This Porsche 912 has all the right vibes for giving the next owner the ultimate question: leave it alone and drive the doors off of it, or take it down to bare metal and restore it back to its factory condition? It’s a tough choice, but I honestly can’t see a wrong answer given how nicely this 912 presents. The seller notes that while it doesn’t have much paperwork, there’s evidence to suggest it’s been looked after with some upgrades performed along the way. The 912 is listed here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $45,000 and one bid to $20,000 so far.
The 912 left the factory wearing a Sand Beige paint. This color is not particularly sexy, and it’s not surprising to see it was converted to maroon at some point later in its life. However, there’s been a renewed appreciation for some of these colors that went out of style but were very much in-period when this 912 was built. I, personally, would return it to its factory color if money were no object, simply because the world has enough red air-cooled Porsches. The interior of this 912 is another highlight, with what looks like a padded dash (maybe?) and some sort of period woodgrain trim kit. Based on the photo of the data card included in the gallery, it seems it originally had a black interior.
The seller notes he acquired the 912 as a non-running project and proceeded to get it back into driving condition. His work included cleaning the fuel system, rebuilding both carbs, installing new rubber fuel lines and a fresh fuel filter, replacing the gas tank seals and filler neck, and installing a new battery. The engine bay presents well and shows what I see as good attention to detail. Although purely subjective in terms of its merit, the seller feels that the engine likely has some upgrades based on what sounds like sprightly performance for a 912; he notes that the driving experience leads him to believe it has a big bore kit.
Like I said at the top of the page: this 912 is a car that simply has good vibes. It’s certainly not been restored but it also doesn’t feel like a car that fell into full-scale abandonment with questionable work or modifications made. The seller notes it hails from California based on where the previous owner purchased it, and the bodywork certainly suggests time on the West Coast (and it now resides in Wethersfield, Connecticut, so the California history is worth noting.) The Buy-It-Now isn’t unreasonable but hopefully the seller is signaling you might be able to snag this clean 912 for under that price.
Nice car. In this condition this car needs only one thing: Driven. What good is any car if you can’t or won’t drive it. If you don’t like the color then go find what you like. Quiet a few out there.
Second that. It’s presentation perfectly fine as it sits. When a desirable car is restored it’s almost guaranteed it will be relegated to life sitting in the garage other than the occasional coffee and cars. At that point if it changes hands the price escalates enough to practically guarantee it will never again be driven in a regular basis.
The compulsion to restore every decent drivers is one of the main reason there is a lack of affordable cars.
Steve R
Hey Bob, you obviously know and understand this model, I’m in the market for one, a driver like this. You mention quite a few out there, in your opinion where is the best venue to locate them?
You’d have to have a hatred of your own money to spend any of it restoring this car back to any shade of brown. Or be incredibly stupid.
It needs restoration?
No.
That’s Polo Red, like the one I bought in Holland for $4,200 in 1966. Someone added a clock and outside temperature gauges, as the ‘66 912 came with only three.
Yup, this has “work beater” written all over it!
Looks like a super nice, well cared for car. Paint job maybe not up to par with the rest of the car but altogether sweet!