Driven: Porsche 912 Super More Bang, More Bucks
By Tom Stahler - Words & Images
One of the thrills, yet detrimental drivability issues with early air cooled 4-cylinder Porsches is the constant need to keep the revs up due to a higher power-band. For spirited driving, this is indeed a thrill — it’s all that! But if just going for a nice peaceful drive, sitting in traffic or taking a trip to the grocery store in a classic Porsche — because the 3-Series is in the shop — an upgraded 912 like this example, created by Vintage Excellence in Vista, California, might be the best of both worlds. So much so, Mark Allen, proprietor of Vintage Excellence, tagged the car a “912 Super.” You may just ditch the Bimmer.
Porsche, across the board, has seen a substantial increase in value to the non-911 set. 912, 914 and the front engined water cooled cars are all becoming more and more coveted by collectors. The Stuttgart marque stirs the imagination and enjoys a racing heritage with an elite handful of brands that bring large dollars at auction.
Not only is this particular 912 marvelous to drive, it is unique — a real show stopper! The 100-point car is pure eye candy. The Single Stage Glasurit Slate Grey paint seems to absorb all the light around it, creating eye-catching contrast with its surroundings. Climbing into the cockpit, the red leatherette SWB Recaro Sports Seats with Black/White/Red Pepita inserts and German Square Weave carpeting — along with the wooden steering wheel creates a luxurious trip back to 1967. This is an interior you might only find in a period 911S.
Settled in and turning the key, the willing engine responds with a lovely air-cooled note. However this is no ordinary 912 1600cc 90 horsepower motor… Vintage Excellence, who restored the car sent the motor to Willhoit Restoration who transformed the numbers matching block to a 2100cc with a bore and stroke of 82mm x 90mm — giving the car torque and “umph” that dynoed at 155 hp. Link that to a limited slip 5 speed, with a tall fifth gear for highway driving and it becomes a very drivable, responsive machine.
Easing the car to a roll out of first gear and up through third and fourth, the torque and response are far more accommodating as the power band is much lower than other four cylinder Porsche motors of the day. While applying the throttle in fourth through corners, in the canyons around Vista, the car was beautifully obedient. Add to that, the car tracked comfortably, like on rails, thanks to Bilstien shocks, a 15mm 911 front sway bar. Tapping the brakes on entry to corners felt slightly squishy at the pedal, but the Brembo AM Alloy calipers with ATE 911 rear calipers and vented discs on all 4 wheels grabbed when called upon.
This was a vintage Porsche I didn’t want to leave behind. It was a very easy car to drive. With the head turning looks and period 911-like performance, its uniqueness certainly justified the $174,900 asking price — no doubt Vintage Excellence will get it. Several of their previous restorations have reached stellar numbers at both RM and Gooding.
TAGS: Porsche, Porsche 912, Porsche 912S, 911S, Vintage Excellence, Mark Allen, Tom Stahler, Willhoit Restoration, 912, Vista CA, Canyon Run, 100-point car, Porsche Mods, R-Grouppe, Slate Grey, Vintage Porsche, 1967 Porsche
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