Porsche : 912

Model Introduction

The Porsche 912, launched in 1965, was developed as a more affordable companion to the newly introduced 911, pairing the 911’s body and chassis with a 1.6-litre flat-four from the outgoing 356. This combination delivered excellent balance and handling thanks to the lighter engine, along with improved fuel economy. Initially available as both a coupé and Targa, the 912 sold strongly in its first years, helping Porsche maintain sales momentum while the costlier six-cylinder 911 found its footing. Though replaced by the 914 in 1969, the 912 briefly returned in 1976 as the 912E for the U.S. market, using a 2.0-litre VW-derived engine.