This 1968 Porsche 912 is offered up as a stalled project that fortunately already has some heavy lifting done. The car wears desirable Irish Green paint over a black interior and was found in a warehouse where it was stored indefinitely after the owner overseeing the restoration had to pause the work due to health reasons. The current owner has prepped the 912 for sale by cleaning up the paint and organizing the various parts that accompany the 912, including the original, numbers matching drivetrain. A VW engine sits in the engine bay now and will be included with the sale as well. Find the green 912 here on Facebook Marketplace with an asking price of $27,999.
When you find projects like these, it’s always a bit of a gamble as to whether it will still be a project that can be put back together, or spent too many years in pieces to be easily re-assembled. Boxes get lost, parts go missing, and the next owner has a gigantic jigsaw puzzle to reconstruct. That doesn’t seem to be the case here, as the car still looks reasonably complete, with an interior featuring the preferred leather sport seats and an intact dash and instrument panel. The dash itself still needs a pad and radio controls, but it doesn’t appear to be hacked up. I can’t quite tell if the carpets are still installed, and it looks like the door panels have been removed.
The seller doesn’t specify exactly what is included with the sale, but I’m sure he’ll furnish a list for anyone who’s serious about buying the whole package. The engine that’s currently installed is often the only motor that’s included on a long-dormant air-cooled project, especially a 912: a Beetle-derived powerplant. The good news it seems like the previous owner removed the original engine for a refresh and dropped the VW engine in to at least allow the 912 to still move around under its own power. If that’s the case, it goes to show you the level of care and effort that the owner was willing to undertake to keep the project moving forward (literally – it’s a pain to have a dead car in your way while the engine is rebuilt, a task that is often hit by unforeseen delays.)
The floors and bodywork both appear to be in excellent condition. The seller notes this 912 was purchased new in Europe by an American soldier who imported the 912 into the U.S. 1968. The seller reports that the 912 came with numerous factory options, including upgraded Koni shocks, Pirelli tires, chrome wheels, and safety belts. Gee, did someone want to go autocrossing when they got back stateside? Regardless, the options, original colors, and matching drivetrain make this 912 worthy of a proper restoration, and hopefully, the next owner will be able to see the work undertaken by the previous owner all the way across the finish line.
With a chain for a rear engine mount I can’t believe this car was driven anywhere other than inside the building. Nice car, good project.
I had “torque chains” like those in a 70’s Road Runner with a well massaged 383 … it tended to eat its motor mounts … /sarcasm
One just sold on BaT for 36K, I doubt you will be able to put this one back together for less than that. Not one I would consider if i were to be looking for a 912. It would be a 911. Nothing wrong with a 4cylinder and I’m not knocking others who own one but I would not be able to get past the sound. Same situation as buying a 718 Boxster or Caymen. If spending that much money I would want the 6.
But the 912 is more balanced and objectively handles better than it’s 911 sibling… also very easy to get lots of HP out of the 912’s VW-based engine (the original engine was essentially VW too). Oh, and the cool factor of the 912 only being made for a handful of years.
Balanced or not, these cars are severely underpowered. It always amazed me, despite the same engine in my 356, that my 912 was such a dog. Proof is in the pudding, as evidenced by 911’s (more or less) are still going strong, and 912’s long gone.
I would leave the VW engine in it and save the money. I would take some of the money to lock “the bonnet” so only, I could open it. Then I would take some more money and go shopping for a new wardrobe. Gucci loafers, no socks, starched jeans, polo shirt with horse logos, and then designer ball cap and jacket with Porsche logos. Then last, but not least ,some gold chains and a fake Rolex watch. On Sunday morning, I would go to cars and coffee , the exclusive part of town (Scotttsdale, Beverly Hills, Polo grounds ,whatever). I would park with all the other exotic rides and then act like a real car real guy, I would be very aloof and not talk to any one ,who I thought didn’t drive a worthy car. Also being carful not to engage with anyone ,who obviously knew something about cars. I would, then make a grand exit, by roaring down exiting Blvd ,as fast as my VW powered Porsche could go.
Even in the late 1980’s these did not get much respect. Now I wish I would have bought one then. This appears to be a very solid car. It is kind of hard to tell the straightness of the body work, and the quality of the paint from these pictures. Whenever I repaint a car, I always take pictures prior to the repaint. If someone does the work themselves and plans on keeping it for a while, I don’t think they would run the price too far above the purchase amount. The Porsche market bubble has pushed most of them out of my range.
another “sheep” in wolf’s clothing; in 1976, I was the 2nd owner of a ’69, 912 (so late in the series that they ran out of 912 rear brakes so they put 911T brakes on it). The car was grossly underpowered, handled poorly, leaked from the window seals(terrible on German cars), and had to braise the leaky gas tank(where it met the front floor).
Glad to get rid of it 10 years later to another “sucker”
As the regular driver of a very nice, original 1968 912 I say they are wonderful cars and..as stated..in some ways better than the 911’s of that era. You get the same basic car with 90 plus hp as opposed to 110 plus in a 911..but the 912 is nearly 200 lbs lighter and the 911 carries that extra weight right out the back making it much more tail happy than the 912. If this car had a 912 motor I’d say its well worth the $$..not so with the VW lump which really is very different ( I own 2 air-cooled VW’s too). A rebuilt 912 motor can cost up too $10,000 now so figure than it..the rebuild of the wife’s 912 which I drive was over $6,000 and about the same for the rebuild of the 912 motor in my 56 “Outlaw”. If you can find a functioning 912 motor for a reasonable price then it may be worth it. The very top end for this car would be $50,000..more like $40 to $45,000.
Nice car, not a fan of the color.
As wisely noted below (by a wise man indeed), great color, wrong car.
Love 912s…….remember seeing the first 912 targa in 1967…..fell in love….
Yellow with black interior and chrome wheels. My first Porsche was a ’67 coupe……purchased used in ’70. Unfortunately, it turned out to be rust bucket and I sold it 2 years later for the same $$ that I paid……happy to see it go.
Much better experience later in life with a ’90 C2 Targa……wonderful car, still pissed at myself for selling it too early (before the air cooled prices went thru the roof).
Just what I need, an over priced snooty Volkswagen dressed in British Racing Green. Makes me want a Super 7.
You need a lot more than that, William.
The Volkswagen comment says it all, William. Cant you do better? lol