecessor’s sharp edges into a more sophisticated package.
Launched in 1985, the 328 gained additional displacement and power while smoothing out the 308’s sometimes temperamental nature.
Those distinctive side strakes and quad taillight arrangement remained, but subtle body refinements created a more elegant silhouette.
The removable targa top revealed a cabin where Connolly leather and that iconic gated manual shifter awaited.
10. Lamborghini Jalpa
Often overshadowed by its big brother Countach, the Lamborghini Jalpa offered targa-topped thrills with a more manageable package.
Named after a fighting bull breed, this baby Lambo packed a 3.5-liter V8 mounted transversely behind the driver.
Wide, flat, and wedge-shaped, the Bertone-designed body featured those quintessential 80s angles.
The removable roof panel transformed the intimate cabin into an amphitheater for the sonorous V8’s mechanical symphony.
11. Porsche 914
Collaborative engineering between Volkswagen and Porsche birthed the misunderstood 914 – a mid-engined targa sports car that deserves more recognition.
Its distinctive boxy shape housed either flat-four VW engines or, in the rare 914/6, a proper Porsche flat-six.
The removable roof panel stowed in the front trunk, creating an open-air experience.
With near-perfect weight distribution and go-kart handling, the 914 delivered driving thrills that belied its modest power output.
12. Lotus Esprit Turbo Targa
Folded-paper origami on wheels, the Lotus Esprit Turbo Targa brought British engineering and Italian styling together in perfect harmony.
Designer Giorgetto Giugiaro’s crisp lines created a wedge-shaped profile that still looks futuristic today.
The removable glass roof panel transformed the snug cockpit into an open-air experience.
While famous for its submarine transformation in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me,’ the non-aquatic Targa version offered its own brand of excitement through lightweight construction and razor-sharp handling.
13. Acura NSX-T
Revolutionary when launched in 1995, the NSX-T brought targa-topped supercar thrills with Honda reliability.
Developed with input from Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna, this aluminum-bodied marvel combined exotic car performance with daily-driver practicality.
The removable roof panel stored neatly under the rear glass hatch.
Behind the driver, a naturally aspirated VTEC V6 engine screamed to 8,000 RPM while delivering telepathic response through the titanium connecting rods and forged pistons.
14. Toyota MR2 (AW11) T-Top
Nicknamed the “poor man’s Ferrari,” the first-generation Toyota MR2 with T-tops democratized mid-engine thrills.
This pint-sized performer packed Toyota’s revvy 4A-GE engine behind the seats, creating a balanced, nimble sports car that punched well above its weight class.
The optional T-top roof panels brought open-air excitement to the angular, wedge-shaped design.
Weighing just over 2,300 pounds, the MR2 offered handling precision that made drivers feel like heroes on twisty roads.
15. BMW Z1
Radical innovation defined the limited-production BMW Z1 with its vertically-dropping doors and removable roof panel.
This experimental roadster featured plastic body panels mounted on a steel chassis – revolutionary for its 1989 debut.
Those unique doors slid downward into the sills, allowing brave drivers to motor along with doors down (though not technically legal).
The removable hardtop transformed this quirky convertible into a proper targa, while the trailing-arm rear suspension from the E30 3-Series ensured proper BMW handling.
16. Corvette C4 Targa
Reinvention defined the C4 Corvette, which modernized America’s sports car with a full targa roof that transformed the driving experience.
The single-piece “banana windshield” wrapped around a digital dashboard that screamed 1980s high-tech sophistication.
Removing the roof panel revealed a fighter-jet inspired cockpit with a driver-focused layout.
Early models featured the infamous “CrossFire” injection, but later versions received the proper Tuned Port Injection system that unleashed the small-block V8’s true potential.
17. Triumph TR8
Nicknamed “the English Corvette,” the Triumph TR8 with its targa top combined Italian styling with a thumping American V8 heart.
Designer Giovanni Michelotti’s wedge-shaped body housed a Rover-derived 3.5-liter V8 that transformed the previously underpowered TR7 into a proper sports car.
The removable roof panels brought open-air motoring to this Anglo-American hybrid.
Despite troubled British Leyland production, the TR8 remains one of the most charismatic targa-topped sports cars of its era – a true hidden gem.
18. Honda CR-X Del Sol
Engineering cleverness defined the Honda CR-X Del Sol with its TransTop automatic targa roof system.
At the push of a button, the trunk would open, mechanical arms would lift the roof panel, and stow it – pure mechanical theater that delighted onlookers.
Based on the Civic platform, this compact sports car offered VTEC engine options and the legendary Honda handling.
The removable roof panel transformed this pocket rocket into a mini targa that delivered smiles per mile rather than outright speed.
19. Maserati Merak
Giorgetto Giugiaro’s masterful styling made the Maserati Merak SS Targa a mid-engine Italian exotic with unexpected practicality.
Unlike its Bora sibling, the Merak featured 2+2 seating thanks to its compact V6 engine – though those rear seats were best reserved for parcels or very small friends.
The removable targa panel added open-air excitement to the exotic driving experience.
Signature flying buttress C-pillars and that iconic trident badge announced this as something special, while the three-liter engine provided a soundtrack worthy of an Italian opera.
20. Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce Targa
Pininfarina-designed curves gave the Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce Targa undeniable Italian sex appeal.
While most Spiders were full convertibles, the rare targa variant added structural rigidity while maintaining open-top thrills.
The twin-cam engine’s distinctive exhaust note provided the perfect soundtrack for spirited drives along coastal roads.
Wood-rimmed steering wheel, proper analog gauges, and the distinctive boat-tail rear on early models created an automotive experience dripping with character and charm.