Porsche 912

Porsche 912 LHD

The Porsche 911 was launched to wide acclaim in 1963 to replace the original aging 356 series. With its new 2.0 flat 6 engine and sleek distinctive design, it was much faster and more technically advanced than the car it replaced, but it was also considerably more expensive.

Concerned that the considerable price increase over of the 356 would cost the company sales, Porsche decided to introduce a new 4 cylinder variant called the 912. Essentially this was a 911 fitted with the engine from the outgoing 356 and a more basic specification to bring pricing closer to the outgoing 356. Although it's the 911 that has become an icon, it was the 912 when launched in 1965 that was the sales success for Porsche as it outsold the 911 by some margin particularly in the American market.

Early 911s were renowned for their tricky handling on the limit, but the 912 with a lighter and smaller 4 cylinder engine fitted, was much more confidence inspiring even if it wasn't as powerful.

The car offered for sale here is an early LHD American market example with the rare 3 dial dashboard, optional 5 speed gearbox and 90BHP engine. It was originally supplied to California in 1966 finished in green and came to the UK in 2000. A bare metal re- spray by Brookfield Classic in Hinkley was carried out in 2010 including a colour change to black. Today this car looks stunning retaining a lot of its original interior patina together with its new gloss black exterior and is great fun to drive.

For years the 912 has always been in the shadow of its more expensive brother, but finally the market is waking up to the fact that this too is a fantastic Porsche in its own right and a great alternative to the 911.