The production of the Porsche 912 commenced in 1965 to fulfil the need for an entry level variant of the new 911. Porsche’s aim for the 912 was to place the pushrod four-cylinder engine of the 356 in the body of the 911. After months of testing, the 912 was officially released to the public. The 912 was released with a 1.6 litre flat four engine but with a minor detune to 90 BHP from the original 95 BHP plus the option of either a four or five speed manual gearbox.

The appeal of the modern suspension set up and the improved streamlined body meant that despite the detuned engine, it would outperform its predecessor on performance as well as fuel economy.

The combination of improved build quality, styling, reliability, and pricing meant that the 912 outsold the 911 in it’s first years of production, making it a successful and affordable Porsche at the time.

According to its Porsche Certificate of authenticity, this Porsche 912 was delivered ex-factory in April 1969 and is a numbers matching example with the chassis and engine numbers on the vehicle corresponding to the, original service booklet, Certificate of Authenticity and Registration document (RC1). Notable optional extras were the 5-speed gearbox and Alloy wheels.

From both the Certificate of Authenticity and original service booklet entries, it appears that the South African owner took delivery of this Porsche 912 via Porsches European delivery programme. The Porsche European Delivery Program was a unique and highly sought-after experience that allowed customers from certain regions to take delivery of their new Porsche directly from the factory in Germany. It was far more than just picking up a car; it was a full-fledged, multi-day experience that turned the purchase into a memorable event.

Here's a breakdown of what the program typically involved:

• Ordering the car: Ordering a new Porsche from an authorized dealer in your home country. You would specify all the details of the car and the date you wanted to pick it up in Germany.
• The VIP Experience: This included a factory tour to see where your car was built, a visit to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, and a fine-dining experience.
• Taking Delivery: This involved a full vehicle orientation, explaining all of its features and controls.
• Driving in Europe: After taking delivery, you had the freedom to drive your brand-new Porsche through Europe. The program typically included a period of temporary insurance and registration for your trip.

Service booklet entries show that the owner spent almost a month and covered over 3000 miles in Europe with services in Hamburg and at AFN in the UK noted. On arrival in South Africa this Porsche 912 was serviced for most its life by Motors Western Province in Cape Town. This Porsche 912 is presented in very good condition with several invoices for refurbishment, repairs and servicing present from respected Porsche specialist Tim Abbot

Contact Gareth or Jonathan for more details: Tel (021) 462 3558 - E-mail: info@crossley-webb.com