Key Specifications
| Spec |
912 (1965-1969) |
912E (1976) |
| Production Years |
1965-1969 |
1976 |
| Manufacturer |
Porsche AG, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen |
Porsche AG, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen |
| Body Styles |
2-door coupe, 2-door Targa |
2-door coupe |
| Layout |
Rear engine, rear-wheel drive |
Rear engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Chassis |
Unitary steel monocoque (shared with 911) |
Unitary steel monocoque (911 G-body) |
| Wheelbase |
2,211 mm (SWB, 1965-1968) / 2,268 mm (LWB, 1969) |
2,271 mm |
| Overall Length |
4,163 mm |
4,291 mm |
| Overall Width |
1,610 mm |
1,610 mm |
| Overall Height |
1,320 mm |
1,320 mm |
| Front Track |
1,337 mm (SWB) / 1,362 mm (LWB) |
1,372 mm |
| Rear Track |
1,317 mm (SWB) / 1,342 mm (LWB) |
1,354 mm |
| Kerb Weight |
960 kg (Coupe) / 1,010 kg (Targa) |
1,070 kg |
| Fuel Tank Capacity |
62 L |
80 L |
| Boot/Luggage Capacity |
~130 L (front luggage compartment) |
~130 L (front luggage compartment) |
| Drag Coefficient (Cd) |
0.382 |
~0.40 (impact bumpers) |
Engine Specifications
Type 616/36, Porsche 912 (1965-1969)
| Spec |
Value |
| Configuration |
Flat-4 (horizontally opposed), air-cooled |
| Displacement |
1,582 cc |
| Bore x Stroke |
82.5 mm x 74.0 mm |
| Compression Ratio |
9.3:1 |
| Power |
90 hp (66 kW) @ 5,800 rpm |
| Torque |
118 Nm (87 lb-ft) @ 3,500 rpm |
| Fuel System |
Twin Solex 40 PII-4 carburettors |
| Ignition |
Points/condenser, distributor (Bosch) |
| Block Material |
Aluminium alloy (magnesium alloy case halves) |
| Cylinder Material |
Cast iron (Biral, iron liner cast into aluminium fin muff) |
| Head Material |
Aluminium alloy |
| Valvetrain |
OHV, single camshaft (centrally mounted), pushrods, 2 valves per cylinder |
| Camshaft Drive |
Bevel gears (from crankshaft) |
| Cooling |
Air-cooled, engine-driven axial fan |
| Lubrication |
Dry sump (engine-mounted pump) |
| Oil Capacity |
3.5 L (with strainer clean) |
| Redline |
5,800 rpm |
| Engine Weight |
~110 kg |
Type 4 (VW), Porsche 912E (1976)
| Spec |
Value |
| Configuration |
Flat-4 (horizontally opposed), air-cooled |
| Displacement |
1,971 cc |
| Bore x Stroke |
94.0 mm x 71.0 mm |
| Compression Ratio |
7.6:1 |
| Power |
86 hp (63 kW) @ 4,900 rpm |
| Torque |
137 Nm (101 lb-ft) @ 3,500 rpm |
| Fuel System |
Bosch L-Jetronic electronic fuel injection |
| Ignition |
Electronic ignition, distributor (Bosch) |
| Block Material |
Aluminium alloy |
| Cylinder Material |
Cast iron |
| Head Material |
Aluminium alloy |
| Valvetrain |
OHV, single camshaft, pushrods, 2 valves per cylinder |
| Camshaft Drive |
Gear-driven |
| Cooling |
Air-cooled, engine-driven axial fan |
| Lubrication |
Wet sump |
| Oil Capacity |
3.0 L (with filter) |
| Redline |
5,500 rpm |
Transmission Options
912 (1965-1969)
| Transmission |
Type |
Gears |
Notes |
| Type 901/1 |
Manual |
5-speed |
Standard, dog-leg first gear pattern |
| Type 901 (4-speed) |
Manual |
4-speed |
Available in some markets |
| Sportomatic (Type 905) |
Semi-automatic |
4-speed |
Available from 1968. Torque converter with vacuum-operated clutch |
912E (1976)
| Transmission |
Type |
Gears |
Notes |
| Type 925/00 |
Manual |
5-speed |
Standard |
| Sportomatic (Type 925/10) |
Semi-automatic |
4-speed |
Optional |
Manual Gearbox Ratios (5-speed, Type 901/1)
| Gear |
Ratio |
| 1st |
3.091 |
| 2nd |
1.778 |
| 3rd |
1.217 |
| 4th |
0.926 |
| 5th |
0.758 |
| Reverse |
3.127 |
| Final Drive |
4.428:1 (ring and pinion) |
Manual Gearbox Ratios (5-speed, Type 925/00, 912E)
| Gear |
Ratio |
| 1st |
3.181 |
| 2nd |
1.833 |
| 3rd |
1.261 |
| 4th |
0.962 |
| 5th |
0.759 |
| Reverse |
3.325 |
| Final Drive |
4.428:1 |
Suspension
| Component |
Front |
Rear |
| Type |
Independent, MacPherson strut (912) / Torsion bar (912 actual: longitudinal torsion bars, trailing arms) |
Independent, semi-trailing arms |
| Springs |
Longitudinal torsion bars |
Transverse torsion bars |
| Dampers |
Telescopic hydraulic (Boge) |
Telescopic hydraulic (Boge) |
| Anti-roll Bar |
Yes, 13 mm (912) / 15 mm (912E) |
No (912) / Optional (912E) |
| Steering Type |
ZF rack and pinion, unassisted |
- |
| Turns Lock-to-Lock |
2.7 |
- |
| Turning Circle |
10.2 m |
- |
Brakes
| Component |
Front |
Rear |
| Type (912) |
Solid disc (ATE) |
Solid disc (ATE) |
| Disc Diameter (912) |
282 mm |
285 mm |
| Type (912E) |
Solid disc |
Solid disc |
| Disc Diameter (912E) |
282 mm |
290 mm |
| Booster |
Vacuum-assisted (single circuit, 912) / Dual circuit (912E) |
- |
| ABS |
Not available |
- |
| Handbrake |
Mechanical, rear drums (integral with rear disc) |
- |
Performance
| Model |
0-100 km/h |
Quarter Mile |
Top Speed |
| 912 Coupe (5-speed) |
11.5 s |
~18.0 s @ 122 km/h |
185 km/h |
| 912 Targa (5-speed) |
12.0 s |
~18.5 s |
180 km/h |
| 912E (5-speed) |
13.5 s |
~19.0 s |
175 km/h |
Fuel Economy (approximate)
| Model |
L/100 km (combined) |
| 912 Coupe (5-speed) |
9-11 |
| 912 Targa (5-speed) |
9-12 |
| 912E (5-speed) |
10-12 |
Wheels and Tyres
| Variant |
Standard Wheel |
Standard Tyre |
| 912 (1965-1967) |
4.5J x 15 steel |
165HR15 |
| 912 (1968-1969) |
5.5J x 15 steel or Fuchs alloy |
165HR15 |
| 912E |
6J x 15 Fuchs alloy |
185/70VR15 |
Common upgrades: 5.5J or 6J x 15 Fuchs forged alloy wheels with 185/70R15 or 195/65R15 tyres. The Fuchs five-spoke alloy is the definitive Porsche wheel and suits the 912 beautifully. Wider wheels (7J) are not recommended without arch modifications.
