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autoevolution 17 Mar 2021, 15:40 UTC ·
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Pioneered by Fiat in the 1950s thanks to legendary automotive designer Giovanni Michelotti and coachbuilder Carrozzeria Vignale, the removable roof section we refer to as the targa top was adopted by Triumph in 1961 and Saab in 1964. One year later, Porsche made Targa a household name at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt with the 911 s help. 7 photos
Care to guess why the German automaker went to such great lengths to reimagine the convertible? At the time, industry experts feared that soft tops would be outlawed by the Department of Transportation in the United States due to safety concerns. The federal cabinet didn’t take such a drastic measure, but Porsche decided to stick with it because the stainless-steel rollover protection element gave the 911 a fresh, fancy look.