PORSCHE

912

The Porsche 912 was introduced in April 1965 as a cost-effective companion to the new Porsche 911, using the proven 1,582 cc air-cooled flat-four engine from the final Porsche 356 series, slightly detuned to 102 SAE horsepower and installed in the modern 911 bodyshell. By pairing the 356's frugal and reliable four-cylinder powerplant with the advanced 911 chassis and styling, Porsche created an attainable entry-level sports car that outsold the 911 during its early years and provided the revenue that funded further Porsche development. The Porsche 912 was lighter than the 911 and praised for its neutral, balanced handling, free from the rear-weight oversteer that could challenge 911 drivers; many drivers of the era considered it the purer driving experience. During the original production run from April 1965 through July 1969, approximately 32,867 Porsche 912 were produced across coupe and Targa body styles, with Targa production beginning in 1967. After a six-year gap, the Porsche 912 returned for the 1976 North American market only as the 912E (Einspritzung), powered by a 2.0-litre Volkswagen Type 4 flat-four with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection producing 90 hp; 2,099 units of the 912E were built between May 1975 and July 1976 to bridge the gap after the 914 ended and before the 924 arrived. Total Porsche 912 production across both generations stands at approximately 34,966 units. Today the Porsche 912 is a rising classic, increasingly valued as an authentic 911-era driving experience at a significantly lower price than the equivalent 911, with original matching-numbers examples averaging US$51,593 on classic.com.