912 Registry :: Restoring Your Porsche (TM) 912 & 912E

912 Registry Technical and Restoration Bulletin Board

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How about some inspiration?

From: Jerry McAbee, 1967 912 Coupe, California: I have a lot of work to do on my car before I can call it a driver, but it will be someday. When I originally purchased the car it looked pretty good. I found the car at a dune buggy shop. The owner of the shop said the person that had the car said there was a problem with the transmission. The owner of the shop never had a chance to look at the car and the owner never came back so he lean sold it to me. Like I said the car looked good it had come directly from the body shop to the dune buggy shop. Once I got it home oh boy was I in for a surprise the floor boards were totally rusted through. The front end was about to fall out and other problems with rust. It also was missing the original motor there was a type 1 VW installed.
I was never so happy in my life. I fixed the clutch plate and the car ran fine down the street and back, pulled it up in the garage and stated tearing it down. I have ordered the floor boards, front suspension pan, rocker panels, and front latch panel. I am having a lot of fun working on my 912. I hope to have it finished in 3 to 5 yrs. Wish me luck

From: Pancho Herrera, 1965 912 Coupe; While I was perusing my photo files I came to realize that at least 75% of my car photos feature bikes on the roof-rack (like my original calendar shot). The car really is my ultimate SUV! I bought the rusted hulk out of a back lot much neglected. Red with no documentation...or engine..or interior..or... Dash was body color and had been poorly converted to 5 gauges. I welded the extras shut and brought it back to it's 3 hole origin, body color, of course. The resto was a big project that continues on. There's always more to be done. Thanks for your great work with the Registry. The collective principles found here are the true essence of the 912. Pancho

From: Marcel van der Meer, restored '65 912 coupe, imported from California USA in 1996 to The Netherlands. "I started with the restoration in Nov 2004, in August of this year [2006] the project was completed. You can see some pictures of the restoration on my website www.deklassieke912.nl Best regards"

From: Richard Muller, 1969 912; photographed on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. I enjoyed everyone else’s photos so much I felt I had to give back. It strays from original with black anodized trim, pearl paint, 935 mirrors, and 911S wheels and vented discs are on all four corners. The alloys are coated with black epoxy and hand painted caps and, yes, it’s lowered. The 616/40 motor is mostly new old stock with only 600 miles since assembly. A Precision Matters full flow oil filter will help keep it new. Nice touches include full factory tinted glass, original seats rebuilt and recovered with leather. New Performance Products seat belts are fully retractable. The steering wheel is original and recovered with hand-stitched leather. Cocomats (black with white dots) add a touch of retro. Thanks for all your inspiration and technical advise in getting mine together.

From: Kai Lindfors; Finland, '67 912; Hello 912 colleagues, This photo you currently have on the website is from 6 years ago, so I'm be sending you a few newer ones, in case you'd like to update. Some details: Body color originally white, now silver; Karmann Coupe, still with original engine # 756002 and 4 speed transmission; First delivered in California; Factory options: chrome wheels (still got them) and front bumper overriders, radio and one dash-mounted loudspeaker; History known from early '80's to the present day, nothing from '67 to '84.; The car lived in the Bay area until 1994 when it was exported to Finland; Engine rebuilt by no less than The Maestro, Harry Pellow himself in '86; The archtypical issues that needed work have been done during '00 - '04...new floor pans, suspension rebuild with new dampers and bushes, completely new electric system, interior redone, most of the exterior ornamentals new, and another engine rebuild with Weber 40IDFs + other ancillaries new ; Mileage 80,000 or 180,000 or 280,000 but who cares...the car drives and feels extremely solid, almost like new. An incredible piece of machinery. They don't make them like this anymore. ; If someone who knows anything about the early history of the car i.e. '67 - '84, I'd be very grateful to hear from them! Papers reveal the car as had California plates 2PVZ381 at least during the '80s and early nineties. Thanks for the great work with the website & all! Kind regards Kai Lindfors

From: Ronald Bosma, '68 912, The Netherlands;Car was imported in 1998 from USA-California to Holland. Car was red, Californian license plate 2BDV510. Car was owned by Norma R. Tehan, Artois. If you have any info on previous owner, please let me know at ronald.bosma@home.nl. Restauration finished in 2003, now in original Irish Green colour again. Here is a picture of my 912, at the paddock of the Dutch Zandvoort Circuit. Used for touring. Keep up the good work! Interests: Events, Touring, Technical, Restoration, Show, Rallies, Autocross, Racing

From: Felix Gerdes, Hamburg Germany; a photo of my '65 912 coupe; the car was delivered to a Hamburg Porsche dealer in November 1965, for direct export to California. The car was re-imported to Germany by the previous owner, and correctly restored (incl. engine overhaul) in Berlin. I purchased the car in August of this year [2005], thus bringing this forty year-old delight back to Hamburg! The 912 Registry is such a great community and resource! More useful than anything in the Porsche world I've seen on the web thus far. Brgds, Felix

