According to Collins Dictionary , a targa top is defined as a "removable hard roof on a motor car", but there’s more to it than just that. The roof panel or panels might be made of metal, fiberglass, canvas, or something in between. Regardless, it all boils down to the same concept: a part coupe, part convertible car.
Unlike traditional convertibles with their soft tops, a targa top offers the clean silhouette of a hardtop with the option to let the sun in. I think the targa design is the best thing since power windows. You get to drive with the roof off, without looking like you just lost a fight with a leaf blower, or worse, having to stare at a saggy, folded roof when it’s up. Here are 20 of the coolest cars ever to feature a targa top.
How We Chose The Targas
This list is based on a wide range of factors, such as unique engines, stunning design , engaging driving experience, historical relevance, and a hint of subjectivity, those cars that make my heart skip a beat.
Information was sourced from the official manufacturers, with additional insight taken from road tests and reviews from reputable sources, like Car and Driver , Top Gear , and MotorTrend . Entries are ranked in chronological order.
Porsche 911 Targa
The very first car to sport the Targa name was the Porsche 911. At the 1965 International Motor Show, held in Frankfurt, Porsche showcased the classic 911 with a removable roof panel, steel roll bar, and plastic rear window, fortunately, they soon swapped the wonky plastic window for a safety glass one.
In all honesty, I could have included any 911 Targa in this article, but I feel the original Targa is the most important. Without it, we wouldn’t have modern Stuttgart gems like the 992-generation.
Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
There is much to love about the Ferrari Dino 246 GTS. Firstly, you have the engine, a rear-mounted, 2.4-liter V6 with a pretty unique 65-degree configuration. Secondly, you have the rich history behind the Dino name , which is in memory of Enzo Ferrari's son. But the thing I find most fascinating about the 246 GTS is its styling.
I mean, take a step back, just look at it for a second. Forget about the spec sheet and all the sentiment behind it. Even if the 246 GTS had no engine or a name, it’d still turn heads.
Fiat X1/9
Not only is the Fiat X1/9 one of the most stunning classic cars of all time, but it’s the perfect example of a true driver’s car. With less than 90 horsepower (hp) available, the Fiat X1/9 left Car and Driver ’s Patrick Bedard describing it as “the leader in the bite-size sports-car class” back in 1979.
Honestly, that should come as no surprise. The Fiat X1/9 ticks all the right boxes that a fun-to-drive sports car should. It’s rear-wheel-drive, has a naturally aspirated engine that you need to rev out to the max, a manual gearbox, and a minuscule curb weight of just 2,050 lbs. What more could you want?
Dodge Viper (First Gen)
The original Dodge Viper is one of the wildest cars ever made. With no traction or stability control, ABS or airbags, it’s no wonder that Top Gear ’s Craig Jamieson described it as “as dangerous as skin-diving with piranhas”.
And that’s not even to mention its 8.0-liter V10 engine that sends 400 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, the roofless driving experience only adds to the theatre. And then there’s the design that mesmerizes me. Tiny lights, massive wheels, side exit exhausts, accompanied by a bare-bones interior. Pure drama.
Honda CR-X del Sol
I love cars that have no reason to exist. I mean, who in their right mind thought that a two-door, convertible version of the Honda Civic was a good idea? No one. Yet, I’m so glad Honda made one.
I admire the del Sol’s quirky appearance and overcomplicated roof mechanism , especially. Fortunately, there’s more to it. In 1993, Car and Driver compared it against other fun-to-drive sports cars at the time, and it ranked second best, only falling behind the Mazda MX-5 Miata. For a front-wheel-drive, front-engined Honda Civic in disguise, that’s incredible.
Toyota Supra (Fourth Gen)
The fourth-generation Toyota Supra, also known as the A80, is one of the most recognizable Japanese sports cars of all time. But that’s not why it got a spot in this article. It almost lost its spot due to how overhyped it has become.
