1969 Porsche 912 'Lightweight'

This lot comes to us as part of a fine collection of classic cars and motorcycles belonging to the late Professor Christopher H. Bovis FRSA, a widely published and respected expert in international and European business law, public procurement and public/private partnerships, and he was clearly a bit of a petrol head too!

The fact that this car is so eye-catching and striking is only partly due to the vividness of its orange hue.

It’s also a stand-out vehicle for its quality and condition.

We know that this 1969 912 was living in sunny, salt-free Folsom, California, until 2003, when it was first registered in the UK and bought by Professor Bovis.

In 2008/9, he set about turning the car into a very special, lightweight, fast version of itself – one that would be ready and willing to compete on track and at events (although we don’t believe it ever saw any competitive action).

The car was fitted with 3.6-litre Varioram unit from a 993 911, mated to a 911 gearbox and a Quaife differential.

We have started the car and driven it a few metres, but no further.

It has been inactive for quite some time and will require basic recommissioning before it can be unleashed on the open road (or closed circuit) with confidence and enthusiasm.

That said, we had the engine running for long enough to learn that it makes a sound like rolling thunder and promises to be a very potent, motive force in such a small, light car.

The clean, uncluttered bodywork of this 912 is true to the simple purity of the original design.

We’ve seen no dinks, dents, creases, folds or ripples that aren’t entitled to be there, and the panel gaps and shut-lines are up to Zuffenhausen’s usual lofty standards of exactitude.

The one caveat to all that high praise concerns the bonnet, which is not currently closing properly.

The fabulously in-your-face orange paintwork is mostly very good but there are some flat and slightly rough-to-the-touch patches in places and, elsewhere, some areas of what feels a little like overspray.

We noticed a stone chip or two on the bonnet but nothing more to speak of.

If we were being really pernickety, we’d say that the nearside headlamp was a trifle cloudy.

The car sits on a very striking set of black Fuchs wheels. They are wearing Toyo Proxes rubber in the following dimensions: rear - 225/50 ZR16, front – 205/55 ZR16.

The car is accompanied by another full set of Fuchs wheels, a space saver wheel, and the removed rear seats.

All badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings look very decent to us.

The interior of this very purposeful-looking 912 is stripped-out, pared-back and turned-up to 11.

Everything that’s not serving to make the car lighter and quicker has been removed, including the door card fascias, the headlining, and the floor carpets.

The rear seats are missing (but they accompany the car).

The front bucket seats, which look as if they’ve rarely been sat on, have black vinyl sides, bolsters and backs.

The seat squabs and back-rest inserts are black corduroy material.

Everything, including the steering wheel, gear lever, dashboard, controls, switches and gauges, looks minty-fresh and squeaky-clean.

The gear lever, incidentally, is a very beefy-looking aftermarket item and looks like it’s got some proper attitude.

We particularly like the black leather dashboard trim, complete with colour-matched orange stitching, and the bright blue seat belts.

While there’s rarely much to be learned from looking into a 912 or 911 engine bay, what we can see is clean and dry, with everything in what seems to be its right and proper place.

The undersides of the car look sound, solid and possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

Nothing we’ve seen has prompted us to frown, tut or otherwise question the car’s credentials.

There are bills and invoices from marque specialists Strasse of Leeds, and others, covering work carried out to upgrade all manner of components throughout the car.

It comes with a V5C, a recent HPI report, various old MoT certificates and a 912 owner’s manual.

We like this car a lot.

Über-strict 912 (or 911) purists might scoff, but let them.

We don’t care.

We’re pretty confident that the 993 Varioram engine at the back of this lightweight and mechanically sorted example will have you grinning from ear to ear before you’re halfway around your first corner.

We also like it because it’s not yet fully committed to being a competition-only car or an every-day driver,

If you want the former, invest in a roll cage, a fire extinguisher and some harnesses.

If you prefer the sound of the latter, reinstate the door cards, headlining, rear seats and carpets.

Your money, your choice.

Lucky you.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £40,000 - £60,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.