Porsche always had a special relationship with police forces around the world, having delivered over 1,000 cars to various law enforcement departments so far. But if you’re looking for the rarest police Porsche of them all, it’s this: the RS-powered 1976 911 Targa of the Belgian police.
Porsche delivered a batch of 20 specially prepared 911 Targas to the Belgian police officers in 1976, out of which only three examples are known to exist today. Most of the remaining 17 cars succumbed to the rigors of the job, as police officers wouldn’t even shut off the engine in between shifts.
This small and rather special batch of 911 Targas were the fastest police cars in the world up until 1993, as they were powered by the 210 HP naturally aspirated 2.7-liter flat-six engine of the 911 2.7 RS.
Ari Epstein tells Petrolicious that he was so fascinated with this car, he spent two years searching for one to buy. He got hold of a list with the original 20 cars and their VIN numbers, and when he came across his car, he knew it was the real deal.
The car spent almost three decades in storage following its retirement from active duty, retaining all the police-related accessories that set it apart from civilian 911s, including of course the characteristic ‘70s siren.
In case you’re wondering why the police would want a Targa, the answer is that the removable top was ideal for police duty back then, as the co-driver would stand up and signal other vehicles when necessary.