Porsche · 1965–1976

Porsche 912

The Porsche 912 is a sports car produced by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, for the 1965 through 1969 model years. An entry-level variant of the 911, it was also offered in compact 2+2 Coupé and Targa body styles. The 912 was fitted with a 1.6-liter air cooled flat-4 from the last of the 356s, slightly detuned to 102 SAE horsepower at 5800 rpm, and with a slightly lower rear weight bias, was known for its nimble, balanced handling. The 912's high-efficiency boxer engine, low drag, and low weight allow it to get up to 30 miles per US gallon (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg‑imp). Initially priced at US$4,700 (equivalent to $48,000 in 2025), more than 32,000 912s were built from April 1965 to July 1969. Sales of the 912 initially outpaced the 911 (introduced in 1964), boosting the manufacturer's total production until success of the 911 was assured. The 4-cylinder 914 superseded the 912 for the 1970 through 1975 model years. In 1976, The 912 enjoyed a one-year revival with the U.S.-only 912E powered by the 914-derived 2.0-liter VW "Type 4" flat 4 with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection delivering 90 SAE horsepower at 4900 rpm. Just 2,092 912E Coupés were built from May 1975 to July 1976, when the 912E was superseded by the 924.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Porsche 356 · Successor: Porsche 914

All Porsche 912 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

=== 912 (1965–1969) === In the early 1960s, Porsche planned to discontinue the Type 356, which would leave the newly introduced Type 911, with its more powerful six-cylinder powerplant, as the company's sole product. Concerned that the considerable price increase of the 911 over the 356 would cost the company sales and narrow its brand appeal, in 1963 Porsche executives decided to introduce a new four-cylinder entry-level model based on the 911. Like that vehicle with its internal factory designation of "901", the four-cylinder 912 was originally known at the company by a number with a zero in the middle, but the "902" designation was never used publicly. "912" as a project number was initially used to indicate the 12-cylinder boxer engine developed for Porsche 917 racing car. In 1963, Porsche assigned Dan Schwartz, later Chief Departmental Manager for Development, Mechanics, a project to oversee design and construction of a new horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine for the 902, utilizing components from the new 901 six-cylinder engine, that would produce higher performance than the overhead valve 356SC engine while being less costly and complex than the overhead cam 356 Carrera 2 engine. Another option explored by Claus von Rücker was to increase displacement of the 356 Type 616 engine to 1.8-liters, add Kugelfischer fuel injection, and modify both valve and cooling systems. Considering performance, cost, and scheduling, Porsche discontinued both of these design projects, and instead developed a third option, to tailor the 1.6-liter Type 616 engine to the 902. Before 911 production commenced in 1964, the Porsche Vehicle Research Department had set aside chassis numbers 13328, 13329, 13330, 13352, and 13386 through 13397 for research testing of the 902; research ve

Motorsport

Sold to the public for street use, the Porsche 912 has also proven successful as a race car, from production years to current vintage events. In 1967 the 912 contributed to Porsche factory rally history when independent Polish driver Sobiesław Zasada drove a factory-loaned 912, bearing Polish plate 6177 KR, to capture the European Rally Championship for Group 1 series touring cars. In the 1967 Rally of Poland, the third oldest rally in the world and one of the oldest motorsport events in the world, Zasada drove his 912 race No. 47 to finish first overall out of a starting field of 50 entries. As a vintage rally car, on January 29, 2012, Hayden Burvill, Alastair Caldwell, and their #35 1968 Porsche 912 finished first in class, and 7th overall in the 2012 London to Cape Town World Cup Rally; a 14 country, three continent, 14,000 kilometre, 26 driving-days event.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Porsche 912
Manufacturer: Porsche
Class: Sports car
Production: 1965–1969 (912), 1975–1976 (912E)
Assembly: West Germany: Stuttgart, Zuffenhausen
Predecessor: Porsche 356
Successor: Porsche 914, Porsche 924
Layout: RR layout
Body style: Coupé
Engine: 1.6 L Type 616/36 B4, 1.6 L Type 616/39 B4 (US), 2.0 L Volkswagen Type 4 H4 (912E)
Length: 4135 mm
Width: 1600 mm
Height: 1320 mm
Kerb weight: 965 kg
Wheelbase: 2211 mm
Related: Porsche 911 (classic)
Designer: Ferdinand Alexander Porsche