The concept of a “dream car” is an interesting one. For many people, that means something super fancy and outrageously expensive, like a Ferrari F40 or a Bugatti Divo or some such. However, For others, this can mean something a bit deeper and more profound. The dream car is representative of something other than flashy spending and bravado. It represents something fundamentally more valuable than wealth or status. This 1984 Porsche 911 Targa “Tardza” seems to be one such dream car. It is more symbol than car. 

The 1984 Porsche 911 Targa “Tardza” 

Silodrome highlights a film featuring a fairly unique Porsche that is a bit outside the normal “Porsche people” stereotype. When most of us think of a Porsche 911, what do we think of? Money? Privilege? A group of old dudes standing around trying to prove how cool they are based on the money they spent and the exhausting amount of details they know about a German go-kart? (maybe that last one is just me.) Whatever the brand makes you think of, I would wager it’s not thinking of someone living it. This 911 wasn’t just someone’s weekend toy; it was literally someone’s home for years. 

How did this Porsche come to be?

Before it found its way to Poland as Pawel Kalinowski’s next project, it was home for a fellow who was down on his luck in Seattle, Washington. The previous owner presumably made enough bread to buy himself the Porsche at some point. According to Silodrome, the man lost everything except his Porsche due to his substance abuse problems. This man lived in the Porsche for years with his dog. One day, he crashed it, and due to his financial situation, he couldn’t afford the bill for the fender repair, so he left it with the mechanic. 

Kalinowski, Car Bone’s owner, a leading supplier for vintage Porsche parts, bought the abandoned Porsche 911 and had it shipped to his home in Poland. 

What is Car Bone? 

Typically, Kalinowski and his team restore vintage Porsches to their original factory look and spec. However, with this one, Kalinowski wanted to pay homage to the tragic and profound history of this particular car that he restored everything on the car except for the damaged fender from the previous owner. 

He calls this 1984 911 the “recycled Porsche” for its friend-sourced parts and team build mentality. The “Tardza” name came from the fact that it’s a Targa-top car and the Polish word for rust “rdza.” You smash the two together, and you get “Tardza.” 

This is really not your typical Porsche in any way. In the film, Kalinowski waxes poetic about how this car came to be. He said that he found himself thinking about how this car represented a dramatic and tragic downfall for someone. He couldn’t help but wonder who that person was and what led them to fall from such a height? He goes on to say that he believes people in need deserve help, as did the Porsche. Although he never met the previous owner, who clearly could have used some help, he could help the car and let it be a symbol. 

The end result 

The car was restored mechanically but not the bodywork. This car was meant to serve a purpose and tell a story; Its looks were a major part of telling that story. Kalinowski wanted to build the car with parts that were traded for or bought from an individual. Anything from a store or retail service was not allowed. Everything, including the engine, was traded for or purchased from an individual. It is the definition of a sleeper car. It looks old and tattered, but it is basically a brand-new car underneath.