Porsche 912 Coupe 1969

About this Collectable

Porsche 912 1969

This 912 will also be shown during the Wheels event at Mariënwaerd on The Collectables' stand!

Quite simply, a 912 is essentially a 911 with a four-cylinder engine derived from the 356.  When the new Porsche 911 was unveiled at the Frankfort Auto Show in 1963, it was widely praised for its styling and technical advances. Due in part to its increased weight, the 911 was fitted with a powerful six-cylinder engine. Initially, Porsche did not plan to use the 911 as a direct replacement for the 356, but as the 911 threatened to overshadow the 356, Porsche looked for a way to adapt the 911 into a successor to the 356.  To achieve this, Porsche fitted the 4-cylinder engine of a 356 into the body of a 911. It turned out to be a perfect and acceptable Porsche was.  Thus, the Porsche 912 was born.
The new 912 was equipped with a 90 hp engine, Despite less power and more weight, the 912 was faster than the 356SC thanks to its better streamline and chassis.  To cut costs, Porsche fitted matte black dashboards, only 3 clocks and no trim strips. Also, the 912 had a 4-speed gearbox, although a 5-speed gearbox could be ordered for $35.00 (!) extra. The new Porsche 912 was a success in many ways, some of which Porsche may not have intended.  The engine of the first-generation 911 offered only a modest increase in displacement and horsepower over the 912 engine, but it weighed 200 kilos more, and what made matters worse was that this extra weight came at the rear of the car, beyond the rear axle.  The result was that the new 911 was an extremely sensitive car, so much so that Porsche added weights at the front to try to restore some balance. Compared to the 911, the new 912 was extremely well-balanced, it steered fantastically and was even faster than the 911 in many driving conditions.  In terms of maintenance, the 912 engine was also relatively simple.  The first 912s were made in the spring of 1965, along with the last 356s, and from 1969 the car's wheelbase was slightly lengthened for better handling.  In late 1969, when the price of a new 912 was almost equal to that of the cheapest 911 variant, Porsche decided to add the 912 to the 911 line.
The 912 always remained in the shadow of the 911, its value dropping harder and, consequently, usually the quality of maintenance. The designation as an entry-level model also stuck to the car instead of "successor to the 356". The fact that the 356 and early 911 became real collector's cars didn't really help either. The 912 was frequently used as a donor car to refurbish 356s and 911s. By now, the penny has dropped for most and the prices of the 912s have found their way up. They are increasingly appreciated for their sophisticated design and sporty driving characteristics. In addition, they are still more kindly priced than the 911 although decent examples, partly due to rarity (many were sacrificed for parts or a 6-cylinder transplant...), are now becoming expensive.

The one we are offering is one from the last year of production (1969) and thus with the rare long wheelbase. There were later 912 built based on the G model, but they had a VW engine. Overall a neat car that was delivered in the USA. Kardex and birth certificate are present and indicate it is a matching car both in terms of engine and gearbox. Features nice options such as a 5-speed gearbox (dogleg), ventilated and chrome wheels, tinted glass and air conditioning. The latter is not on the options list and was fitted by the supplying dealer from Las Cruses (New Mexico). Thanks to the dry and salt-free climate, the car is still in sore good condition and even partly still in its first paint. The remaining paint thickness is slightly higher but shows a cool body. Light rust can be observed around the location of the spare wheel. According to documentation from rival RM Sotheby's, the car has originally run 24,576 miles and the engine was addressed in 2013 for $8500 by Denver-based Porsche specialist Steve Rowe.

Our view

Never expected a 912 to be such a fun and lively car. The little engine responds well to the throttle and, combined with the 5-speed gearbox and low weight, makes it a very smooth car that is easy to corner. Now reasonably affordable and in terms of base a nice hard car. A project car soon devours 3x the purchase price if things don't go too badly. A neat car with, according to the documentation, only 3 owners, partly original paint and only 24,576 miles. Probably 1 of the most original survivors of the 912 series!

About the seller

The previous owner added the car to his extensive collection and hardly ever drove it. To make room for 2 other cars, he traded in a number of cars that are now being auctioned through The Collectables.

Equipment

This 912 is equipped with, among other things:

- 5-speed gearbox
- Ventilated chrome wheels 5.5x15
- Tinted glass
- Aerial
- Air conditioning 

Modifications

Air conditioning was fitted by the supplying dealer at the time

Notes

This 912 is in good original condition. Barely any rust (only noticeable around the spare wheel), partly first paint and a pristine interior disturbed only by a crack in the dashboard. The engine runs nicely and delivers good power and the gearbox shifts as it should. Taxes and import duties have been paid, but the car comes with a USA title.

Recent service history

There is no service history available. The car starts, steers, drives and brakes. We do recommend a service and 4 new tyres before commissioning

Included in the sale

Included in the sale of this 912 is:

● 1 key
● Various parts such as air conditioning pump

Summary

Seller - Porsche
Seller type - Business
Location - Gelderland
Registration number - USA Title
Chassis number - 129020983
Year built/date - 13 November 1968 
Mileage - 24,576 miles
Proven - According to previous description from USA original
Warranty - No
Margin/VAT - Margin
Bodywork - Coupé
Engine - 1600cc, 90 hp
Drive system - Rear-wheel drive
Gearbox - Manual (5-speed)
Exterior - Ivory white 
Interior - Black 
Upholstery - Skai
Smoking car - Unknown
Owners - 2 owners in USA and 1 in Netherlands 
Tyres - Vredestein Sprint 165 SR15, DOT unknown, adequate tread, but very old

The description of this Collectable has been created with the utmost care, based on the information provided by and validated by the seller. Based on the information provided, The Collectables performs a (pre)selection and consults public sources for any irregularities. However, bidders should ascertain for themselves the accuracy of the description and can, if they wish, conduct (or have conducted) personal research. All Collectables on our platform can be subjected to any possible inspection, examination or valuation in advance by buyers, of course in consultation with the seller. Please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for more details.

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