That said, despite its fame, most forgot that some models, called the Sport Roof, came equipped with a targa roof. In essence, this means you could carve canyon roads in your Supra with the top down by just removing your roof panel.
Ferrari F50
The F50 is one of Ferrari ’s many halo cars, like the Enzo and LaFerrari, and it succeeded the F40. It did everything the F40 did, and improved on the formula, but not at the expense of a tamed driving experience.
Instead of a turbocharged V8 engine, it adopted a naturally aspirated V12 that churned out 520 hp. Yet, it still lacked power steering and ABS, because you know, racecar. To break down the barriers that separate the car and driver, you could remove the F50’s roof panel and turn it into a roofless racecar.
Acura/Honda NSX-T
I am in awe of the original NSX. It’s wild to think that Honda built a car that not only looks like an Italian supercar, but one that rivaled them, too. Bias set aside, the NSX was a tremendous sports car that flaunted a mid-mounted 3.0-liter V6 that put out 270 hp and 210 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque without the help of forced induction.
When fitted with the 5-speed manual transmission, the NSX’s VTEC-infused engine revved up to 8,000 rpm. In 1995, the NSX-T came along, giving enthusiasts a more open, more emotional version of an already phenomenal car.
TVR Tuscan Speed Six
I would never want to own a TVR. That said, I’d really like to get behind the wheel of one. Despite the many, many shortcomings TVRs have, I consider them some of the most soulful cars ever made, with the Tuscan being one of their greatest creations yet.
The Tuscan is one of the most illogical cars ever made, in my opinion. Doug Demuro pointed out its plethora of shortcomings, like a stupid battery position, illogical window switches, and a bolted-down hood. But once you hear it , you understand the true meaning behind the term “unconditional love”.
Vauxhall VX220/Opel Speedster
On paper, the VX220/Speedster sounds like the ultimate lightweight sports car: MotorTrend reports the mid-engined sports car weighs just 1,941 lbs, and its turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes just under 150 hp, enough for a sub-6-second 0 to 60 mph time.
Then, there’s the supercar-esque styling, too. It’s a shame neither one of these went on sale in North America. That said, it’ll soon turn 25 years old, making it eligible to import.
Every Koenigsegg
I know I’m only allowed one car per entry, but what are the rules if not meant to be broken? And what brand better to be the exception than Koenigsegg ? Since the introduction of their first model in the early 2000s, the CC8, many Koenigsegg models have offered a removable hardtop, though some, like the four-seat Gemera, are fixed-roof coupes.
Yes, that includes cars like the Jesko and Agera RS. Not only are these supercars easy on the eyes, but they’re record-breakers. The Regera set a 0 to 400 to 0 km/h benchmark of 31.49 seconds in 2019, but the record has since been beaten, most recently by the Rimac Nevera R at 25.79 seconds. And yes, its roof goes down, too.
Porsche Carrera GT
The Carrera GT is the coolest Porsche ever made, in my opinion. From its timeless design to its 604-hp V10 engine and six-speed manual transmission, there’s much to fangirl about the Carrera GT. But one feat remains often overlooked.
All Carrera GTs have a removable roof panel that turns it into a targa. Just imagine this: Cruising along a mountain road (with the roof off, of course), rowing your own gears, finding a short stretch. Downshift, downshift, foot on the throttle, and bam, a heavenly song erupts from an engine mounted right behind your head
Maserati MC12
I know the term “racecar for road” gets thrown more than it should, but if there’s one car worthy of it, it’s the Maserati MC12. I mean, it’s a homologation special, after all. But the MC12 isn’t all show.
Because it’s based on the Ferrari Enzo, it too houses a monstrous 630-hp V12 mounted in the middle, which allows it to reach a top speed north of 205 mph. But the icing on the cake, apart from its ludicrous design, is its removable roof, something the Enzo never had.
Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster
Truth be told, the Murcielago Roadster is my favorite Lamborghini of all time. Sure, it’s not the fastest or the most over-the-top raging bull, but I have a serious soft spot for this machine. After all, it was the last V12 Lamborghini you could get with a gated manual transmission.
There’s a handful of other Lamborghini models that could have replaced the Murcie, like the Aventador and all its special variants, or other older Lambos like the Diablo. All things considered, the Murcielago’s timeless design stole my heart.
Lotus Elise (Third Gen)
As of the writing of this article, the Lotus Elise has undergone three different generations. While all of them are targas, and remarkable in their own right, I consider the latest Series 3 Elise the best of the bunch. In this case, everything got better with time.
Lotus claims the latest Elise weighs between 1,896 and 2,053 lbs, and has up to 242 hp, if that doesn’t sound like the recipe to success, I don’t know what is. And considering this Elise generation only used Toyota-derived engines, you won’t have to endure an unreliable engine.
Porsche 918 Spyder
In the early 2010s, the Holy Trinity of hybrid supercars was born. Amongst the other contenders from Ferrari and McLaren was this, the Porsche 918. Albeit not the only targa top of the bunch, the 918 Spyder stood out due to its engineering brilliance.
While all three entries were the perfect example of how modern technology innovates performance cars, the 918 Spyder had an underlying sense of… dare I say, nerdiness to it? Albeit not my favorite of the trio, it’s certainly my favorite convertible.
Chevrolet Corvette (C7)
Deciding which Corvette generation is the best is a topic for another article. That said, I consider the C7 the best traditional Corvette of the eight generations, in my humble opinion. Why? Well, it’s rather simple, actually.
It follows traditional muscle car philosophy : Rear-wheel drive, an overwhelmingly powerful V8 in the front, and a beautiful design. These are all traits the C7 has, especially once we get talking about higher trim levels. And of course, coupe models have a removable roof panel that gives you the best of both worlds.
Alfa Romeo 4C Spider
On paper, this Alfa Romeo sounds like an Italian Lotus due to its sub-2,500-lb curb weight and mid-engined layout. Yet, it lacks some creature comforts you’d expect, like power steering and seat adjustments. But it's the imperfections that make me adore the 4C Spider as much as I do.
In essence, the Alfa Romeo 4C is a tiny exotic sports car, with, as Car and Driver ’s Tony Quiroga explained, an “unfiltered driving experience”. Obviously, the 4C is flawed. But with a pretty face like that, and undiluted fun, I’m sure you can look past a few inconveniences.
Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
There have been four generations of the Mazda Miata thus far, with each one following the same secret recipe for fun as the one it replaces. But in 2016, Mazda showcased the very first Miata to feature a targa top called the RF, short for “Retractable Fastback”.
It launched with the same naturally aspirated 155-hp four-cylinder as its soft-top variant, later adopting Mazda’s updated 181-hp 2.0-liter, and can be had with a manual transmission. The only difference between the RF and a base model ND Miata is its roof design, and it makes all the difference.
Bugatti W16 Mistral
In late 2024, Bugatti broke yet another top speed record, and without the top this time around. Using the Mistral, a gorgeous, roofless cousin of the Chiron, they achieved the fastest top speed ever recorded in an open-top car with a speed of 453.91 kmh (282.05 mph). This isn't the only fast targa car Bugatti has ever made, though.
They also built the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, which held the open-top speed record with a top speed of 408.84 km/h (254.04 mph). But I digress. According to Edmunds , the Mistral doesn't feature a full roof panel, but rather a temporary clip-on top. So, technically speaking, the Mistral still has a targa top.
Putting The Top Back On
Who would’ve thought a roof panel could do so much? The targa top might seem like a minor design choice to many, but in the right car, it can drastically reshape its entire persona, not just how it looks, but how it feels.
Some cars just behave differently with their top off, a little louder, a little less serious, and a whole lot more fun.
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