 |
The 912 was a cheaper four-cylinder sister model to the six-cylinder 911. It was powered by the old 356 engine - detuned from 95 to 90 bhp - and was a four-speeder, although a five-speed box was optional. Available as either a coupe or a Targa, the 912 was a bit pricey for the performance it offered (a Lotus Cortina could outrun it for a fraction of the cost) but it proved popular in North America and was ditched only when the VW-engined 914 was announced in 1969.
Along with the Lancia Montecarlo and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint, the 912 enjoys the distinction of being one of the few cars ever to have been taken out of production only to be reintroduced later - six years later in this case. When production of the 914 ceased in 1975 (rather sooner than Porsche had intended) American dealers needed a stopgap base model while the new 924 was being developed. Enter, in 1975, the 912E, with a 2.0-litre Volkswagen fuel-injected engine from the now almost forgotten VW 411E giving 90 bhp. Some 2099 cars were built in a year for the American market.
|
