Beschreibung
This lot will be auctioned via Silverstone Auctions, Race Retro Classic and Competition Car Sale 2023 on Friday the 24th of February - Saturday the 25th of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. Essentially a 911 fitted with the well-established 1, 600cc 356-type flat-four, the 912 was a very capable modern sports car in period, but was importantly more affordable, selling at near-356 prices. The 912 produced 90bhp, some 40 horsepower less than the 911's six-cylinder engine, but this deficit was offset by significantly reduced weight, resulting in a better-balanced car with greatly improved road manners and better economy, the combination of the four-cylinder engine and the 'slippery' 911 shape offering over 30mpg. This new model had all the looks and style of the 911 whilst sharing its gearbox, monocoque steel chassis, independent front torsion bar, trailing arm rear suspension and all-round disc brakes. Despite being down on power, the agile 912 had a respectable top speed of 119mph, while the UK list price of £2, 467 undercut the 911 by around 16%. A little over 30, 000 examples were produced at Karmann's works (Porsche's factory was fully occupied with the 911) between 1965 and 1968, and today the 912 is a relative rarity when compared with its better-known sibling.
In 2018, this smart left-hand drive 1968 Porsche 912 was imported from California where it had been enjoyed by just one owner from new and UK-registered when it arrived. In September 2021, it was purchased by our vendor to use as his daily driver and performed very well, however, he had always had a hankering for a Slate Grey 911 and so the decision was taken to have the car stripped back to bare metal and professionally repainted.
Despite the fact that Steve McQueen's 1971 film 'Le Mans' is full of drama, disaster and despair, it's most commonly remembered for the opening sequence with McQueen quietly making his way through Northern France in his 1970 'D' Series 911 S. The Slate Grey car looks entirely at home on a misty early morning as the Porsche gently negotiates the sweeping, tree-lined curves of the D35 between Brulon and Cheville with no soundtrack apart from a little Michael Legrand flute music and an occasional 'gruffle' from the flat-six and, with the benefit of nostalgia, Slate Grey is now the ‘coolest’ colour for early 911/ 912s.
Although the car had covered less than 30, 000 miles, our vendor planned to continue using the Porsche on a regular basis so a precautionary engine rebuild was commissioned which turned out to be relatively inexpensive as it’s a four-cylinder and was in reasonable health. The original five-dial dashboard and the black leatherette interior were still in good condition so were left alone. It’s supplied with a small history file with invoices from the recent refresh and the odometer currently reads 30, 306 miles.
In gleaming McQueen colours and sitting on a set of correct five-blade Fuchs alloys, this is a very good-looking car and we encourage your close inspection.
