What Is a Porsche 912?

The original Porsche 912 was produced from 1965 to 1969.

The Porche 912 is a 911-based sports car originally introduced in 1965 to offer a lesser-powered but cheaper car designed to look and perform like a 911. The first-generation 912 was the successor to the popular and more inexpensive Porsche 356.

First-Generation 912

Introduced in 1965 and sold concurrently with the 911, the Porsche 912 had the same body and mostly the same features but used a modified version of the 1.6 liter four cylinder from the 356. Though less powerful than a 911, the 912 did have its advantages. The four-cylinder engine was lighter than the 911's six, resulting in better weight distribution and an overall lighter car.

912E

After the 912 was killed in 1969, the entry-level Porsche spot was held by the four-cylinder 914. The 914's successor in 1976 was the 912E, once again bodied like the 911 of the time. The 912E had a fuel injected version of the same flat-four engine as its 1965 predecessor, dumping the 914's VW engine in favor of the classic Porsche motor.

Production Statistics and Legacy

At its original time of production the 912 outsold the pricier and more powerful 911 by a 2-1 margin. When the 912E finally ended production there had been 34,959 total 912 and 912E models produced. Today the 912 is a popular Porsche model for restoration due in large part to its rarity. The 911 Registry is one of several owners clubs and maintains a database of 912 models reported to be still on the road.

References

• 912 Registry: History of the Porsche 912
• 912 Registry: The Fuel Injected 912E
• Carfolio: 1965 Porsche 912 Specifications
• Jalopnik: 1967 Porsche 912