It would be interesting to know how many of you that posted negative remarks about the 912E have:

1. Seen one and been close enough to touch it
2. driven one a greater distance that around the block
3. owned one

Back in the 70's I had a part time gig transporting Porsche's from the EPA test lab in Ann Arbor back to California. I got paid to drive the car and usually got to keep the car until my next trip.
I actually injoyed driving the 912E. It handled great, acceleration was acceptable, got great mileage and basically was a decent car. The car didn't fail because it was "an Edsel" it failed because Porsche had too many Intermediate cars and they had to push the 924 or lose money.

I dunno.
My neighbor has one of the nicest ones in existence and it doesn't really drive that much differently than a 2 liter 911T.

His has stock fuel injection but +2mm pistons.

It's a cool car. And there have been radical advances in Type IV tuning (Jake Raby, FAT et al). Dave L has 3 of these cars, one of which has a 2270cc carb'd engine. He also has a 911SC IIRC and it would interesting to see how the 2 compare in raw acceleration given the 7:31 R&P and probably 140-150 bhp in the sig. lighter E....

BTW Car and Driver got 0-60 in 9.7 when they tested the 912E.

I have a soft spot in my heart for 912's. It was the car I learned how to drive stick in. It was a 1970 912.
Although I do agree with the "Sheep in Wolf's Clothing" thing.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296829464.jpg

Well, a 1970 912....

Now THAT would be rare... :D :D :D

Yes, a 1970 912 would be rare since the last year of production was 1969 but, let's not confuse the issue at hand. This post is about the 1976 912E.

I too owned an early 912. It was a 1968 (4) speed model which I had rebuilt to 1969 spec's thus removing the air pump etc. I installed a set of 6" Fuch wheels with 185/70/15 tires and they just cleared the fenders. I'd love to find that car and restore it back to new.

I have a Jake Raby 3.6 Boxster and would like to move up to a Jake Raby Type IV engined 912

The cool looking*fun/dollar ratio of a 912 E is appealing. Especially since you can hotrod that engine comparatively cheaply.
I had an old 4 speed 912 that would have been a great car without those stupid Solexes.

Totally agree. In the late '80's, after owing a string of sports cars, I had to have a Porsche and started with a 912 rust bucket. After a lot of work and paint, I said: A sports car needs more power and ability to take the top off. In 1990, sold it and bought my 73.5 Targa.....Happy Times

You can send him a PM and ask him . . . . .

I also think it is funny when people say you can put a Jack Raby motor in one, they also say this about the 914. Why would anyone, wait to get on a waiting list, put half the money down, wait 6 months or longer and pay $20,000 for a hopped up 4 cylinder? A lot easier to put a nice 6 cylinder in and cheaper too. Also if you need to spend a lot of money to put a stronger 4 cylinder in why not start with a 911 in the first place? Not knocking Jack Raby, I've read his website top to bottom and he sounds like he builds a great engine, but has anyone checked the prices?!!!

Regarding the 924, didnt they came out in 1977? I dont think the 912E competed with them, I think they sold in low numbers on their own. The 914 was build in 76 and overlapped the 912E., maybe that was their competition? The Edsel analogy is probably a good one.

Lastly I like the 912E, I just think it is amusing that they are called rare and asking prices usually exceed that of a comparable 911, that is all. Even more amazing is when someone puts a 911 engine in one, why not start with a 911?

A 912 is a step up from a 356, in so many ways. I notice that not many people make fun of a 356. I wonder why?

I also notice that most people that poke insults at a particular car (912, 914, 928, Ferrari, Lambo, whatever...) have never owned one. Funny, isn't it? A 912 seems slow, compared to a 911, but that same 911 seems awfully slow next to a 930. A 930 won't catch a recent Boxtster S on a twisty road and a Boxster S has no chance against my buddy's Carrera GT....

All of which is rather pointless drivel, if you think about it.

JR

point taken on the more impressive Raby engines.

But he is or was offering a $5k 120 hp or so one via a shop he partnered with.

The Type IV is ok with short drives and putting around whereas you know what will happen if you do that with a flat six...they don't like it and not bringing the oil up to temp = bad.

I wonder what a 65-69 912 build costs...especially one with 1883cc nickies and or twin plug etc. Probably as much as a Raby 2316cc or more...

Earlyaircooled, check your production dates:

The 914 ran from 1969 to 1976 and the first 924 was in 1976

912s, love'em if you've driven one, opinionated if you haven't.

I owned a '68 912 between early 911's, (throw in a beater 356) way before either climbed the dollar summit. I have also owned an '83 SC and a '94 964.

...was transferred from San Diego to the East Coast and drove the 912 almost 5000 miles in a serpentine route across the country. What a trouble free joy.

I'm now back to 356's: Manage the energy, enjoy the math of limited power, revel in the balance of a 356/912.

Weight and balance, FYI. I'd like to own one for autocross, etc- certainly preferred over a similarly powerful 911. 40/60 vs 45/ 55 is a big difference...

I checked with Raby's business recently....$6500 for the 2056cc 120hp parts to build the motor yourself....the do it yourself kit. It took a few emails back and forth before they would tell me that. If you want him to build you one it is more like $25k and that gets you a big , 4 cylinder with modest 6 cylinder like performance.

The first 924 may have been made in 76 but I believe 1977 was the first model year. I've read from several different sources that the 912E was a stop gap measure until the 924 was available then it was discontinued. That is why they only made them one year, that and low sales I suspect.

Lastly I like the 912E, I just think it is amusing that they are called rare and asking prices usually exceed that of a comparable 911, that is all. Even more amazing is when someone puts a 911 engine in one, why not start with a 911?[/QUOTE]

Why not??? Its just a roller after all. Exactly the same as a 911 but with smaller suspension and brakes.Do you really think that Porsche built separate bodys and called some 911 and some 912? :rolleyes:When I built mine I was looking for a completely gutted roller as I was intending on changing suspension, brakes, adding a full cage anyway....Pretty much the same thing you do to any 911 your going to track. wanna race? ;)

The decision to cancel the 914 was obviously made well before 1976. Production slowed down quite a bit, in '75 I think there were only like 12,000 or so sold, and by '76 the 914 was essentially dead. They finished up as many cars as they could with the parts on hand and got them out the door. Something like 4,000 were sold (at its peak in 72/73/74 the 914 sold 20K+ units/yr).

So for the 76 model year, there was a gap at the end of 914 production and before the 1977 model year 924 was ready.

There were also some leftover 914 VW engines.

So, why not kill 2 birds with one stone, stick the leftover 914 VW engines in some 911 bodies, get rid of the engines, AND have a lower priced car to fill the 6 month gap period between the end of the 914 and the intro of the 924?

So the 912E didn't compete with either the 914 or the 924. It fell in a short time slot between the 2.

Also, a lot of the posts here seem to be talking about the 66-69 912. Obviously, a very different car than a '76 912E. An early 912 is a 911 with a highly pedigreed and historically important Porsche 356 engine. It is Porsche through and through.

A '76 912E is a mid year 911 with a VW bus engine.

Dont B hatin on tha 912E itz a perfekt bass 4 A cuztom stunna...

Herez a 912E wit 993 turbo luk in Lambo Orange an it got Lambo doors:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296842814.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296842867.jpg

An my famous 912E Bad Boyz Turbo Luk wit Diablo rimz:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296842895.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1296842954.jpg