On openSuse, w/tar-1.26-17.1.x86_64, I tried using the --portability flag to get only older headers..
Instead I got:
tar cf out --portability P-1.1.4/
tar: --old-archive: (PROGRAM ERROR) Option should have been recognized!? Try `tar --help' or `tar --usage' for more information. tar bug or platform (opensuse) bug?