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 5.5×15 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.
