The Rodney Dangerfield of Porsches? Maybe not, the 912, like this 1969 example gets respect for its 911 styling and my experience tells me that they are a fun driving experience. Still, many will say, in spite of the venerable name displayed across the boot, it’s just not up to Porsche snuff. With that supposition in mind, let’s look this one over and make an honest assessment. Located in Vacaville, California, this 912 is available, here on craigslist for $27,000. Gunter K scores another victory with this discovery!
The seller tells us, “Slate Gray original paint with matching numbers fresh out of long-term storage” and then suggests that it could use “complete restoration”. My initial thought is that this 53-year-old specimen still shows OK. Obviously, it has one of those “didn’t see the brake lights in time” smush on the front bumper, and we’re told that the passenger side rocker will need to be replaced. Perhaps some parking by ear has been the order of the day too as the boot lid is dented. There is also a suggestion that the floors will need some repair as well. Even being a Bay Area car, the rust issues aren’t overly surprising as this vintage Porsche was afflicted by that malady. So, fair overall, and the gray finish, where it hasn’t peeled or flaked off, still has some shine to it. One last observation is the twin-engine compartment cooling grilles. They’re both bowed in with what looks like giant butt-cheek impressions.
The interior is a bit dowdy for a car with just 45K miles on its clock. I say that as the gauges, always a Porsche treat, are dingy, the carpet is heavily stained (I’ll never understand using light-colored carpet in an automotive anything), the dash pad and speaker grille, in particular, are cracked, and the leatherette upholstery is discolored, though not split. Hardly a terrible environment, mind you, but it could use some attention (probably Porsche expensive.)
What really caught my attention was the A/C compressor under the hood, just sort of plopped there in front of the 106 HP, 1.6 liter, flat four-cylinder engine. The A/C is listed as factory installed and the interior vents portray a born-with vibe but that compressor is less than convincing looking. It also likely doesn’t work as the belt has been removed. It is known is that about 4,700 Model 912s were produced in ’69, but it would be a more interesting factoid to know how many were air-conditioned. Any knowledgeable input on this matter would be appreciated. In ’69, both a four and a five-speed manual transaxle were available in the 912 but what’s under this Porsche is not stated (and the shift knob is missing). Oh, I almost forgot, this is a sort-of runner as it needs to be fed from a fuel can.
So, as is usually the case, everything gets back to price and I’m on the fence with the $27K ask. Considering what it will take to straighten this 912 out completely, it may be high, not outrageously so, but this example needs a lot of cosmetics and probably mechanical attention too – at least that’s my thought, what’s yours?
To the best of my knowledge all the early 911-912 models were equipped with dealer or factory A/C in the late 60’s. They were the same kits until Behr started supplying kits for the factory in the early 70’s. So I would think the only way to know if it was factory would be on the factory records. In 1980 supposedly all 911’s got factory A/C that were built for the US.
912s used to be affordable used cars. Now they are crazy priced, so most of us can no longer own one. Maybe Porsche makes roller skates or something for us commoners. When these were just used cars, people paid more attention to driving them and appreciating them as a car. Now they have become investments and status symbols, I fear much of what the car really is has been lost.
In have a 1968 912 – according to the “birth cert” it came without factory a/c. It does have an air pump for emissions – would clash with the position of this compressor. Also the engine tin on my vehicle is more extensive and runs under the compressor location. I still like the vehicle but there is some work to bring it up to standard.
I had one just like this. Detractors would claim it’s a 911 wannabe with a 356 motor, but that aside, I found it to be a nice handling & peppy (not fast) ride.
I later bought a 74 911T and was beat at a stop light GP by a Plymouth Sundance turbo (I was gaining on him, but we ran out of road). Ouch!
Not a fair contest, of course the Plymouth turbo won. Just as a base Camry today would stomp the Plymouth turbo. Time and innovation travels on and thank goodness for that.
Ahhh–another “sheep in wolf’s clothing”. owned a late ’69 from ’76-’86(rear brakes came from the Targa since they ran out of the usual 912 ones). Car handled poorly, anemic acceleration, gas tank leaked due to the rubber undercoating applied where it met the floor, poor heating and defrosting–basically a car I was glad to unload to some other sucker
If it was so bad, why did you keep it for a decade and why buy it at all?
Actually got the car when in college on “advice” from other Porsche fans. Used it later as a loaner car while I worked on client’s cars and by “86 I had gotten married , so bye-bye.
Have owned and enjoyed a ’65 912 for 54 years. This one needs everything, starting with money, time, and talent. The front crossmember is gone, surely its past the 100,000-mile mark, and the interior is wasted. At best this is a $10-15,000 car, then you’ll have to sink $100,000 into it. By the time you get it right, you’ll have way more in it than if you just went out and found a nice one already restored.
A/C kits came from a company in Texas and were dealer installed. They had a nice under dash blower that blended in. Lots of piping that ran under the car. When turned on, speed would drop 10 mph! Had on my ‘66 912.
Jack… Does the unit in this car match yours? We installed a bunch of the Texas units in the early cars and the under dash piece was the same as pictured here. The Behr units had a slimmer under dash piece that ran into the late ’70s when they integrated the AC into the heater/fresh air system.
My was different. Very slim, and did not quite go end to end.