1966 Porsche 912

First registered on the 31st of December 1966, the vendor describes his left-hand-drive Porsche 912 as being: “mechanically sound, responsive and nimble, this is the short-wheelbase (SWB) version with a four-speed manual gearbox and polished Fuchs alloys”.

Imported from California to Finland in 1998, it then moved to Scotland in 2002, before coming south to England in 2018. A convoluted route perhaps, but those first 32 years in the USA would have contributed significantly to its impressive condition today.

Now set-up for regularity rallies, it features a Brantz International 2 Pro trip meter giving total and intermediate distances via a Brantz speed sensor mounted to front nearside brake assembly. Spotlights, a map light, and a fire extinguisher add a practical and aesthetically pleasing touch.

Only being sold because the vendor’s son has requested something with a V8 under the bonnet (and if that isn’t great parenting then we don’t know what is…) he has agreed a very sensible reserve for his much-loved Porsche.

It’s easy to forget just how pretty the early unadorned cars are with the current predilection for wide-arched bespoilered 911s – and this is a real beauty. The Polo Red paintwork is in a decent condition, being bright and vibrant.

It’s also got decent panel gaps, straight panels, and an impressively ‘together’ look to it that speaks of a pampered life.

Chrome over-riders, bullet door mirrors, door handles and window surrounds add an elegant touch, and the polished Fuchs alloy wheels add a dash of flash we thoroughly approve of. They are shod with good Fulda tyres on the front, and equally good Goodyears on the rear.

The only significant problem with the bodywork is the driver’s door, the edge of which has been bashed and lost some paint and filler. There is also some filler and/or surface rust on both sills; the vendor has taken photographs of the areas in question and while they will need restoring, red is one of the easier colours to match so localized repairs should be straightforward.

Aside from that, there are the usual stonechips and minor blemishes plus a few micro-blisters (and some not so micro) to the bodywork, but there is nothing there that would concern us if it were ours in the short- to medium-term.

The black vinyl interior is in very good shape – and we applaud the way the Brantz tripmeter has been installed, fastened as it is to the windscreen via a suction-cup, so it can be removed without leaving a mark.

And it’s the little details that make this car stand out for us: things like the chrome fire extinguisher; the neatly Dyna-taped switches and controls; the luminous dial markings; and the twin-spindle radio, which is period-correct.

It’s all in great shape too with minimal wear that doesn’t even come close to being a patina. There are no rips, tears or other damage to either the front or rear seats, plus it has good door cards, headlining and carpets. It really is quite special and a testament to the care it’s received over the years.

The front ‘boot’ is very clean. Solid too, and home to the spare wheel, battery and fuel tank.

If we are being picky then the driver’s seat is a little saggy but stripping it down and fitting new foam and webbing would be an easy job should that sort of thing bother you.

Oh, and if you came across a good set of sunvisors you’d probably want to snap them up too. Not that that is exactly a Shakespearean tragedy, is it?

While the Porsche has had replacement cylinder heads, the engine block is said to be the original.

The car’s history starts from its time in Finland, and while there is a fair amount it is in Finnish, so be prepared to make Google Translate your friend.

The vendor tells us that the recent receipts concentrate on the efforts of two local specialists to get the new carburettors tuned. In the end, it took a third to solve the problems generated by the first two but the hard work paid off as we are told that she runs beautifully.

Now running twin Weber 40 IDF carburettors, the original Solex carbs have been retained and come with the car. The Webers have been recently tuned and balanced, giving great performance and a lovely induction rasp.

The seller tells us that he has spent the last sixteen months on a “slow campaign of improvement” turning it into what is now a “safe and reliable” car that drives well.

The engine bay is ridiculously clean and tidy and a credit to him.

The underside is good and solid thanks to that Californian life and a little bit of welding at the back while it has been in the vendor’s care. That said, it would benefit from a protective coat of underseal to keep it so. Still, that’s an easy job – and wouldn’t you rather buy a car that’s naked so you can see what’s under there?

The Porsche’s MOT certificate expires in July 2021 and was gained without a single advisory something it’s been doing since 2007. It also has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please contact the owner and ask if they can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like them to concentrate on.

Solid, strong, and mechanically good, it has led an interesting life that included being rallied in the iconic 1000 Lakes Rally in Finland – and if that doesn’t give you sufficient boasting rights then may we respectfully suggest that you’re setting your sights unrealistically high?

And, given how impressive the little Porsche’s interior is, the only work remaining is to fettle the bodywork when time and funds allow.

Not that it’s bad; it’s more a case that the rest of the car is so good that it really does deserve a bit of TLC to bring it up to the same high standard – and even when you factor in the cost of a professional respray, our guide price of somewhere between £26,000 and £31,000 seems like good value given how popular this sweet little cars have become.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Hornchurch, Essex; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ near Abingdon, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.