“The Porsche that’s Better than a Porsche”: 1965-’66 912 brochure

Images are from the brochure collection of Hemmings Motor News

There’s truth to the idiom, “a rising tide lifts all boats,” and the humble flat-four-powered 912 has certainly followed the 911’s recent value trajectory. Indeed, the folks at Hagerty Insurance have watched, in the past three years, the price of a top, concours-condition example rise from $47,800 to $60,700. The former car was an outgrowth of the latter, as the 912 Registry explains, and this brochure from the Hemmings files shows that there really wasn’t too much difference between the two models, save for the engine and amenities.

The 912 entered production in the spring of 1965 for the European market, with U.S.-spec models appearing that fall. This brochure, dated “6.65,” shows the 1965 912’s body color-painted three-dial dashboard fascia, a feature that would not reappear for the 1966 model year (when all were painted black).

While it couldn’t hold a candle to the 911 in straight line performance (although its 115 MPH top speed was pretty admirable for a 90 DIN hp machine!), the 912 was lauded for its handling balance. Like the 911, it would soon be available in the fresh Targa bodystyle, and after the 912’s 1969 retirement in favor of the 914, this model would return for one year as the fuel-injected 1976 912E: the last production air-cooled four-cylinder Porsche.

Have you ever driven a 912?

Click on the brochure images below to enlarge.