| The
"356D"
First
available to the public in August 1965, the 912
outsold the 911
almost two to one that year, with 6,401 912s produced versus 3,390 of the quicker 911s. Constructed
in late 1966, the 100,000th Porsche built was a 912 Targa® police car.
Overall for 1966, Porsche produced
9,090 912s versus 3,730 of the 911s. The 912 won Car and Driver's
1967 "Readers Choice" Poll for its class.
Overall production gradually shifted from the fuel-efficient 912 to the higher-horsepower six-cylinder 911. During the 1968 production year, about 6300 912s were constructed versus about 8000 911 cars. 912s continued in production in 1969 until the introduction of the mid-engine, Targa style 914 and 914-6 in late 1969. Ironically, after production of the 914 ceased in late 1975, the fuel-injected 912E model appeared in 1976, powered by a 2.0 liter 914-derived engine. When 912E production ended, Porsche had constructed 34,959 of the Type 912/912E model. |
From 1965 through 1969, Porsche's 912
eased the transition between the 356 and the 911. In early April 1965
the Porsche factory announced the 912, with the same great aerodynamics,
ergonomics, style, and quality of construction as a six-cylinder 911.
Fans of the 356 appreciated the 912's proven 356-based flat four-cylinder
fuel-efficient motor delivering 64 SAE
horsepower/ liter from its location behind the rear axle . With the flat-four, an
early 912 weighs about 250 pounds less than a standard 911 of the same year,
resulting in improved front-rear weight distribution. And the
combination of fuel-efficiency, low-weight, and low-drag translated the 912
into a "green" low-fuel consumption vehicle capable of up to 30 MPG highway,
decades before hybrid cars.
With its
nimble handling combined with high reliability, a 
Porsche unveiled
the 911 coupe to the public in 1963, and first offered it for sale in 1964. 912
coupe production commenced in April 1965, forty years ago this year. Both offered performance features such as
four-wheel disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension with torsion bars, rack and
pinion steering, racing pattern 5 speed transmission, and Recaro seats. Options
included three-point seatbelts, air conditioning, halogen fog lights, rear window wiper,
and 
Early factory workshop
manuals called the Targa a "cabriolet", but absent was the fabric top and frame
mechanism. Instead a flat "safety hoop", in anticipation of
future automobile safety requirements, supported both a lift-off
folding top, and a separate rear window. (Targa means "shield" in
Italian.) Butzi Porsche decided that the rollbar should be covered
with a brushed stainless steel surface. Factory window tunnel tests
demonstrated that with the top off and rear window up, interior turbulence
was low, even at high speeds. 1960 racing prototypes including the
1967 Porsche 910/6 had appeared in the windows up / top off configuration (the name also acknowledged the factory's success in the Targa Floria road
race.)
Take off the Targa top (fitting unfolded in the
trunk) for a mega sunroof (originally called the "Targa Voyage"). Unzip the
plastic rear window and you have a cabriolet with rollbar (originally called the
"Targa Spyder") The 356-cabriolet style tonneau cover shown here was a
factory option. You
might leave the roof on and the back window down on blistering hot days,
cold winter days, or even in a light rain. Button it up for complete enclosure in any
weather. Fixed glass rear window with electric defroster
were
optional and became known as the hard-window Targas. Yes, 1969 912
soft-windows do exist, with about 10 1969 912 Targas registered with
us. 
The 912E, internally designated at the factory as the
Type 923, appeared for one model year only, primarily in the
United States, as the companion to the 911S.
In 1976 rising fuel
prices and lowered U.S. speed limits helped make the 912E a practical model.
Production of the 914/4 had just ended, and the water-cooled four-cylinder 924s had
not yet arrived. The 912E was powered by the 2.0 liter fuel-injected
914-derived engine, and was offered in the 911 coupe coupe body style.
And
Options included electric sunroof, limited slip, and air conditioning. With its 21 U.S.
gallon fuel tank and fuel-efficient engine, the 912E's driving range may be
the best of any Porsche ever made, 600+ miles. The 2099th and final
912E constructed also became the last air-cooled four-cylinder car produced
by Porsche.
912s were raced when first introduced, especially rally events.
Factory Rally Kits were available that included anti-roll bars, racing brake pads, and a
dead pedal rest. In 1967 the 912 played a part in Porsche rally history that
should not be forgotten, when independent driver 
"On 21 December,
1966, Porsche celebrated a particularly proud anniversary. The 100,000th Porsche, a
912 Targa outfitted for the police, was delivered. It was turned over to the Baden-
Wurttemberg state police during a small celebration at the factory......The 100,000th car,
carrying appropriate engraving on a silver dash plaque, is one of the first Porsche safety
cabriolet Targas delivered, a design particularly well suited to police use thanks to its
basic concept...."
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