The classic “long-hood” Porsche 911s – model years 1964 through 1973 before DOT impact bumpers became mandatory – have gotten to be expensive cars, with prices going well into six figures, and even nicer driver-level 911Ts costing around $65,000.
Basically, the ship has sailed on the early 911, but if you take the time to look hard, there is a solution: the Porsche 912, produced from 1965 through 1969 with the same long-hood body as the 911.
The 912 is everything that the 911 is, except that instead of being powered by a flat-6 engine, it is equipped with the highly tuned flat-4 engine from the earlier 356 SC.
This was Porsche’s entry-level model for that period, and prices for 912s as collector cars have stayed modest until recent years as people started realizing its equivalency with the early 911, so that now, even the 912 has gotten expensive.
There are still some decent deals out there, such as this 1968 Porsche 912 coupe advertised on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Costa Mesa, California.
According to the seller’s description, this coupe is a rust-free Porsche 912 in turnkey condition, needing a little TLC but ready to drive as is, and maybe restore to original as you go along. The car is finished in Light Yellow with a cork leatherette interior.
From the photos with the ad, you can tell that the seats are incorrect in black, but they are correct 912 seats, so they could be recovered in the proper color.
Many 911 owners who have never even driven a 912 will say they are woefully lacking in power, but this is not really the case, with the flat-4 giving up only a small number of horses compared with the early flat-6.
More critically, though, while they are not as fast as a 911, they are better balanced due to their almost perfect front-to-rear weight ratio, which sets them apart from the tail-heavy 911.
What the Porsche 912 also offers is all the build quality and looks of a long-hood 911 at a bargain price. The 912 is quite fun to drive and, because of the simpler engine, easier to maintain.
Keep in mind that the only real difference between these cars are the engines, and every other part on a 912 will be just as pricey as those for a 911.
The price tag of $30,000 for this 912 is not insignificant but less than half the price of a comparable 911.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.