Porsche 911 Targa

Okay, obviously. I mean, it has to be right at the top, right? That brushed stainless steel hoop, the way the roof mechanically folds away… it’s pure theater. It’s just so cool. It’s less hairdresser than a full convertible 911, but you still get the sun and the sound. And it handles so well, you’d never know it’s not a coupe. Prices are… uhm, wow, for a new one you’re looking at like, $130,000 plus? And the classics, forget about it. But it’s an icon for a reason.

Ferrari 308 GTS

You know the one. Magnum P.I. It’s the poster car for a generation. That pop-off roof panel, the straked side intakes, the gated manual… it’s just pure 80s Italian flair. It’s not the fastest Ferrari ever, not even close, but who cares? You look at it and you just feel cooler. Prices have gone nuts, like, $150,000 for a decent one now? Maybe more. But it’s a piece of art that you can actually drive.

McLaren 675LT Spider

Wait, no, is that a targa? Yeah, I think it counts, the whole roof comes off but it’s not a floppy fabric thing. It’s a carbon fiber piece you stash in the frunk. And my god, the performance. It’s just savage. That rear wing, the exhaust note… it’s a track car you can take the top off of. The price is… astronomical. We’re talking over $400,000 easily, probably way more. It’s unobtanium for most of us, but we can dream, right?

Nissan 300ZX Z32

Okay, the 90s Japanese hero. The targa top on that thing was so slick, it just transformed the car. Twin-turbo, all that tech for its time… it felt like a spaceship. And the design has aged so well. It’s just a gorgeous, gorgeous car. You can actually still find them for somewhat reasonable money, like $30,000 for a really nice one? Maybe a bit more now. Such a cool package.

Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta

Aperta meaning open, and it’s a targa! This one… oh man. That naturally aspirated V8 screaming to 9000 rpm with the roof off? It’s probably one of the best driving experiences ever. Ever. And it’s so rare, so special. The looks are just… fierce. The price is in the stratosphere, like over a million dollars now. It’s a unicorn. A very, very loud and beautiful unicorn.

Chevrolet Corvette (C3)

The 1968 to 1982 ‘Vette. The chrome-bumper ones, specifically. That long hood, those fender flares, and you just lift the T-top panels off and stow them in the back. It’s the definition of American cool. It’s not about handling, it’s about cruising down the coast with the wind in your hair. You can get into a driver-quality one for, I don’t know, $30,000? Maybe less if you’re lucky. It’s just pure vibe.

Lotus Esprit S3

The one from the Bond films! The Giugiaro wedge. It’s just… a shape. So pure, so geometric. And the targa top just completes the look. It’s not a comfortable car, it’s not a reliable car, probably, but who cares? You look at it and you feel like a secret agent. Prices are all over, but a good one might be $70,000? It’s for when you want to feel like you’re in a sci-fi movie from 1977.

Porsche 914

Okay, hear me out! It’s the underdog. The mid-engine, weird little Porsche that everyone kinda forgot. But the targa top is so simple, you just pop it off and put it in the trunk. It’s a go-kart with a roof you can remove. A 914/6 with the flat-six engine is the one to have, but good luck finding one for less than $100,000 now. The basic four-cylinder ones are still a blast, and you can find them for like $20,000. So much fun for the money.

Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider

I mean… come on. Just the name, ‘Daytona Spider’. It’s one of the most elegant, powerful, and just achingly beautiful cars ever made. That long nose, the pop-up headlights, the gated shifter… it’s peak 70s Ferrari. It’s pure automotive jewelry. And the price? If you have to ask… no, seriously, we’re talking multiple millions. Like, $2 million plus. It’s a museum piece that actually drives like a dream.

Toyota MR2 (Second Gen)

The SW20! The one that looks like a baby Ferrari. The targa top on that thing is so light, you can take it off with one hand. Mid-engine, perfect weight balance, that high-revving 4-cylinder… it’s a pocket-sized exotic. And you can still get a really nice one for, what, $20,000? Maybe $25,000? It’s probably the most affordable way to get into the mid-engine targa experience. Such a gem.

Acura NSX-T

The NSX was a masterpiece, but the NSX-T, the targa version from 1995 on… that’s the one I’d want. You lose a tiny bit of chassis stiffness, but you gain that open-air feeling. And with that V-TEC V6 singing right behind your head? Yes, please. It’s just so well-engineered, so easy to drive. Prices have settled, but a good one is still, uhm, $90,000 to $120,000? It’s a forever car.

DeTomaso Pantera

This Italian-American hybrid… a Ford V8 in a Ghia-designed Italian body. And it had those awesome T-top panels. It’s raw, it’s loud, it’s wide, and it’s just ridiculously cool. It’s not a refined car by any stretch, but it has so much character. Prices have gone way up, a nice one is probably $150,000 plus now. But it’s a proper rockstar car.

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