New Suspension for the Porsche 911 Targa - More Capability, Same Character
One of the biggest modifications in our Porsche 911 Targa 1987 project is a complete rethink of the suspension setup.
From the factory, the car uses a suspension system based on torsion bars. For its time, it was a very effective solution - lightweight, durable, and perfectly suited to preserving the distinctive driving characteristics of a classic 911. For our project, however, we wanted to achieve a wider range of adjustment and a more modern approach to handling.
That is why we decided to move away from the original torsion-bar setup and switch to an adjustable MacPherson-strut suspension with coil springs. This solution gives us considerably more freedom when setting up the suspension and allows us to fine-tune its characteristics to suit the overall concept of the car.
One of the biggest advantages of this change is much easier and more precise ride-height adjustment. With the original torsion-bar system, changing the height of the car is a considerably more time-consuming process. With the new setup, we can adjust the ride height much more easily to match our initial targets and then fine-tune it with much greater precision.
But ride height is only one part of what the new suspension allows us to adjust.
At the front, we will also be using adjustable camber plates. These will allow us to set the front suspension geometry much more accurately and tailor the behaviour of the car to the way we intend to use it. Camber settings have a significant influence on how the tyre works through a corner, front-end grip, and the precision of the car’s response to steering inputs.
Another important part of the setup will be performance dampers combined with stiffer springs. Their purpose is to reduce body roll, improve control over suspension movement, and give the car a more direct response to steering inputs.
For this project, we chose Ohlins dampers.
We have been working with Ohlins products for a long time and know their capabilities very well. What we value most is their high build quality, reliability, and consistency - particularly when a car is driven more dynamically.
Ohlins also gives us exactly what we are looking for in this project: a wide range of adjustment and the ability to precisely tailor the suspension characteristics to the individual car.
It is a solution we know well and trust. With a project like this, we do not want to experiment with random components. We want to use parts that deliver the right level of quality and durability, but above all, predictable behaviour behind the wheel.
The goal of the entire setup is to make our Targa more precise, stable, and predictable, particularly during faster driving and through corners.
At the same time, we are not trying to create an extremely stiff or uncompromising car. What matters to us is finding the right balance between the character of a classic Porsche and the capabilities offered by a modern, fully adjustable suspension system.
We do not want to change the character of the classic 911. We want to bring more out of it.