Description
Between the Porsche 356 and the 911, the 912 forged its career. Produced in the second half of the 1960s, it remains today the symbol of a bygone era.
In 1964, the Stuttgart manufacturer launched the 911, which appealed to some of the public, but not entirely. Some purists considered the 356 as the only true Porsche and did not convert to buying the 911. The brand reacted to reach a wider target by offering a stripped-down version of the 911 equipped with the Porsche 356 SC engine.
The Porsche 912 arrived in April 1965. That year, very few units were produced. Production accelerated in 1966. For the 1967 model year, the Porsche 912 evolved with the appearance of rubber strips on the bumpers, slightly modified door handles, and new, now straight and wider lettering on the rear hood. It also saw improvements in brakes and running gear. In 1968, the Porsche 912 was no longer sold in the European market following the restructuring of the 911 range. However, it persisted in the North American market until the 1969 model year, where it was distributed alongside the 911 T. Thus, some Porsche 912s were equipped with the extended wheelbase of the 911 and all its other specific modifications (slightly wider rear fenders, slightly larger rearview mirror, ventilation control in place of the ashtray…).
Nowadays, despite its high production, the Porsche 912 is one of the models not easily found in our territory. The majority of the 30, 985 Porsche 912s (including 2, 562 Targas) that were produced ended up in North America. Many cars have been scrapped or completely transformed. There are no recurring defects on this model and the parts for the flat-4 engine are cheaper than those for the flat-6. So if you’re a fan of vintage Porsches and have the soul of a guardian of a heritage that must be preserved, the Porsche 912 will satisfy you. Nevertheless, we advise you to call on a professional who will help you find the rare gem.
The Porsche 912 is the least powerful of the 911 family. Under its hood, we find the 1600 cc flat-4 that equipped the Porsche 356 SC. This Porsche 912 is quite disconcerting because you have a 911 before your eyes with the sound of a 356. Let’s say this forges a unique character that allows the 912 to distinguish itself from the rest of the 911s. But very quickly, the flat-4 is no match for the flat-6 and its particular musicality. So much so that the very existence of the 912 was called into question. Why make an in-between model like this? Porsche’s idea was to be able to bridge the price gap between a 356 and a 911 with an intermediate model. With its 911 face and 356 engine, the compromise works. To drive, it’s a pleasure that only classics bring, Marc Joly describes it as follows: The driving position, the large steering wheel, a slight sway in the front end, good smells, a timeless atmosphere, you fall for it very quickly.
It’s obvious, if you expect a Porsche to glue you to the seat, this won’t be the ideal model. But if you like going back to the early models to take the back roads and see smiles on pedestrians’ faces (yes, classics have a huge likeability factor) you’ll be charmed. However, the 912 is not just a Sunday driver. It also allows you to gradually increase the pace on winding roads. Its lightness and agility work wonders. Everything seems easy with the Porsche 912, it just lacks a bit of power to offer its best. It’s fun and endearing and won’t fail to surprise you.
The Porsche 912 is lighter than the 911 by about a hundred kilos (970 kg when released) but with a significantly different power output, 90 hp for the 912 and 130 hp for the 911 2. 0. As an anecdote, the 912 is even less powerful with its 90 hp at 5800 rpm than the 356 which produces 95 hp at the same engine speed. Its torque is also slightly lower than the 356, namely 124 Nm instead of 126 Nm but obtained lower: 3500 rpm instead of 4200 rpm. As standard, the 912 is equipped with a four-speed type 902 gearbox. It was possible to order it with a five-speed gearbox as an option. The other elements (chassis, brakes…) are identical to the 911.
This US-originating model has been completely restored between 2018 and 2020. It has driven 1, 050 km since.
New pistons and rings, upgraded to 1700cc
Rebuilt cylinder heads
Two new Weber carburetors (original Solex carburetors available)
New complete interior, including headliner
New running gear (silent blocks, ball joints, …)
New braking system (calipers, master cylinder, …)
New wiring
Refurbished speedometer and gauges
New bearings
It has matching chassis-engine numbers, the gearbox has been replaced.
