This 1966 Porsche 912 is a really neat vintage project! It is said to only need a light restoration to become a driver. If you’ve been looking for a great project, this might be the one for you. Found here on eBay with an asking price of $21,500. The car is currently located in Princeton, Texas but the ad states it was “pulled from its slumber in a Utah garage after many years of being parked.”
The engine appears to be original. Unfortunately, the ad doesn’t confirm it is original and also doesn’t have any information regarding the current status. I would assume if it was running and/or driving, that it would say that in the ad. Hopefully, it won’t take too much work to get it running well again. The transmission is a five-speed instead of the more common four-speed, which is a bonus.
The ad does say that the interior doesn’t need much work. Probably a good detailed cleaning and it will be ready to drive. The dash does have the three gauge cluster including the large center tachometer.
Overall this car looks great from the outside. The only obvious blemish being a dent on the driver’s door which was apparently caused by opening the door too far. Besides that, this appears to be a pretty do-able project for the shade tree mechanic. Hopefully, this car will find a new owner who enjoys it for years to come.
3 gauge 912’s are, for some reason, much less desirable than 5
Me, it wouldn’t make a difference..it’s a dog slow car… Texas seller, “pulled from a Utah slumber” with New Hampshire plates
Is that primer paint liberally sprayed over dings, small dents, previous rough paint?
Turning this into a daily driver may well be its best course of action.
Looks like the floor pan is ok. A magnet test may reveal Bondo in doors and fenders, or not.
Year 1966 was early for the 912, a less expensive version of the new body style essentially running the 1965 Porsche 356 SC running gear.
The early 912’s were nice cars. Three dial, Five dial, not that big a deal I think.
So is there a market for resto modding them or swapping out the engine? If the body and interior are good maybe just the engine upgrade and you’d have a bit of a sleeper. Dean said it was “dog slow”, so would another engine just drop in?
In 40 years of playing with 356’s and early 911’s I’ve never seen anyone successful at making a 912 worthwhile. I thought hard and eeked out 2 ideas. If you’re on a budget put a 911 badge on it. If you have some scratch and don’t mind really bastardizing a car to make it a sleeper, throw a souped up VW engine in it. lol
I often wondered why someone wouldn’t take a clapped out 912 and drop in a Subaru 2.5 turbo. I see it on VW buses…yeah they have a little more “elbow room” but…
Been done many times, at least with Subaru’s EJ25 flat four
New Hampshire tabs are from ’93 it looks like. Maybe a nice road trip from East Coast to Utah? Sounds like a dream trip to me!
’96 & up EJ20T or other DOHC Subie
(yup EJ25 too).
Friend of the family always got a new Porche (each 5 yrs?). I remember seein this one when he got it new ’67 or 8 – the 911L. As a 16 y/o I thought it was hot.
I‘m putting back together a stalled rebuild of a 1968 912, while mine is a zigsaw puzzle, this one needs some work and who knows what lies under the primer. I have to complement the seller on plenty of pictures, a good starting point. Porsche parts prices are killing me, even the simple door and window seals are priced beyond what I consider reasonable ( spoiled with my first project which was a beetle – parts are so inexpensive). Mine doesnt have these air cleaners, havent seen the type on this motor before. Good luck to the new owner – I think its a little expensive for the condition but thats just me.
3 Gauge cars are early Porsches. I’m not sure that a 5 speed was an option that early in the game. I, too, don’t get the New Hampshire plates. And the interior is not that nice but looks like it’s pretty much all there. If you want an absolutely tractable car with low maintenance issues in a Porsche this is it. Remember that rising tides lift all boats. Rising prices in Porsches do the same thing. In 1966 you could buy one of these in California for $6500.00 plus tax and license. With a 5 speed, radio, and antenna, as the factory used to say.