Porsche 912 Targa - four pots are enough for open-air fun

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Porsche 912 Targa - four pots are enough for open-air fun

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Created on September 10, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

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Balz Schreier

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Porsche AG

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - classic lines to which Porsche has remained true to this day

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - was popular as an entry-level Porsche at the time

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the simplest version cost almost a third less than a 911

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - as a Targa, the 912 is particularly enjoyable to drive

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the 90 hp is still sufficient for fast forwarding today

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - could be ordered with four- or five-speed transmission

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the blue color suits the 912 very well

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - only the lettering visually betrays the four-cylinder engine

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - ran over 180 km/h fast

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - offered a lot of overtaking prestige back then

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the 912 was also available with the soft rear window, glass initially cost extra

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the 912 was only delivered as a Targa after a delay

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - hardly distinguishable from the 911 if the buyer paid a little extra for additional interior equipment

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - a black interior was considered sporty at the time

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the 912 driver was not allowed a leather steering wheel

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - like its more powerful brother, the rev counter is located directly in front of the driver

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - red zone from 6,000 rpm

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the engine was further developed from the power unit of the 356 SC

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - a Swiss delivery

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - clearly an undiluted original 911

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the Porsche crest on the nose

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - recognizable as a 911 descendant even from the details

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the Targa bar was style-defining

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the 912 lettering was always fitted and could not be removed

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - the 912 lettering was obligatory

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - almost like a work of art

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - still no plastic but beautiful metal work, also for the ventilation grille

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - elegant lettering

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - same font as the 911 lettering

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - Fuchs rims at extra cost

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Porsche 356 SC (1965) - provided the engine basis for the Porsche 912

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Porsche 912 (1965) - with only minor differences to the more expensive six-cylinder models

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Porsche 912 (1965) - the lettering refers to the four-cylinder engine

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Porsche 912 (1965) - the four-cylinder model at its launch in 1965

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Porsche 912 (1965) - Rear view of the entry-level Porsche

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Porsche 912 (1965) - the cockpit with the simplified dashboard equipment

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Porsche 912 (1965) - View of the engine compartment at the launch in 1965

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Porsche 912 (1965) - Advertising photos from the 1965 sales brochure

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Porsche 912 (1965) - Interior photos from the 1965 sales brochure

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Porsche 911 (1967) - Advertising for the Porsche Targa, which was also available as the 912

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Porsche 912 (1965) - the see-through drawing shows the differences to the normal 911

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Porsche 912 (1965) - the drawing shows the body structure

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Porsche 912 (1965) - rear suspension (identical to 911)

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Porsche 912 (1965) - front suspension (identical to 911)

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Porsche 912 (1966) - in a short test by Automobil Revue

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Porsche 912 (1965) - space for luggage was available

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Porsche 912 (1966) - Dashboard of an early 912

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Porsche 912 (1966) - the front seats in the test car

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Porsche 912 (1966) - luggage could be stored on the folded-down rear seats

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Porsche 912 (1966) - Crank and hinged windows

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Porsche 912 (1965) - the four-cylinder engine in the rear of the Porsche

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Porsche 912 (1966) - Press photo of the factory, taken on the Solitude circuit

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Porsche 912 (1967) - together with its more powerful brothers 911 (left) and 911 S (center)

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Porsche 912 (1967) - with steel wheels as standard

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Porsche 912 Targa (1967) - the Targa with four cylinders was delivered after a delay to the 911

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Porsche 912 (1966) - the soft-window Targa with four cylinders

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Porsche 912 (1969) - the 911 T and 912 were indistinguishable from the side

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Porsche 912 E (1976) - available as a coupé in the USA

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Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - fast ein Drittel weniger als ein 911 kostete die einfachste Ausführung

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - als Targa vermittelt der 912 besonders viel Fahrfreude

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - die 90 PS reichen auch heute noch für flottes Vorwärtskommen aus

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - konnte mit Vier- oder Fünfganggetriebe bestellt werden

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - die blaue Farbe steht dem 912-er sehr gut

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - nur der Schriftzug verrät den Vierzylinder optisch

Summary

In 1965, Porsche introduced the 912, equipped with the four-cylinder engine from the 356 SC, as the entry-level model to the 911 series, which sold very successfully in the USA in particular, but also in Europe. However, it was replaced by a six-cylinder base model as early as 1969. This vehicle report portrays a Targa model from 1968 and tells the story of the entire model series, illustrated with many current and historical pictures as well as the sales brochure from 1965.

This article contains the following chapters

Planned early on
Not just an economy model
A successful model
Not the last of its kind
Well received
Almost 50 years later
Further information

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

As the successor to the successful and popular 356, the Porsche 911 was a successful model, could do almost everything better and was much more modern both visually and technically. But it was also significantly more expensive! In Switzerland in 1965, Porsche charged 18,500 francs for the last 356 C and 19,750 francs for the 356 SC (with 95 hp), while the 130 hp six-cylinder 911 was listed at 29,750 francs. That was a lot of wood and Porsche had to cushion this jump. This was done with the introduction of the 912model. The four-cylinder 912 (as model 902) had been considered early on, but its introduction was delayed while customers were still happy to buy the last models of the 356. When this model was finally discontinued and criticism of the high sales prices of the new model grew louder, the economy version 912 was introduced.

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Images of this article

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - fast ein Drittel weniger als ein 911 kostete die einfachste Ausführung

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - als Targa vermittelt der 912 besonders viel Fahrfreude

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - die 90 PS reichen auch heute noch für flottes Vorwärtskommen aus

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - konnte mit Vier- oder Fünfganggetriebe bestellt werden

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - die blaue Farbe steht dem 912-er sehr gut

Porsche 912 Targa (1968) - nur der Schriftzug verrät den Vierzylinder optisch

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