1966 Porsche 912 SWB 5-Speed

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 offering slightly less 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. 

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 911S. 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.

This delightful 912 is indeed finished in its original colour of Slate Grey (6601), however, it has benefitted from a recent glass out, bare metal, paint refresh. The bodywork is remarkably straight with the original panels displaying neat shut lines, a theme that continues underneath with well presented original panels and only a minor repair to the battery box evident.

This is a well-travelled Porsche having been delivered new to Amersfoort in the Netherlands, shortly afterwards ending up in the US before being imported to the UK in the early 2010s where it was later restored by Williams Crawford. It's a matching numbers car and is in its original configuration with the three-dial brushed alloy dash, wood rim wheel, spot lamps and the desirable 5-speed transmission. It presents very well whilst still retaining a lovely patina with original brightwork, lenses and much of the interior (the headlining has been renewed).

The original engine has been developed and taken out to 1,720cc thanks to new barrels and pistons. Weber carbs plus a sports cam help towards a very usable 110 bhp on the rolling road making it the perfect alternative to a six-cylinder, with a better power-to-weight ratio. It’s lively, responsive and handles well resulting in a classic Porsche you can enjoy whenever you want, for any type of journey or European tour.

Complete with original book pack (very, very rare) and includes the driver's operating manual and service book which indicates that this Porsche was supplied via Porsche’s European Delivery Program where US citizens could take delivery of their new Porsche in Europe, enjoy driving it for a few weeks before shipping home, in this case to California. It's also supplied with a huge history file with lots of receipts for works and its original tool roll and spare wheel.

The Porsche was purchased by our vendor from A1 Classic Cars in October 2023 and he is unfortunately only selling due to health issues. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a straight, matching numbers, 912 in a topical colour that benefits from a fairly recent refresh, excellent bodywork, a delightfully original interior, and a worthwhile engine upgrade all at a very sensible estimate.