From: Sean Eves, '67 912, California, USA: Now red, street and race car, full pan up restoration. down to bare metal. creme puff with plenty of go power. two motors , one 912 motor balanced , blueprinted, bored with cam and nitrous, and a orig.2.0 1967 911 motor, bone stock, ready to be fitted.the car is fully caged, interior is all new and appears stock from first glance.tastefully restored, my dream come true. Interests-Events, Touring, Technical, Restoration, Show, Rallies, Autocross, Racing; Technical Committee

From: Wim Redert, '67 912. Holland [reimported in 1999 from Huntington Beach California. First owner in The Netherlands]; I have enclosed a picture of my recently restored [9/05] 1967 SWB 912. It was red but, after a bare metal restoration, it has been resprayed in Argentinian Racing Blue (originally a 356 color). It took me about 2,5 years to finish this massive job. I had a great help using Dave Hillman's website. My VIN number is 461525. Maybe you could also add the picture in the register. Keep up the good work! Kind regards, Wim Redert,. Hellevoetsluis, Holland

From: Douglas Haynes, '66 912, California, I have owned the car since 1973. I believe I am the second owner. It is in almost pristine condition following a gradual restoration over many years, the latest being a complete engine rebuild by the master mechanic of The Nethercutt Collection, Jim Shewbert. Interests: Events, Touring, Technical, Restoration, Show, Rallies, Autocross, Racing

From: Randy Weis , '69 912; Trip across America!!!!! I purchased a 1969 912 from a Registry member who was selling the car on E Bay. This was my first E Bay purchase as well as my first Porsche. Am an avid German car fan having Audis, BMW’s and an Opel in the 70’s. The car was a totally restored 1969, bare metal restoration, new paint, wheels etc. and looked great on line and when I picked it up. The car started, stopped, started, and handled great. There was a linkage problem that hounded me for the first two days of my journey. With some creativity on my part, the assistance of a local mechanic in Grand Junction, CO, I was able to get the car home safe and sound from LA back to Connecticut some 2,800 miles, with an average daily temperature of 95.
I started my drive on Saturday July 30, the first day of owning my car, and my pre-work prior to my purchase was reading the Registry website which was invaluable, plus reading Duane Spencer’s complete Porsche Guide. After starting out of LA heading up route 15 in CA, I was amazed at how little acceleration the car had and the top speed was around 55mph. Since I had 2800 miles to drive, I was very concerned. Around 7:30 on Saturday morning, I decided to call Duane Spencer at home and find out why the car could be performing so poorly. Duane’s first comment was to never buy a car on E Bay, just what I wanted to hear, but walked me though everything it could possibly be, and suggested that I stop in Vegas at “Carls” and have them look at the car. I struggled to get through the dessert….creeping, shifting on the slightest hill, many calls back to Duane….etc. I removed the insulation that kept falling on the fan, removed the rain tray to get as much air to the engine as possible. Along the way, I removed the accelerator stop, and even cut out the floor board to get more pedal for more power. Upon arriving at Carl’s place, he said I had a problem with the right carb (Webbers) and there seemed to be linkage adjustment issues. Carl said it would take a couple of days to sort it out but I was trying to get the car back home. I asked Carl if it would hurt to drive the car as is, and he said he did not think so. I should also say that along the way, Keith from San Francisco, part of the TAN Network was in contact with me to make sure I got to where I was going. I made it as far as Grand Junction, CO, before the part that the linkage cables and the accelerator rod connect into broke. Thanks to Eric Hermann of Grand Junction, he welded the part and got me on my way. I continued my journey till I arrived home on the following Thursday.
Once home, I went to my local Porsche mechanic, Tullio Ferri of Bridgeport, CT who looked at the car and admired how clean it was and essentially original. He too said there was a problem in the right carb, which later turned out to be damage from a carb fire, that once he rebuilt it and adjusted the valves, has the car running like new.
I like originality in my cars. The paint color is from a 72 Porsche, and the wheels are 16inch chrome Fuchs. I will leave the paint as is as it is a respectable job, less than a year old, but am contemplating going to the steel wheels and hubcaps.
Back two weeks now, I am driving and enjoying the car immensely. My thanks to Keith, Duane, Carl’s Porsche in Vegas, and Eric Herman the local mechanic in Grand Junction, CO….I could not have made it back without them. Randy Weis

From: Brent Cline, 1968 912, South Carolina; Original slate grey colour, love your site. I found tons of useful information as I was partially restoring my 912. It was a impulse buy and your site went a long way toward helping feel comfortable after the fact. It is really special car, a one registered owner complete with tool kit, window sticker, owners manual and complete history. All with essentially zero rust. mechanically it has just been completely rebuilt by Drew Slayton and I couldn't be happier with the car. Thanks to your site, I now have a much better idea of the treasure I happened trip into. Many thanks, Brent...

