What year 912 did I buy ? Help !

[pjv911]

I just bought a beautiful rustfree 912 that is registered as a 1966 . Thing is the vin # tells me its a 65` . The vin is 451045 . Anybody know if this is correct to be called a 1966 ? The car has some solid tell tale signs of being a 65 . Here`s a few pictures .

Kurt Williams

[pjv911]

Another thing about this car is its unusual original locking steering wheel. Its definetly original and not a later style retrofit. Is that rare to have ? Or was it a common option ? Also the front struts are not adjustable at the top and the washer pump bottle is inside the right front chassis structure.

Kurt Williams

[irish green 68]

From the 912 registry site under "best years"
1965
The original 912. Short wheel base (SWB), glass covered headlights, sealed turn signal units, chrome or painted 4 1/2" x 15" steel wheels with caps, Nadella half-shafts, 356-style aluminum bumper and rocker trim, small round Durant side mirror, silver wiper arms, angles 912 script, operable vent windows, green-on-black faced three gauge instrument cluster, painted dash matching exterior (on very early cars), 356-style unmarked shift knob, 356-style map pockets full length of doors, rubber floor mats front and rear, heater control forward of gearshift, white sun visors. "Safety Steering" jointed steering mechanism with three short column links (including one angled intermediate shaft) connected to a rack and pinion box. 4 cylinder boxer, 1582cc, compression 9.3:1, output 90 DIN (102 SAE) hp/5800 rpm. Pushrods and rocker arms. Cogwheel camshaft drive. Forged crankshaft with 4 main bearings, pressure lubrication. Mechanical fuel pump, 2 double downdraft carburetors.

6,401 1965 912s were produced. Factory options: five-speed transaxle, five gauge instrument cluster, chrome bumper guards, three-point seat belts, 356-style roll headrests bolting onto rear of seatback, Hella 128 fog lights, rear window wiper, sunroof, luggage straps, wood-rim steering wheel, special colors.

1966
Very similar to 1965 912. Revised air cleaners, black dashboard with brushed aluminum trim, easier-to-fill windshield washer bottle. Overall for 1966, Porsche produced 9,090 912s.

According to "The 911 & 912 Restore's Guide" Dr. B. Johnson ; page#41
The windshield washer bottle was mounted in the right inner fender w/ the neck protruding into luggage compartment. This was used up until chassis # 451373 which corresponds to mid- 1965, when the front shock absorber mounts became adjustable.

Sounds like a 1965 to me, good looking car too.

[Hoffman912]

what you have is a heinz 57.. the rear reflectors are from a 69. the headlights are 68 or 69.. body is swb.. 65-68.. the painted dash was 65 or early 66. the script 912 was 65 and 66. the rubber ends on the bumperettes say 68-69.. (before were all chrome).

the dash.. and body scream 65 or early 66. you have a very nice, but very incorrect car.. again though.. she is very pretty. i love those early dashes. could be a 65 built 66 model (early 66)

[jpamental]

Sheesh Harry - not THAT incorrect...

Headlights, bumperettes and reflectors are definitely later year things, but at least they're all easily changed if you want to... I like the look of the earlier year headlights, so that's one I'd probably do. Everything else certainly looks fantastic.

Only thing I'd hurry to check out is the half-shafts. Supposedly the Nadellas (if they are still on the car - many have been changed) are not very safe as they fail at the U-joint. Converting to the later-style CV-joint half-shafts would be a good safety upgrade. Everything else is just cosmetic.

Great car!

Jason

[Hoffman912]

well.. what i mean is those are things I look at to tell what year is what. ie only 69 has reflectors on the rear. all of the one year only things from evry year are on the car, thus making it very hard to tell (thats all i was trying to say). but its still a beautiful car.

that car is very pretty though (and i love that dash!!!). besides, im not exactly mr correct either, i bought a set of early headlights, took em appart, stripped em down, and restored em. i like the way they look LOT better than the 68 &69 lights.

[cgarr]

Try owning a 69 targa sometime, that was the first and last year they made a lot of these parts and only 800 units, You see a lot of NLA after the year in the parts cats, like exterior door handles, turn sig switches etc. I cant even find the seals for the handles. I have the same problem with my 72 VW vert, only 2nd year made for the SB and the last year with a flat windscreen and a lot of changes from the 71, but I am still looking for a 69 coupe, green with tan guts.

Craig

[69 Soft Targa]

Hi Kurt

I'd say it's a 65 registered as a 66.

The U.S. and RHD did not have the steering lock so it must be a ROW.

The washer bag was mounted in the right inner fender 'til mid-65 when it was changed with chassis number 451 373. This corresponds with the mid-65 change to adjustable front strut mounts.

Well...that answered a few questions...


Are you still selling parts?

[69 Soft Targa]

Hi Craig,

What parts are you looking for? Don't forget about the 911 Targas. The parts are the same and...the 911s were still in production after 69.

Originally posted by cgarr
Try owning a 69 targa sometime, that was the first and last year they made a lot of these parts and only 800 units, You see a lot of NLA after the year in the parts cats, like exterior door handles, turn sig switches etc. I cant even find the seals for the handles. I have the same problem with my 72 VW vert, only 2nd year made for the SB and the last year with a flat windscreen and a lot of changes from the 71, but I am still looking for a 69 coupe, green with tan guts.

Craig

[pjv911]

Always selling parts.


Kurt Williams

[Duke]

Kurt: According to Johnson's book, you have a '66.

[69 Soft Targa]

Originally posted by Duke
Kurt: According to Johnson's book, you have a '66.

'66 if built from July-Dec. '65.

Since Kurt's car does not have the mid-65 changes it was probably built Jan-June therefore I'd say it's a '65.

[irish green 68]

Just to confuse you even more about what year your car should be registered as, I found the VIN table and that doesn't even clarify it.
It says;
Year MFG - 1965
Model year- 65/66
VIN - 450001- 454470

But I presume that yours would be considered a 1965 as it has the early washer bottle, non-adjustable front shocks and painted dash.
Here's the link;
http://www.912registry.org/restore/vin.htm

[Duke]

You might want to get a "Certificate of Authenticity" from Porsche. This may help to clarify the date of manufacture/delivery.

[irish green 68]

Just found this link on the SoCal BBS, this should help anyone with identifying the year by the VIN tag. The VIN listed for this vehicle in question comes back as a 1965 model year.
Here's the link;
http://www.356a.com/index.htm