Disclosure: This site may receive compensation from some link clicks and purchases.
One of my new friends here in Idaho invited me stop by a local “Cars and Coffee” type event this morning. It is put on by the Porsche club and takes place at the dealership. On the first Saturday of every month they also go on a little drive. A lot of Porsches were there and ironically, I was attracted to what was probably the oldest and slowest of the bunch. Even with all the new high-dollar machinery around, this 1965 SWB 912 was looking good. I heard rumors that the owner acquired it through the old “if you ever want to sell” note on the windshield trick. We will let him confirm that himself though. Be sure to send in your own sightings so we can share them with everyone!
Good to see you getting settled in, Jesse. Hope you like your new digs.
Those local Cruise-Ins are a lot of fun. Casually show up and rub shoulders with other enthusiasts. I actually prefer them to the organized Show’N’Shines; people don’t seem to get so uptight, and probably a few less Sidewalk Commandos as well.
Thanks geomechs! I have to agree with you. This was my sort of event. Everyone met up for 30 minutes to chat and checkout the cars and then everyone went for a drive. I would rather be out enjoying my car than sitting in a lawn chair while everyone gawks anyway.
These rides are a lot of fun. Several years ago when I owned a 98 Porsche’ 944 Turbo, my daughter and I met up with a similar crowd. Drove (raced) to the edge of town to a local truck stop, ate and talked about our cars. A pretty good time. Thanks for sharing this story.
912 – one better then a 911. It may be slow in a straight line but a well sorted one will outrun its 6 cylinder cousin on the twisties.
More 912s were sold in the early years then 911s and likely were responsible for the survival of the company.
912bbs.org
From what I understand, the lighter engine makes for better weight distribution. There’s a few around Melbourne, met a guy in Adelaide who had one in blood red. Very underrated if you consider what they’re going for at the moment over here.
Yup. That 220 or so more pounds all the way behind the rear axle didn’t help the handling. They compensated a bit with weights in the ends of the front bumper after too many drivers saw where they were headed in the rear view, then lengthened the wheel base 2.2″ in 69 and relocated the now twin 12v batteries to under the light buckets.
Short lesson on jargon
SWB = Short Wheel Base 64 – 68 my
Long hood = pre impact bumper 73 1/2 my
SWT = Soft (rear) Window Targa 67 – 68 my standard, optional 69 on (very rare cars. Only around 20 912 SWT are known. I seem to remember reading about a 911 that was a 70.
Hard Window Targa = optional in 68,standard in 69.
A 912 is exactly the same car as a 911 except for the prime mover. The motor mounts are different. One 912 Registry member has made adapters to put a 911 engine in a 912 chassis without cutting out the original mounts.
Both my cars (69 coupe and Targa) have the stock 616 engine from the 356.
http://www.912bbs.org/vb/member.php?19-Don-Melcher
Yep. After years of admiring and owning the early 911’s I now am a convert to the 912. I prefer the weight reduction.
Yeah, it seems like everyone else is catching on too. I just browsed through some listed for sale online and was surprised by how they have gone up in value.
very nice and is that a saab 900s in the background. after all these years porsche is going to start using 4 cylinders again. where would we be if they had stuck with the 912 all these years. thanks for the 912bbs.org website which i did not know about.
Good eye Jim! That is my new Saab. When I arrived, the Porsche salesman directed me to park over there on the side away. So, I couldn’t help but hassle him, “What a crappy old Saab isn’t good enough?”
Glad ur settleing into the new surrounding :) Meeting new people, especially like minded ones eases the transition. Thanks for sharing the pics
I have a Porsche 911 story for you.
About 5 , or 8 years ago, maybe more, I had a newly neighbor (renter, long gone now) stop by my gate and start talking to me.
Eventually he got to the subject “P-car 911” (my code when he started to talk about my 1972, long Nose Porsche 911 Targa) that his eagle eyes somehow must have spotted around three corners “buried” behind my fence and several other cars. I could swear there may have been 3 inches of the nose peeking out, but he saw it alright.
It’s a complete car and ‘ran when parked’ a couple of years before that
So he gets all excited asking, if I would sell that.
Of course with 99 losers out of 100 people asking that question, I just said :”I don’t need to sell it,but I would probably let it go for about 5 (five.)”. …..Not much reaction out of that so I figure, that sure stopped him in his tracks.
A couple of weeks go by and nothing, except, one day he shows up.
“Hey, I got the $500,right here.”
You should have seen his face when I gently had to break to him, that THAT is NOT quite what I had in mind, when I said ‘5’ !
We owned two 912’s in the early 70’s. A 1967 that was already showing signs of a rusty end, and a California 68, burdened by the smog equipment of that period. The 67 was a great driver, and as quick as a 356 Super. We enjoyed them both.
The photo of the 1965 Porsche 912 is mine……a the story is true. I just purchased the car a few months ago!