Why did you choose the 912?

[ScotMcLean]

The is the follow-up to the first poll on how old we 912 owners are. Since we can only vote once, here is the second poll to find out why we chose the 912.

Personally, I worked for a private foundation and NIH and would drive across Oregon to fly out from Portland. On the highway there is a dealer who specializes in used ambulances, fire engines, and constuction equipment with a sad but promising little 67 912 in royal blue (I forget the paint code). We were just starting out (no $), but I stopped one day to ask about it and then researched the 912 and thought it the better, more practical choice over a 911. Once I brought it home (with less than $50 in savings) I learned what I got myself into but through body repair & the mechanicals, I learned to really appreciate it. It will certainly go fast enough to get me in trouble, and the style is classic. I'm up to # 5 now.

Why did you choose a 912?

Scott
69 912 #3078
76 912E #86

[Nicol4]

We bought a 912e because
cheap insurance
ease of repair
styling
handling
its a Porsche
it was cheap $4600
it is galvinized
it is what our son wanted
most parts are fairly cheap

[wastintime]

This post will actually answer both of your polls, so here goes:
In retrospect, buying a 912 was probably the single dumbest mistake I ever made. Since buying it, I've always been broke and never have enough money to keep it running. It's a constant headache that's annoying as hell, and yet I don't think I'd trade it in for any other car.
I was 15 when I decided I wanted a Porsche. I knew I wanted something pre 1973 just because of the styling. I had found a '72 911E that I really wanted (and could afford), but since my father was helping me pay for it I had to go along with his suggestions too. Especially since he's owned 3 Porsches and knows a little bit about them. We found a '67 912 that was in the middle of being converted into a race car, and wasn't wanted anymore. We bought it for $2,400 thinking it would be a great deal. It actually was a great deal too, but after a very unfortunate run in with some incredibly dishonest mechanics it has ended up costing much more than I'd like to admit, and still needs one more major repair. At least it runs well enough to be a daily driver at this point though.
So, I guess I didn't really choose the 912, but after 3 years with one I defintiely think it was the right choice, the 912 handles a lot better than a 911, and it's by no means slow or unresponsive. I've had to learn an awful lot about working on cars, and I think I have the coolest car of any college sophomore that I know.

Andrew

[NY65912]

You see it's the funkatodanous of the car, not being a 356 and not being a 911.....the look of a 911 but the heart of a purer form of the breed, kind of like going foward but looking back at the same time.

[C. Clark]

Hello,
My car was found in a garage, it had been a shut in for 5 years. I was remodeling a customers garage into a family room and the Porsche had to be moved. After months of negotiating for the car the owner agreed to sell it. He had done the body and paint shortly before the garage episode so a major part of the restoration was complete or semi complete, yet some touch ups are needed. It's gun metal grey, metallic.
A friend and I towed to his house which was close and drained 10 gallons of black gas from it, changed the oil, got a new battery and started it up. For a 5 year sleep it ran pretty well. I drove it home....an adventure to say the least, throttle kept sticking, the thing would die at stop lights, I'm sure you get the picture. Once home I took to cleaning and doing a complete inspection of what I had bought. To make a long story short, I ended up replacing a suspension pan, replaced every seal it had, most gaskets too. I replaced the Solexs with Webers, got a .050 dist. did the usual tuneup stuff, wires plugs, etc., cleaned and painted parts for days, and learned a lot, the engine turned out to be a pleasant surprise, the trans is a 5 speed it works fine, the shifter needed a complete overhaul, works great now. The electrical was crazy, the car reminded me of an old XKE Jag I once knew. Nothing worked right, finally I figured out that the fuse box was dirty, once cleaned everything worked. Oh yea and got some new wheels and tires.
The interior was really ratty, literally. A family of rodents had stored 10 pounds of dog food in the shifter and cable tube, remember the sticky throttle part. The seats had been redone but the person who did them added 4 inches of extra padding, I'm not small so I bumped my head if the sun roof was closed, that would not do. I bought seats out of a 87 944 with retractable belts, non stock but much nicer. So that's were I am today, redoing the interior, the dash is finished now on to the real money. Leather would be great but I don't know about spending that kind of money, a good vinyl may have to do. Hopefully I'll finish by spring.