Electrical
| Spec |
912 (1965-1967) |
912 (1968-1969) |
912E (1976) |
| System Voltage |
6V (negative earth) |
12V (negative earth) |
12V (negative earth) |
| Generator/Alternator |
6V generator (180W) |
12V generator (360W) or alternator |
12V alternator (770W) |
| Battery |
6V, 84Ah |
12V, 45Ah |
12V, 63Ah |
| Spark Plugs |
Bosch W225T1 |
Bosch W225T1 |
Bosch W175T30 |
| Spark Plug Gap |
0.6 mm |
0.6 mm |
0.7 mm |
| Points Gap |
0.35 mm |
0.35 mm |
N/A (electronic ignition) |
| Ignition Timing |
5 degrees BTDC @ idle (static) |
5 degrees BTDC @ idle (static) |
7 degrees BTDC @ idle (vacuum disconnected) |
| Firing Order |
1-4-3-2 |
1-4-3-2 |
1-4-3-2 |
Valve Clearances (cold)
| Valve |
912 |
912E |
| Intake |
0.10 mm (0.004 in) |
0.10 mm (0.004 in) |
| Exhaust |
0.10 mm (0.004 in) |
0.15 mm (0.006 in) |
Fluid Capacities
| Fluid |
912 |
912E |
| Engine Oil (with strainer/filter) |
3.5 L |
3.0 L |
| Manual Gearbox |
2.5 L |
2.5 L |
| Fuel Tank |
62 L |
80 L |
| Brake Fluid Reservoir |
~0.25 L |
~0.35 L |
Service Intervals
| Service Item |
Interval |
| Engine oil and strainer/filter |
3,000-5,000 km |
| Valve clearance adjustment |
5,000-10,000 km |
| Spark plugs |
10,000-15,000 km |
| Points and condenser (912 only) |
10,000 km |
| Carburettor synchronisation (912 only) |
10,000 km |
| Brake fluid |
Every 2 years |
| Gearbox oil |
30,000 km |
| Full inspection (brakes, suspension, body) |
Annually |
Engine Oil Specifications
| Specification |
Value |
| Recommended Grade (912) |
20W-50 mineral oil |
| Recommended Grade (912E) |
20W-50 mineral or 15W-40 |
| Alternative (cold climates) |
15W-40 mineral |
| API Rating |
SF or higher |
| Note |
Mineral oil recommended for original seals. ZDDP-containing oil recommended for flat-tappet camshaft |
Production Numbers (approximate)
| Model |
Total Production |
| 912 Coupe (1965-1969) |
~28,500 |
| 912 Targa (1967-1969) |
~1,800 |
| 912 Total |
~30,300 |
| 912E (1976, US only) |
~2,099 |
| Grand Total (all 912 variants) |
~32,400 |
Production by Year
| Year |
912 Coupe |
912 Targa |
Total |
| 1965 |
~6,440 |
- |
~6,440 |
| 1966 |
~8,700 |
- |
~8,700 |
| 1967 |
~5,150 |
~750 |
~5,900 |
| 1968 |
~4,700 |
~550 |
~5,250 |
| 1969 |
~3,500 |
~500 |
~4,000 |
Identification
Chassis number location: Stamped on a plate on the left-hand side of the dashboard (visible through the windscreen), on the body structure in the front luggage compartment, and on the compliance plate (door jamb).
Engine number location: Stamped on the engine case, near the crankcase breather on the left side of the engine (when viewed from the rear).
Chassis number format:
- 912 (1965): 350001-356xxx
- 912 (1966): 356xxx-365xxx
- 912 (1967): 460001-46xxxx
- 912 (1968): 12800001-128xxxxx
- 912 (1969): 129000001-129xxxxxx
- 912E (1976): 912620xxxx
Engine number format:
- 912 engine: 6-digit number with Type 616/36 designation
- 912E engine: VW Type 4 engine number
Porsche Certificate of Authenticity: Available from the Porsche Museum, Stuttgart. Confirms original specification, colour, engine number, transmission number, and delivery details. Cost approximately $200 AUD.