Just bought my first 912! - with photos

[Ninjapower]

Hi all,

I'm a 993 driver usually, but absolutely couldn't resist this black 912 when I saw it come up for sale recently.

It's been fully nut-and-bolt restored inside and out by the previous owner at some utterly ridiculous cost, and is virtually like new.

I have just bought a wood rim 'Moto-Lita' steering wheel for it (Traditional British racing steering wheel from the 1960's) to brighten up the inside, and I have also got some of the matt silver PORSCHE side decals/stripes for it.

Only problem with it.... The steering wheel is on the wrong side!

I would like to put some bigger/wider Fuch wheels on it, and wonder where can I get he information about wheel figment from? If someone could help I would be grateful.

Sorry for the bad pics, just took them on my phone when I bought it. Better photos to follow.









And one of the daily driver:

[matt930s]

Ridiculously beautiful!

Congrats!

MattR

[pors1968]

Gee you have two sweet ride.

[MichaelB]

Well done Bravo.

[pelon]

Wow,
Beautiful car!

You can find out a lot about 912's on the 912bbs and wheel fitment issues are discussed in great depth on the Early 911s Registry.

Mark

[Bob Harriman]

Very nice! Nice seats! What size wheels are on it? It looks like a SWB MY68 so you will be more limited to how wide you can go.

[WFBowen]

That looks like an early car with the four-screw horn grilles and the green gauges. Really nice looking restoration. IMO it looks just right the way it is with the factory wood steering wheel and the Fuchs.

[Bob Harriman]

Originally Posted by WFBowen

That looks like an early car with the four-screw horn grilles and the green gauges. Really nice looking restoration. IMO it looks just right the way it is with the factory wood steering wheel and the Fuchs.

I have to agree

[Ninjapower]

Thanks everyone.

First alteration complete: steering wheel.

Looks better already!

[enzoducoing]

Congratulations!!
You've found a very nice 912. If you're thinking on wider track I recommend a set of "deep" 6jX15 Fuchs all around with 185/70/15 Michelin XWX from Longstone Tyres. These tires work much better than any 205's out there and they'll look perfectly correct as I have just found out after trying 7 inch wheels with several 205's on my 1971 911. For some reason that I fail to understand, balance is better with the XWX's and I now have unbelievable traction. In these cars overdoing it ends up being worst than ending up short.
The only thing I see in your pictures that caught my eye is that the right side mirror, which is not correct but a nice addition, should have been set about 5 inches rearward because it is a left hand drive. Placing it on the exact position as the driver's mirror makes it almost unusable because you can't see it from the driver's seat. If you look closely on all 911s from '75 on with both mirrors, the one on the passenger's side sits further back than the driver's one, regardless of it being a LHD or RHD as you can see on your other gorgeous 993.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
MD

[timr912]

Great looking car. interested in selling the old steering wheel?
Tim

[fbarrett]

Nice 912. Love those seats. Leave the steering wheel stock--everybody else has funky aftermarket wheels.

Try putting 7x15 alloys on it. With the right spacers and tires (185/70VR15s or smaller diameter) they could fit without rolling the fenders. Find a wheel and buy one used tire, then try it on all corners. They'd make the car look fantastic!

Oh, and put a 912 logo on the engine hood! Be proud!

[Brandon-FL]

Originally Posted by Ninjapower

Thanks everyone.

First alteration complete: steering wheel.

Looks better already!

I'd be happy to take that hideous wood wheel off your hands for you. Let me know a price with shipping to Florida.

[wgwollet]

Gee

Someone is doing a nut and bolt to a 912? Times have changed, usually that was reserved for 911S or 911E cars....because of the pay back, I never seen sport seat in a 912....

Very nice car but must have costed a pretty penny....

[rapido356]

What a wonderfull car !
Join the 912 UK reg....or cool 912bbs.....
The steering Wheel is in good place !!!!!
And for the wheels, i'm OK with Enzoducoing....i suppose you have a 14"set, change for 15" and deep 6....or 5,5x15 !
The best choice is 4.5x15 in according with the year of your car
Congratulation....

JLC

[Jay Laifman]

If you are going to like this car, or even love it, it is because you are going to appreciate the amazing quality of that 356 engine in there, with the beautiful, original lines of the 901 body. This requires a certain state of mind. It is not a go fast 911/993 state of mind. It is one that enjoys driving a slow car fast, and one that hearkens back to days of old.

If you get to that point, I assure you that state of mind appreciates the beauty and symmetry of the original factory wood steering wheel, located in the right spot, not blocking any gauges, and the correct sized wheels and tires to match the early body.

So, I would advise not to make go-fast look changes and see if you really get to appreciate the car. For if not, the next owner will certainly prefer to see the original and correct parts on the car!

For example, did you know that steering wheel is worth around $2k, and around $4k if it has the aluminum bars? Does that make you want to leave it on the car more?


I should add that I do like the Moto-Lita wheels and I even have one on my Alpine (though my Tiger has the original factory wood wheel). So don't get me wrong!

[Jay Laifman]

I see the auction results. It says that it came with the original engine out of the car, and a different engine in the car. What do you know about the engine?

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/1965-porsche-912

The engine does look great. It appears to have Webers and an alternator, rather than stock Solexes and generator.

You will see the little filter at the top of the oil intake canister. In a stock set up, that goes to a hose which attaches to the air cleaner. The goal is to have the engine sucking the back pressure and oil mist into the carb. It's a smog thing. But, it is also a good thing for the engine. Before the cars had this set up, they had draft tubes, that stuck below the engine, so that the air rushing by would create a suction that way. Your car now does not have that suction element. To the extent you have back pressure, you will find that it might spray a mist of oil out of that breather. Some people still run a tube from there to the top of the right air cleaner. Just something to think about if you find you are spraying too much oil, or if you want to put back in some of that designed suction.

[Kaizer]

Congrats! Love the hounds tooth seats against the black paint!

[pilot73]

[raju]