This 1969 Porsche may look fairly beaten down, but given the age we’re in where patina is all the rage, perhaps it’s made more desirable for its roughshod appearance. The car does look fairly complete, and it’s not completely rotten underneath. It does come with a matching numbers engine, but the mill is disassembled right now. Still, you look at the exterior, and see that the glass and chrome all remains intact, and it starts looking like a manageable project. The Fuchs wheels don’t hurt it, either. Find the 912 here on Facebook Marketplace in Florida with an asking price of $15,000.
The seller is also game for exchanging the 912 for a split-windshield VW Bus, which actually seems like a fair swap if the Bus is in similar or slightly better condition. It’s hard to tell for sure what happened on the rear end of the 912 – was it an accident, or did someone take the whole taillight panel and center bumper off to remove the engine? – either way, it will need some work. The splotches of surface rust are all over the car, and makes you wonder what sort of environmental conditions caused it to blossom this way. Photos show matching paint inside the hood, trunk, and door frames.
The interior is largely complete as well, with matching bucket seats, a factory steering wheel, and decent (but not great) door panels. The seller doesn’t elaborate as to what sort of shape the floors are in, and this being Florida, it’s not out of the question that the floorboards could be shot. But underbody pictures show what looks like solid lower sills and rocker panels, so perhaps not all hope is lost when it comes to how the underside of the car looks. This being a 912, you’re not going to find sexy upgrades like sport seats inside, but that can certainly be amended by the next owner with all sorts of period-correct upgrades.
The matching numbers engine is definitely a bonus, especially since so many 912s had their original mills replaced with a VW motor from the same era. The seller notes this engine comes with “Webers”, but doesn’t expand to say whether any other upgrades were made. Still, it’s a good sign that a previous owner chose to enhance the factory engine rather than rip it out. Overall, the surface rust and heavy patina may scare some buyers away, but if it’s not rotten all the way through, this looks like a manageable project. And in my opinion, way more fun to drive when it’s done than a VW Bus from the same era.
Pan doesn’t look that bad but the rust around the windshield and rear window will be the big challenge. Original engine had Solex carbs but the Webers do the same work just as well. It’s one of those “it could be worse but the price could be better”type of situation here.
I would have tidied up the frunk a little bit to stop potential buyers from going yeesh when they saw the pic.
The price is absurd; the restoration, which should be done, is North of $75,000. and therefore acquisition cost has to come down. I don’t buy these cars, as much as I have enjoyed 912s, I’ve had two, because of the ridiculous market values. Thank you, Jeff, nice post.
For the right price this would be worth tackling but, as said, to fully retore you are looking beyond the value of a really nice 912..from $35,000 to $50,000 plus. I drive my wife’s 1968 and they are terrific cars and I’d like to see them all saved..but at a price that makes sense..
Apparently, no one threw away a Porsche when it was time.
Now, there is an overabundance of projects of all types / abilities.
Interestingly, there are 356 kits to fit a glass body to an altered VW chassis but no 912 kits.
Was the IMS done?
Back in the age,
When patina was the rage,
I bought a rust bucket,
Abandoned amongst the sage…
Eh, when I went to the well-house
To draw some cool parts,
My cash fell through the bottom.
Not even an echo returned!
Oh man. While I am a patina (legit. No cancer, No faux!) freak, some cars don’t fall in that realm. This specific car certainly doesn’t. In order to end right side up financially, the seller would have to pay me to take the car. It pains me to say that. But it is what it is. Part it out, and think of it as being an organ donor. Peace out.
Actually there were 912 / 911 kit bodies being sold during the 80s. These were fitted to VW chassis & motors.
These were costly thou, as the trim , interior and glass would have to be Porsche.
surface rust ?! Hardly the way I would describe it!
i spy an early 6-fuse colorado colored BMW 2002 in one of the facebook photos. my kind of guy. i’d like to have this pair.
I had a ’67 912 back in day. Fun car to drive…….but rust up the wazoo!!
PS: Asking price for this rust bucket is NUTS!!!
All those spots on that red face
are not patina ,
Looks more like a case of
German measles.
Tin worm-easles.
Helped redo worse, but that said, not a $15,000 project! Pass big time!
That’s really a $5k rust bucket.
Or it makes my 69 911 look priceless.
I wish that 912 was a 3K car and my 911 was a 15K car so we can all get back to cars not prices.
With that amount of surface rust, it’ll be important to check the pans very carefully, as well as the front suspension mounting points, the early 912 cars have problems there as well.
That car was for sale in SC about a month ago for around $10k. I talked with the seller about it and passed because the block was cracked. I thought it would be cool to fix and drive as is but it’s a little too far gone.