Maverick Marktpreis: 912

by Peter Wen, Region Merchandise Chair

What do you get if you put a 356 flat-four engine inside a 911 body? Well, you get a sweetness called 912, a superb handling, entry level Porsche. Back in 1965, as Porsche closed out the chapter on the patriarchal 356 with the now iconic 911 and its flat-six engine, Porsche needed a lower priced 4-cylinder model to drive sales. Enter the 912. The sweet combination of the boxer four engine and 901 (911) body proved to be a huge hit. After its introduction in 1965 through 1967, 912 outsold 911 by nearly two to one.

Besides the engine differences, the two models are nearly identical. The 912 has a three-gauge cluster compared to the 911’s five. It has a 4-speed transmission instead of the 911’s 5-speed. While the 912 generates

Year 912 2020-21 ($k) 2021-22 ($k) 2022-23 ($k)

1965 Coupe $40 - $90 $40 - $90 $40 - $90

1966-68 Coupe $25 - $55 $25 - $55 $25 - $60

1967-68 Targa Soft window $30 - $65 $30 - $65 $30 - $65

1968 Targa Hard window $25 - $60 $25 - $60 $25 - $60

1969 Coupe $25 - $55 $25 - $55 $25 - $55

1969 Targa Hard window $25 - $55 $25 - $55 $25 - $60

1976 912E $17 - $35 $17 - $35 $25 - $40

Source: Excellence magazine’s Porsche Buyer’s Guide

1968 912 Targa

Sold for $78,000 + $3,900 buyer fee

25k miles show, TMU Red / Black

1.7L Flat-Four

5-speed manual

1968 912 coupe

Sold for $67,000 + $3,350 buyer fee

89k mile shown, TMU

Burgundy / Black

1.6L Flat-Four

4-speed manual

1967 912 coupe

Sold for $50,500 + $2,525 buyer fee

38k miles shown, TMU

Green / Black

2.7L Flat-Six

5-speed manual

At

40 hp less than the 911, it more than made up for it by weighing 200 pounds less. Back in 1965, test drivers reported the 912 offered neater, less tail-happy handling, and at times, could be driven faster than the 911!

The original 912 was produced through 1969. It was superseded by the new 914. Interestingly, Porsche brought the 912 back for a 1-year only production in 1976 (called the 912E), again, to bridge the gap between the end of 914 production and the upcoming launch of 924 in 1977. The 912E is based on the impact-bumper (G-series) generation 911. Only 2,099 (912E) examples were produced.

The 912 deserves a spot in your stable. As the saying goes, it has the engine that made Porsche famous, and the body that made it a legend.

FUN FACT: Porsche proudly promoted the new 912 Targa model for police use. The 100,000th Porsche was a 912 Targa. It was out tted with POLIZEI markings and was delivered to the Baden-Württemberg police department, the home state of Porsche, on December 21, 1966.

1967 912 coupe (needs work)

Sold for $45,912 + $2,296 buyer fee

86k miles shown, TMU Gray / Black & Red

1.6L Flat-Four

5-speed manual

1966 912 coupe

Sold for $62,500 + $3,125 buyer fee

18k miles shown, TMU

Sand Beige / Black

1.7L Flat-Four

5-speed manual

1969 912 coupe

Sold for $63,000 + $3,150 buyer fee

15k shown, TMU

Slate Gray / Black

1.6L Flat-Four

4-speed manual