1968 Porsche 912 Karmann Coupé

The Porsche 911 was introduced in 1963 to great acclaim and has become one of the world"s most enduring sports car designs. In replacing the 356, customers immediately noticed the differences from its predecessor, as in addition to being more modern and more powerful, it was also considerably more expensive, especially in the US. In Europe too, this was a problem, so to remedy this, a year after 911 production commenced, Porsche had a bit of a rethink and introduced the similarly bodied 912 as an entry level / transitional model with the new car entering production in April 1965.

Essentially a 911 fitted with the well-established 1600cc 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 was capable of achieving 30 mpg.

This new model had all the looks and style of the 911 whilst sharing its gearbox, monocoque steel chassis, independent front torsion bar and 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.

The car presented here is a 1968 (model year) Porsche 912, being actually manufactured on the 9th September 1967. It's a matching-numbers, left-hand drive, short wheelbase example, fitted with a 4-speed gearbox. Imported recently from California, the car is now UK-registered, with a fresh MoT, Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, its original driver's manual, and spare wheel.

Our vendor states the car is in excellent driving condition, being mechanically strong and rust-free. He adds that the steering and brakes are particularly good, whilst the transmission is smooth and responsive. Finished in striking Polo Red with good panel gaps, the interior, with black leatherette, is also in fine order (apart from a small crack on the centre of the dashboard).

As enthusiasts know, these 912 models are becoming more and more desirable, with good examples becoming much harder to find. This delightful 912 is certainly a practical classic that could be lovingly used for many years to come.