Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 12800518
Engine No. 1280438
Transmission No. 1080154
For all the plaudits the short wheelbase "early 911s" (1965-1968)
receive, it is often forgotten that the original 912 was offered
side-by-side with the 911, outselling it two-to-one throughout the
1960s. Why? Well, the 912 offered numerous advantages. First, it
shares the same 900-series unibody and its looks with the 911.
Weight distribution, long considered the weak spot of the early 911
is moved toward the center with a lighter-weight engine over the
rear suspension. Overall weight was down too with improved economy
and running costs. While early 911 owners were fiddling with tricky
Solex carburetors and recalls of their leaky heat exchangers, 912
owners were happily driving along with a highly advanced variant of
the alloy 1,600 cc air-cooled flat-four that has powered most
Porsche street cars since 1948. In fact, a 912 could be optioned to
the same high level and either ordered as a coupe or targa - just
like a 911.
Completed on 11 September 1967, this 1968 Karmann-bodied 912 was
finished in Tangerine paint and optioned with rubber-trimmed
bumpers and chromed steel wheels with Semperit tires. Originally
delivered to Theodore W. Little of Pasadena, California, over the
course of the past four years, the consignor notes that a cosmetic
and technical renovation has been conducted in an effort to restore
this 912 coupe to the condition it left Stuttgart 55 years ago with
certain allowances for heightened ride quality and additional power
from its flat-four engine. To begin with, it features a glass-out,
single-stage repaint in its original, as-delivered color of
Tangerine. New seals were used during the reinstall with a new
windshield fit at the same time along with new lenses and select
trim. Classic forged 5.5x15 in Fuchs alloy wheels replace the
original chromed steel wheels. The interior has received the same
treatment with new carpeting, upholstery, and a new ivory headliner
with Autobahn Interiors of San Diego, California supplying the
material to restore the dashboard. The 912's VDO gauges received
restorative work at the same time. Accessories with vintage appeal
are sprinkled throughout the interior with a wood-rimmed steering
wheel to match the refinished dash trim in which a Blaupunkt radio
resides playing through the dashboard-mounted speaker.
Most important technically is the rebuild of the coupe's matching
numbers air-cooled flat-four engine to 1,750 cc specification. The
consignor notes that it is more than a simple displacement
increase. The engine work included a crankshaft regrind and
balance, modification of the cylinder heads, a new flywheel, a new
Bosch starter, a rebuild of the Solex PII-40 carburetors, and a new
Dansk muffler. A new fuel tank, new lines, and a rebuilt fuel pump
feed the engine. The original, numbers-matching four-speed
transmission was serviced and received a reseal with new fluids,
and a fresh clutch. Underneath, new Koni shock absorbers and
rebuilt brake calipers with new pads, rotors, brake lines, and an
upgrade to a dual-phase master cylinder can be found. After years
of work, this 912 returned to the road earlier this year and with
the initial adjustments made, this freshly rebuilt 912 offers an
alluring entry to vintage 1960s Porsche ownership.
