If you patronize a local repair shop, you have likely encountered some delays as of late, either due to supply chain issues, lack of personnel, or both. The seller of this 1969 Porsche 912 mentions a 3-month delay in getting into his shop as the reason for selling this car with some lingering carburetor issues, and sometimes, it’s just the straw that breaks the camel’s back. The 912 sports original Irish Green paint and the seller claims it’s very solid with no major rust issues, and it’s listed here on eBay with bids to $37,500 and the reserve unmet.
The lack of young mechanics coming into independent repair shops is a real problem, leading to long lead times getting into a facility – especially if you’re not a regular customer. I’ve been fortunate to find resources in my backyard, but it’s inevitable that if you bring a project more complicated than routine maintenance, your car is going to sit on the back burner. Now, if you have a car you genuinely enjoy, you’ll wait months for steady hands to work on it; however, if you own car you’re less than crazy about, such a delay may prompt you to move onto a project you can either work on yourself or you don’t mind waiting for it to be serviced.
The seller mentions that this 912 has “….Solex carburetors but they are leaking fuel and floats need to be adjusted,” and needs a tune-up to the point that it sounds like it can drive onto a trailer and not much else. If you’re not handy with carbs, than getting this engine sorted out is likely above your pay grade. The 912 is a desirable specimen otherwise, as Irish Green is one of the more sought-after factory colors and the interior is in great shape. The dashboard doesn’t appear to be cracked and the fact that there are not gaping holes beneath those clean carpet and floormats either means it has been previously repaired or it has resided in dry climates since new.
A few months ago, I chased a long dormant 912 project and was not successful in procuring it. A mechanic friend of mine who grew up with Porsches of this era laughed, wondering why I was losing sleep over one of the most undesirable air-cooled Porsches from his youth. But as I mentioned in a previous post, the 912 has the looks and vibes that makes long-hood cars so sought-after today, not only as a driver’s car but as borderline pieces of art. This is why it’s not surprising to see the current bid price for this supposedly rust-free 912 with a desirable paint code, and for someone not afraid to dive into carb adjustments or who has a trusted local shop to do it, this is likely an example worth gunning for.
Oh my God, this is beautiful. Top dollar, but I know someone will pay it.
Does need the original wheels/caps though…
Nice car. The carb problem is easily solved as they are pretty basic and there are plenty of manuals available if the buyer knows anything about cars. These cars are not slow as they are light and the engines have more than sufficient torque to move them down the road.
Solexes can be rebuilt. This one has the upgrade 5-dial dashboard. Does it have a 4- or a 5-speed? The wheels were a fairly popular dealer option and could well be the originals.
5 speed with first over left and down. They are smooth shifting, not like Michelle’s “egg” 914 unit.
1969, the best of the 912’s. Look at those cute fender lips!
Seller fits “that” type. Wants to drive the 912 (who doesn’t?) but doesn’t know or care to know how it drives. Yes, Porsche’s mystique may have a negative effect on the mechanically challenged. But what about VW, the “easiest, least intimidating car to work on in the world?” Ask yourself why that mystique doesn’t exist with the Solex carbs VW used from the 1950s in oval window Beetles (Solex 28 PCI) uninterrupted til the 1970s (Solex 34 PICT 3) when Pierburg carbs replaced them. The ’69 912 came with Solex’s 40 P II-4, essentially the same. OK, so there are lots of little parts but like bobhess said, there are manuals. I must admit that even I have benefitted from that mystique — by relying on Solex carbs and pretending they’re more complicated than they really are in order to stay out in the garage way past the dinner bell.
I’ve reached the stage of life where, when the dinner bell rings, I’m there, even if my hands do smell a little of fuel/solvent!
It all depends on the bell ringer’s cooking — some of us have bell ringers whose food smells like solvent!
Most importantly, the car appears to have little if any rust. It also looks complete, original, and un-messed-with. The carb problem can be fixed easily, but it gives the buyer a huge discount. Show up with $30,000 in $100 bills, and it could be yours!
More like $45,100 and it could be yours. That’s what it sold for
Look at that. This is the same car I totalled back in 1972 except it was a 1967, not a ’69. Same color, 911.
Always loved it when I got 912 as my next vehicle to work on, when I worked for dealer late 60’s early 70’s lots of room to work on engine in comparison to 911.Think adjusting valves using inspection mirror, one of reasons I switched to Mopar, besides moving back to California.Solex carbs some of the easiest to work on.Rebuilt kits still available in aftermarket, we used to be able to get whole carbs, haven’t tried that recently, so not sure about now.Would love to have this car but my old body doesn’t have the flexibilty to work on them or even get inside car now.
Chinese 40-P11-4’s, are available cheap.
Tariffs? Imagine if original German carbs became the “cheap” ones!
This really looks like a nicely kept vehicle. Currently at $40 k and climbing, headed out of my range. Nice car!!
Of the 183 cars I have owned, 2 of them have been Porsche 912’s and I have to say… when you consider the promise of performance it’s looks suggest with the actual performance delivered, it may well be the single worst car ever made. A truly terrible experience to step into your sporty Porsche only to be facing a 90hp engine and a 0-60 of almost 14 seconds. I’d like to say it’s a “momentum car” but first you have to get going… something a 912 simply doesn’t want to do. The most shameful thing about the 912 for me is that I did it twice!
Grandpa said that in the late 70s, these were quite cheap and the fact that they were low HP made many parents happy a teenage son had one. At the time a 69 Charger RT was about the same price. These were much better for an inexperienced teenage driver. Plus they handled much better then a big block Mopar.
Ended at $45,100.
Reserve Not Met.