Porsche Design Unveils Custom 911 Targa & Watch For 50th Anniversary
The ultimate 911/luxury watch combo has arrived.
Porsche Design was just getting its 50th anniversary celebrations started when it reissued its first ever watch and reimagined this time-tested pair of shades. Those were more like precursors to the main event: the auctioning of an one-off Chronograph 1 and a classic 911 Targa by Sotheby’s later this year.
The dual-item lot honors the creations of Ferdinand Alexander “Butzi” Porsche, son of the marque’s founder. Butzi’s place in Porsche’s history is far from nepotistic in nature—not only did he start Porsche Design in 1972, but he penned the original 911, one of the most important and prevalent sports cars of all time.
For the 1972 Porsche 911 S 2.4 Targa, Porsche Design worked closely with the Porsche Classic restoration and parts division to craft a retro ride with modern touches.
“Our general philosophy in a factory restoration project is to restore the vehicles to be as faithful to the original as possible,” Uwe Makrutzki, Head of Porsche Classic Factory Restoration at Porsche AG, explained in a statement.
“We deliberately took a different approach with this project. We’ve created a unique vehicle that blends tradition and present day, and bears the signature of [founder] Ferdinand Alexander Porsche.”
“We deliberately took a different approach with this project. We’ve created a unique vehicle that blends tradition and present day, and bears the signature of Ferdinand Alexander Porsche.”
The interior is clad in original historic fabrics, including black Sport-Tex checkered flag upholstery that matches the breathtaking exterior coat. The convertible’s signature Targa roll bar sports a Platinum Satin finish as a nod to the original’s brushed stainless steel version. “50 Years of Porsche Design Edition” is embossed on the side stripes, headrests, dashboard, and a grille plaque featuring a facsimile signature of Prof. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche.
Meanwhile, the also one-off Chronograph 1 – 911 S 2.4 Targa watch stays true to the original Porsche Design Chronograph 1 launched under Butzi under 1972, with a matte-black dial, red stopwatch second hand, luminescent hour indices, and Porsche Design logos on the dial, crown and wristband.
The inimitable detail is the caseback’s winding rotor design, which corresponds to the historic Fuchsfelge wheel of the 911 S 2.4 Targa. Porsche tested the chronograph movement thoroughly at its own manufacturing facility in Solothrun, Switzerland to ensure the wearer’s wrist energy is properly translated to watch power.
Look out for Porsche Design’s one-off 911 Targa and Chronograph 1 at Sotheby’s New York Luxury Week event in December 2022.
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