Good luck and Happy Holidays
Chas
PS Can any explain how to attach pictures? I can't seem to do it.

[Efrain68912]

I clicked on "other/specify".

I had my heart set on my uncles 1971 Datsun 240z when I was 13. But he wanted a ridiculous amount of money for a car that didn't run at all. Around that same time, an orange 912 showed up across the street from my dad's warehouse with a sign that read:

For Sale
1968 Porsche 912
132,000 miles
alloy wheels
5-speed
needs a little TLC
$2000

We knew nothing about Porsches, less about 912s. So he bought it and thus started the father/son project.

The "little" TLC? Engine miserably failed compression and leakdown test. So....stripped and repainted the body, replaced floor pans and repaired rusted out rear seats, new interior, new window gaskets, new motor, overhauled brake system, rebuilt tranny (new clutch/pressure plate/ surfaced flywheel), replaced generator twice and starter twice. Upgrades: weber 40s, Bursch exhaust, 6 and 7 x 16 Fuchs, 911S front spoiler, Koni reds with aluminum calipers (going on car next summer when its hot and I don't want to drive it); coming soon - type IV power.

Efrain
68 912 Coupe

[josh912]

I bought 912 for various reasons. first, it has the classic Porsche look. Second, they are easy and fun to work on. Third, 912s are relativally cheap. Forth, they are loads of fun!

Heart of a 356, body of a 911!

[Green 912]

I bought my 69 on a whim from the guy across the street and to be honest while I was growing up I thought 911s were funny looking. Now having owned a early porsche I think otherwise. The true heart of a race car and a true sports car not just looks. Light, nimble and quick in the turns. No wings, blue side lights, white dashboards, coffee can tail pipes and the other fake junk people bolt on to fake plastic disposable cars just true handling and peformance.

I have rebuilt everything, and I mean everything, on the car including cutting out a lot of rust and I can only imagine what a headache it would be to own one if you had to take it to a $hop for repair$. I have a full-page list of mods to the car and motor. Truly fun to own but definitely a hobby car. I have also made the mistake of taking it to the track. What a blast it is to drive at full speed/edge of adhesion. Now I am a track junky and it is a true sickness when $800.00 for a set of tires that will last 10 days or so on the track seems reasonable. You can always make it a little faster and every once in a while spank a 911.I have had guys come over to the car and cuss after seeing that 1. Yes. it is a pushrod 4 cyl 1720CC 912. 2. Yes, it did pass you on the track. gotta love it...

[cbbest]

Well...

It's like this. My wife needed a new car. What we really wanted was a small wagon (just say no to SUV!). Before you knew it, we were looking at 28K subaru's with all the goodies! Insane! Nearly 8K of that was options to make the wagon "sporty."

Hmmmm.

Maybe is we buy a less "sporty" wagon, we can use the money to buy.... a sports car! So we bought a used 2001 Forester (very unsporty) and saved for a ports car (follow the logic?). Really, I wanted a Triumph GT6, but those a pretty much a disaster to we looked elsewhere. We both loved the looks of older Porsches, but were uncomfortable with the image commonly associated with Porsche owners (sorry, but its true).

Which brings us to the 912. Might just be the last unpretentious Porsche made. It is what it is. A small, inexpensive and fun sports car. Perfect!

So we bought a '69, and just love it. We rebuilt the engine and it is now my daily driver, as I put on about 1000 mi/month.

Have fun

Cb

[Ran Hanks]

As a junior in high school back in '84 my dad taught me how to drive a stick in his '68 912. I have the same 912 because I like it just as much now as I did then. (Dad made me pay for the new clutch, I am not a fast learner)

[ScotMcLean]

Kingman! That's close! If you ever go to Yuma email me.

Fun stories everyone - son's car/motivational tool, too good deal to pass up, the "funkatodanous of the car" (well said, a bit of the old and a bit of the new and simple enough to stay fun!), a great find ($2000!), style/easy repair/cheap & fun, Kurt's lucky whim, the last unpretentious Porsche (again, well said), learned to drive in one (someday my kids will too) - this is fun.

Keep them coming & happy holidays (and safe motoring) - Scott 69 & 76 912/E