Targa or Cabrio?

[tomscat1]

This car below is popularly known as the BMW 2002 Baur Targa Cabrio:

That sobriquet distinguishes it from the SECOND car, the 1600 or 2002 Voll Cabrio:

(Dirk and Bob V. Cabrios)

However, the term"Targa" is a registered trademark of Porsche. Porsche is, therefore, the only company with the right to use the name.

Here is their trademark registration:

https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/?ui=2&ik=fd81b9101c&view=att&th=13bd8108fd8502b8&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P-Sz-bslPBoTjLjQ-FhEp1R&sadet=1356567139591&sads=LR-CXkhyXyikMiDDHAMQ4U7HBcc

The E21 Baur is known officially as a "Top Cabriolet", or TC1, and the E30 Baur is similarly named as the TC2. There was only one "TC3" built as a prototype, but the subsequent model, the E36 Baur, is also known as a TC4. Although they are all built by Baur in a similar style.... i.e., removable, stowable hardtop, built-in roll bar, and fold down rear roof...... none save the 2002 are referred to as a Targa.

Why is that? Why does the 2002 Baur seem to get a pass on being called a "Targa"?

This all started the other day in my conversation with Don Marco, the guy who recently celebrated his Baur's 40th birthday across the pond. He sent me some pics, and I noticed that his Baur was NOT a Voll Cabrio, but rather a 'targa-type". Marco sent me the info on the Porsche trademark. He refers to his Baur as a 'Baur Cabrio", not a Baur Targa, as many---- including me ---- do over here.

I thought that perhaps the 2002 targa-type Cabrios pre-dated the Porsche trademark on the word "Targa", but, based on what Marco has sent me..... that doesn't appear to be the case.

Any thoughts?

[tomscat1]

Here is a little more background on the subject, including Porsche's trademark on the word "Targa", courtesy of Don Marco, who owns a Baur Cabrio:

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-surrey-top-mother-of-all-baurs.html

Thank you, Marco!

Scan.pdf

[mkcos]

Tom: I found my old car's birth documents, and BMW refers to it as a "Cabrio"... No mention of "Targa".I'm going to try and attach the scan of it, but I'm a serious rookie in these matters... Kevin

Scan.pdf

[tomscat1]

Tom: I found my old car's birth documents, and BMW refers to it as a "Cabrio"... No mention of "Targa".I'm going to try and attach the scan of it, but I'm a serious rookie in these matters... Kevin

Kevin,

for a 'rookie', you did damn good! Congrats! Nice job, and thank you for posting.

This info concerns the Inka Cabrio pictured at the top of this thread. It was originally green, and the VIN is a match! Kevin is a previous owner of this Baur.

It appeared in Bring a Trailer (BaT) a couple of years ago, and we are trying to track it down:

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/12/old-bat-ad-for-1973-baur-targa.html

Thanks, Kevin!

P.S. Kevin, do you mind if I post it in my blog? Let me know.

[mkcos]

Tom: Well, of course you can post it. I"m flattered that it's worthwhile info for you. I still say I'm a serious rookie; I could have sworn I replied once already... Oh, well... Kevin

[tomscat1]

Here is a little more background on the subject, including Porsche's trademark on the word "Targa", courtesy of Don Marco, who owns a Baur Cabrio:

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-surrey-top-mother-of-all-baurs.html

Thank you, Marco!

In a comment added to the blog post above, Sam from the UK has shared a Flickr link with an abundance of Baur pics posted by many different photographers. It is a mother lode of pics.... over 700, showing all varieties of Baurs, including many many 1600 and 2002 Baur Cabrios. You may recognize a few of them.... Dave T's green Cabrio from NH, Jeroen J., HarryPR and Bruce H. among others.

Here is the post:

http://baurspotting.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-surrey-top-mother-of-all-baurs.html?showComment=1356716736377#c9221310926787104458

Here is Sam's Flickr link:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=rec&w=all&q=baur+bmw&m=text

Enjoy!