Porsche 912
The Porsche 912 was an sports car produced by Porsche of Germany from 1965 until 1969, and then briefly manufactured again during the mid 1970s. The car was a commercial success and even managed to outsell the iconic Type 911 during its first few years on the market, aided in part by its more affordable price.
History of the Porsche 912
Production of the Porsche 912, an entry-level variant of the Type 911, began in 1965 with the 912 coupé. Fitted with a four-cylinder engine, the vehicle developed a strong reputation for its stylish appearance, reliable performance and comparatively low price, which made it an extremely attractive proposition for new Porsche customers. Compared to the 911, the Porsche 912 had fewer features, but was able to boast superior weight distribution and handling. In 1967, the Porsche 912 Targa was released. The Version I Targa was a a variation of a cabriolet and featured a removable roof and plastic rear window. The following year, the Porsche 912 Targa Version II was released, with the main difference being the inclusion of a fixed glass rear window, effectively turning the Targa into a coupé. A special version of the Porsche 912 was produced for German autobahn police and a police-style 912 Targa became the 100,000th Porsche car ever manufactured. A number of factors, including new emission control regulations and the production of more affordable 911 models, led to the discontinuation of the Porsche 912 after the 1969 model year.
Porsche 912E
Six years after the production of the last 912, Porsche decided to re-introduce the model to the United States in 1975. Known as the Porsche 912E, the new car was created to occupy the entry level position for the company, following the discontinuation of the 914 model and ahead of the release of the 914's official successor, the 924. The car utilised the same G-Series bodywork associated with the Porsche 911S and in total, the company manufactured just over 2,000 912E models between 1975 and 1976.
Porsche 912 in motorsport
Although primarily intended for use on public roads, the Porsche 912 has enjoyed significant success in motorsport over the years. Perhaps the most famous of these successes came in 1967, when the Polish racer, Sobiesław Zasada, won the European Rally Championship G1 Class while driving a factory-loaned four-cylinder Porsche 912. Today, the 912 continues to be used in various vintage racing events around the world, notably finishing first in its class at the 2012 London to Cape Town World Cup Rally.