1968 Porsche 912 Coupe

An exceptional 912 Coupe that is a matching numbers example still finished in its original color of Slate Grey. Sold new in South San Francisco and with few long term owners, including one owner from 1973 to 2013. A California car most of its life, this car is structurally excellent and is also extremely well-documented, with books and records back to 1971. 18,000 miles on rebuilt motor, recently tuned, serviced, and cosmetically freshened, this is an outstanding, honest, and attractive example with some patina but strong overall presentation.

Description

This is one of those rare cars that checks just about every box. It is matching numbers, structurally exemplary, finished in its desirable original color, and is extensively documented. Completed on the 13th of May, 1968, this car was shipped to California where it was sold new by Ron Price Porsche-Volkswagen on 21 June 1968, the first day of summer. The original owner was Michael Layne of Sunnyvale, California, and the car was registered with black plates XAB 307. By the end of August, the car had accumulated 3582 miles, at which point the car received its first service at Norm Anderson Volkswagen in San Jose. The car was serviced several more times at Norm Anderson in 1968, 1969, and 1970.

By 1971, the car was living in Los Altos, and the owner moved to Santa Rosa some time in 1973 before selling it to a long term keeper in Sonoma that would own the car from 1976 to 2013. In 1998, he retired to Idaho, taking the car with and continuing to maintain and drive it until returning to California in 2013, after which I bought it. The service records show continuous maintenance, with routine oil changes, valve adjustments, new points, belts, batteries, tie rod ends, brake pads and rotors, clutch replacement, and complete engine overhauls. Weber carburetors were installed in 1991 and the master cylinder replaced in 1996.

A new clutch was installed 22,000 miles ago and the engine rebuilt 18,000 miles ago. The previous owner reported that it is a big bore engine, although there is no documentation to support this. In the last 6000 miles, the brake calipers have been rebuilt, the soft brake lines replaced, the front wheel bearings replaced, and the shifter bushings replaced. The car was serviced in July of 2013, less than 500 miles ago, to include oil change, valve adjustment, carburetor tune, miscellaneous electrical fixes, and some cosmetic freshening. The headliner, front seats, rear parcel shelf, and dashboard were reupholstered at this time as well and new front deck lid struts, trunk carpet and orange bar hood badge fitted.

Included with the car is its original manual pouch containing maintenance booklet, which has service stamps as well as the stamp of the original selling dealer, Ron Price. The engine number was also recorded in the booklet, confirming that the car is matching numbers to this day. This is also substantiated by the Certificate of Authenticity. The manual pack also includes an Owner’s Manual, Accessories Catalog, Dealer Directory, and documentation associated with the Blaupunkt radio.

Today, the car is best described as an attractive driver that presents honestly and has great patina. One of the very best things about this car is its body. The panels fit universally well and are extremely straight and virtually free of corrosion. The paint was redone in the car’s original color of slate grey to very good but not excellent standards. Close inspection reveals a handful of surface imperfections and there is typical road rash to the front of the car, as well as a few other chips on the door edges etc. There are a few very small stress cracks in evidence as well, mostly on the rear fenders. The only rust noted on the exterior of the car is an area of bubbling on the right rocker directly above the jack point. The rest of the rockers, the bumpers, the doors, the fenders, and the roof are free of externally visible corrosion. Underneath, the story is the same, with outstanding original floors, rear seat pans, torsion bar tubes, and front suspension pan.

Overall, the car makes a strong visual impression and attracts positive attention wherever it goes. The metal trim is in very good to excellent unrestored condition throughout, with light pitting in selected areas and light scratches in others. The car is fitted with desirable and racy Talbot Berlin mirror. The recently replaced rear lenses are like new and the glazing is very good to excellent. The front turn signal lenses are intact but show minor aging and wear.

The interior is in excellent shape overall. The dashboard was recently redone, and a new headliner of the correct material installed. The seats and rear parcel shelf were also recently reupholstered, while the sun visors, carpets, and back seats are original and well-preserved. A new set of rubber mats has also been installed. The instruments and switches are in very good unrestored condition. All instruments work correctly other than the clock.

The engine compartment is generally correct, although the car is now equipped with Weber carburetors. It is fairly clean but representative of an unrestored driver car. It is dry, with no oil leaks visible. The letters LS have been stamped on the case, as was often applied to engines rebuilt by Lukes & Shoreman, the famed Albany, California Porsche and Volkswagen shop. There is also a .1 stamp, indicating that the crank was turned .01” under. The trunk shows the excellent structure of the car and the car retains its correct battery cover and steel spare wheel. A new carpet set has been recently fitted. The car has its tool roll, which is partially complete.

The car runs and drives superbly. The engine starts easily hot or cold, and the carburetors are well-tuned. The engine makes good power and sounds as it should. The chassis is composed, with effective damping and a reassuringly solid feel. The weight distribution of the 912 is better than the 911, which makes a meaningful improvement in handling compared to a short wheelbase 911. It’s a confidence inspiring car to drive and it’s hugely entertaining and communicative. The gearbox has good synchromesh, the linkage feels as it should, and the clutch takes up where it should, with good feel and grip. The brakes are effective and surprisingly modern in feel, and must have been an absolute revelation in the 1960s.

This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a lovely 912. The honesty of the car is striking and there’s a wholesomeness evident to the car just from walking up to it the first time that will especially appeal to those who have seen a lot of cars spanning the full range of quality. The gaps and fit are excellent and the car is also very appealing on paper. In addition to being matching numbers and being an original slate gray car, this car has known California history from new and is exhaustively documented with service records and a very complete manual pack. It is clear that the car has been carefully looked after its entire life and has never reached the point of needing a full restoration. It is a pleasure to look at and drive and is an honest, high quality example that will appeal to someone who prefers history and conservation to a freshly restored car without provenance.