From: Gary Bayless, 1969 912: Retired race car, beats a lot of the 911s around here.
Might have to sell it. Don't use it much and my 4 boys are not in a position to take it over.
Won SCCA Concours 2 years ago, Bare metal restore for Parade 1990 Monterey.

From: Steve Veytia, '67 912, Bidart, France: Car transported (boat) March 2005. Spent 2 weeks tweaking and slight restoration (95% complete) at parents house in Laguna Beach before being shipped to my house in the Basque country of France. Interests-Events, Touring, Technical, Restoration, Show

From: Albert L. Mertz: Dear 912 Registry, I took a few new pictures of my ’67 912 after finishing the motor and wanted to post. I am the second owner and purchased in California 8 years ago…have been enjoying ever since! Keep the faith! Albert L. Mertz 1967, Polo Red, 912 Coupe, Florida

From: Joseph Armstrong; November 1998 ; G'day Rick, Just got back from the Australian Porsche 50th celebration tour. Yesterday's parade, there were 850 privately owned Porsches in total, & from the pre '73 911/912, three 912s' came gold & silver. Mine was the silver. Attached is one of the pictures taken on the Australian Porsche 50th celebrations. As I mentioned earlier, the 912s' won gold & silver placing. My car is the one on the right (the only one w/ fog lights). It just shows you that you don't need a 6 cylinder to be a winner. Later mate ! Regards, Joseph Armstrong

Should I go for it and restore a 912?

From: Tillmann Cordes tillmann_cordes@web.de ; Hi, a complete review of the restoration of my '68 912: http://projekt912.cordes-netzwerk.de/ (in german but with hundreds of pictures). Have fun... Tillmann Cordes, Freiburg, Germany
From: Leif Peterson leifp11@hotmail.com ; Dear Webmaster:
Here is a link to my 912 restoration project
http://www.geocities.com/porsche912restoration/index.html
Please add a link to this site from your 912 pages. Thanks, LP
From: Steve Harrell; sharrell@psnw.com;1968 Karmann Coupe; Car is white after being silver blue and original Bahama yellow. Purchased from 2nd owner. Local car spotted in weeds behind the barn. Big bore with webers and oil cooler add-on . Rust through front battey pan. Long-range drive-as-you-go restoration planned. Follow my project at http://www.psnw.com/~sharrell/912.htm I would not have bought one if not for the registry site, thanks.
From: L.C. Mixon; lmixon@earthlink.net; I have just set up a webpage to serve as an online record for the restoration and customizing of my 1967 912. If you would like you can link my registry entry to the webpage as well. www.westcoastvintage.com/porsche.htm Thanks, L.C. Mixon
Christophe Cuvelier of Lille, France has his restauration project displayed at http://home.nordnet.fr/~chrcuvelier
Jim, Serena and Lindsay Cole of the PCA Vancouver Island Region, Canada have a great web page that should motivate those considering the restoration of a 912.
Henny Van Kranen has photos of his 912 restoration project at http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/balthus_porschesite/Index.html

From: Paul Blommaert; germany@ping.be; near the town Brussels. the car came orig from California. In copy I send to you 4 pics of my car; in begin and ending stage; bye and thank you Paul Blommaert 912E in Belgium [From '76 Owners List "Dark green metallic, with orig service book; 1/2 burned out, I'm rebuilding it from scratch; although the engine will be a 2.2 six cylinder; for rally & fun driving"] Mon, 28 Jun 1999; I am proud of my work;i started in 12/97and worked on the car every week end and the last week before finishing the whole week.the car was ready 9/98 i drove 2 miles and put it back in the garage. Now this week i am going to pull out the engine again; and i am going to put in a 911s from the same year it will have +- 180 HP .when it is done i am going to drive rally with the car;i wil send you a pics; taken during the race. Thanks again Paul Blommaert

Adam Back's '66 912 shown at time of purchase 7/00 in California. Now in Minnesota, 90% restored, "after" photo to follow!
	Henri Degon's 912, built in '66 ('67 model year) fully restored and equipped for historic rallye, in Grenoble, France
Newly restored (9/02) '68 912 of Donald E. Johnson, DDS in Georgia, USA
Gary Britton's bare metal restoration '68 912 in California, USA
Evert-Jan Nijveldt's '68 912 in IJsselstein, The Netherlands, completely stripped for restoration
	Eduardo Bottoni's '68 912 being restored in Venezia. Italy

Dirk Thelen's 1966 912 restoration project in Los Angeles, CA!

Andy & Dianna Leight; At the first of the year ['02] the restoration that started November 1993 was completed! since then we're driving and enjoying!! attached are the results.



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