912E Value

[Bristol]

I just read the Excellence magazine buyers guide for the 912 and I am having trouble believing the values they estimate. They basically put the value of the 912 as very similar to the 911SC. Does that seem right? I ask because I found a 67 912 and a 76 912E today for $7000. I go to see the cars next week. But the owner says that the condition is pretty decent, especially the 912E which is supposesly in running condition. On the surface this sounds like a pretty good deal. I will share pictures when I to go to see the cars and request more feedback, but if there's any preliminary feedback on the deal I would appreciate it.

[G450X]

'67 912 versus '76 912E, interesting 4 cylinder cars.

Each has pros & cons, but if each were in similar condition and price, I'd go for the one that drove the best and had the best color combo.

If you want some thrust (versus more neutral handling), steer clear - even an 80's VW GTI will outrun one. For a good 911 at a low price, look for a 911SC or early Carrera.

If you still want a 912, I'd lean toward the lighter SWB '67, especially if it is a 5 speed 5 gauge car in an interesting color. The downside is mainly component age (more chance for rust/problems) and the higher cost of parts for the 356 based engine. I've driven a good running '67 912, and it was fun (not really fast though), and the steering was magical (I wish my '82 SC steered remotely as good). These early SWB have quite a bit of 356 type "charm."

The '76 has many odd 1 year parts, heavier bumpers, and is not as "pretty" to my eyes. The plus is the easy to modify VW type IV engine that has better torque and is actually a more pleasant all around engine. They are also terribly efficient in stock form, sometimes they will achieve near 40 mpg on the road (my old '76 914 did that as well).

Good luck, and let us know if you bought one!

[Bristol]

Thanks for the feedback G450X, I appreciate it. I should maybe clarify a bit more. The deal is $7,000 for BOTH cars, '67 912 and '76 912E. I think for $7,500 to $8,000total I can get another 914 parts car and '66 912 thrown in the deal. The 914 has a 2.0L dual weber setup, so I may be able to use the engine/carbs. The '76 has a single carb setup... The '66 912 is mostly just a shell with transmission, but no engine (maybe a candidate for the 2.0L Type IV from the 914).

So I'm not really considering either/or car, I'm looking at maybe getting all four. This is purely fun empire expansion. I already have five P-cars, only one not running great. I have slow ('72 914 2.0L) to fast ('03 C4S), so I know what to anticipate with the 912E. I love the character of my 914 and it will cruise all day at 75 MPH. I'm thinking the 912E would make a great daily driver/beater car.

So the root question here is regarding the "value" of some old 912's supposedly in decent condition (not too much work to get them running, complete, relatively rust-free). Again, Excellence puts the value around $15K to $20K:

Excellence :: Buyers Guide : 912

That seems about double of what I see people actually asking for their 912s though! I just don't want to get into the position of buying a $3,500 car, putting $10,000 into it and then have an $8,000 car when I'm done. I'm not buying with just the intent of reselling, but I do still want to make a smart purchase decision....

Kirk

'03 Carrera 4S - Techart
'00 Boxster S - Gemballa
'86 Carrera Targa - slant nose wide body
'75 911S Targa - project, beater car
'72 914 - Chalon slant nose wide body

[G450X]

I did not pick up on the package deal. If you have the space & time to modify these cars, they sound like they could be a very good deal.

I think the early 912's have the most collectable potential, they're very 356 like - and you've seen those babies climb in value dramatically in the past decade. I never thought I'd see the day where a 356B in driver condition would bring upwards of $30k.....

A 912E outlaw could be cool, I'm not sure if I've ever seen one. Check with type IV experts, I think it's a great engine, but there is a reliability limit when pushing big HP from one. Check aircooledtechnology.com, Jake Raby is an expert on type IV power. I think a reliable type IV could see 120 HP in a 912 and that would make for a lively platform with good reliability and better than normal 911 handling.

I would restore the early 912 to stock form and if you throw in "free" labor and kept the bodywork/paint reasonable, it could be worth the investment and more. If the 912 is an interesting color (i.e., slate gray/red interior), it could be worth quite a bit more. An early 912 outlaw, while no doubt fun, would probably be tough to sell down the road.

Keep us updated and show pictures if you pick them up.