A dream deferred

A 911 Targa is already a special proposition. And that makes a special edition of the Targa closer to unobtainable, which probably explains why you can't buy one

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When buying a Porsche 911, the most evocative sensation is not just the W promise of performance pleasure, but also the affirmation of buying into a dynasty now 59 years old and counting.

It is a provenance personified by six decades of unparalleled engineering dexterity, which has translated into thousands of race-track forays, forever inked in champagne across the racing atlas. It has earned the 911 the rightful accolade as the most successful sports car ever made.

Contrasted against Ferrari a company that does not retain its model names for successive introductions - each Porsche 911 is inextricably associated with a voluminous history.

As far back as half a century ago, in 1972, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche recognised the value of the brand beyond the showroom.

With this in mind, he set up the Porsche Design studio responsible for the production and licensing of associated boutique lifestyle products. These have ranged from the purely ridiculous (the P3613 tobacco pipe) to the sublime.

Of these, our test car the 911 Targa Edition 50 Years Porsche Design - celebrates the vaunted studio's very first creation, the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 wristwatch.

Price: R3 029 000 0–100

km/h: 3,67 sec

Top speed: 307 km/h

Power: 353 kW

Torque: 570 N.m

CAR fuel index: 11,88 L/100 km

CO2: 227 g/km