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White on Lobster: 1976 Porsche 912

Many times it just takes a certain color combination for a car to seem even more special than it already is. In the case of this 1976 Porsche 912, the combination of a white exterior over a “Lobster Red” interior makes an otherwise ordinary air-cooled more desirable given how many enthusiasts tend to lust after this color scheme. The 912 is a matching numbers car that is said to run but in need of mechanical restoration (and, I suppose, cosmetic as well if you’re seeking perfection). The 912 comes with a new old stock replacement seat cover to repair the damage to the driver’s bucket and looks sharp on color-matched Fuchs alloy wheels. Find it here on eBay with bids to $18,500 and no reserve.

There was a time when a tired 912 wouldn’t get much attention; those days are long gone. And really, even if this example needs the usual assortment of deferred maintenance, it still looks like a great foundation for a mechanical refresh and otherwise just preserving the decent (if not perfect) cosmetics. The interior really is a treat, with matching red carpets and door panels, and German cars, in particular, seem to pull off the lipstick or oxblood interiors better than most. Aside from the wear to the driver’s seat bottom, the cabin is in good shape and certainly nice enough to use as-is. Replace the upholstery and otherwise just drive it is what I’d do.

The engine is numbers matching, which is harder to find than you might expect in air-cooled Porsches of this vintage. Especially a 912, which was more of a throwaway sports car when it became too needy to justify preserving in the middle 80s. Nowadays, you wouldn’t dream of yanking a matching engine from an air-cooled of any generation unless the car itself was a total rustbucket and only good for parts. The seller reports a “ticking” sound coming from the engine, which indicates to me it needs a valve adjustment. This is a pretty standard issue on Porsches of this vintage, and mildly worrisome the seller doesn’t seem to know about this fairly easy fix.

There is evidence of rust underneath the 912, but it’s hard to say for certain just how extensive it is. The photos aren’t great, and the seller isn’t exactly generous with the details surrounding the undercarriage. It looks like there may also be a rust blister in the edge of the passenger-side door based on this photo as well, but I’m not 100 percent certain that’s what we’re looking at. The 912 could be needier than I initially thought based on the dimly-lit rust photo in the eBay gallery, but if it’s limited to that one spot, it’s far from the worst air-cooled Porsche project we’ve seen. The color combo has sold me; is anyone else smitten by a particular paint combo?

Comments

  1. Avatar alphasud Member

    I’m one of those enthusiasts who goes nuts over a lobster interior however with the prospects of rust in the chassis that would be a no go for me. Porsche’s are expensive enough without rust issues and with a 912E I would move on. Also would have to send the Fuchs out for a reconditioning in the classic black/anodized finish.

    Like 3
  2. bobhess bobhess Member

    The 912Es had the galvanized dipped chassis which could minimize the rust the seller isn’t showing us. Do get the idea the car was driven hard and put away wet. If the price doesn’t go much above it’s present level it could be a good deal. The easy way to fix any valve train issues is to install the hydraulic lifters used in the ’80s water cooled VW Vanagons. This is a common fix on the Porsche 914s also.

    Like 1
    • Avatar alphasud Member

      I seem to remember some debate over the galvanizing process on the 911 started in 76 and that some were not fully galvanized. If this is true then the entry model 912E could be possibly one of the chassis that didn’t receive it.

      Like 1
      • bobhess bobhess Member

        That could be true. I do remember some cars having only the lower panels (rockers, tunnel, etc.) done but don’t remember the time stamp.

        Like 0
  3. Avatar DeeBee

    Just enough questions about the health of this one to walk away from it.

    Like 1
  4. Avatar t-bone BOB

    Located in:
    Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania

    Like 0
    • Avatar gaspumpchas

      Thanks for mentioning Harveys lake, t-bone==my dad popped the question to Mom at Hanson’s Dance hall at Harveys’ lake, 1943!. Great memories! Pocono Drag Lodge forever,
      Cheers
      GPC

      Like 0
  5. Avatar gord

    there are some underside pix and the rot is JUST outside the view in most pix… too much work under… too bad… typical fix and flip .. make top nice and ignore bottom

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Will

    The front airdam does not seem to be very clean.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar t-bone BOB

    Ended: Jan 04, 2022 , 6:47PM
    Winning bid:US $21,100.00
    [ 15 bids ]

    Like 0

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