Porsche 912, it is time for a new four-cylinder 911?
Posted on 26-02-2016 at 23:00 by Dizono – 9 Comments”
Between 1965 and 1969 sold Porsche, the 912. The carriage of a 911, but with the four-cylinder engine from the 356. A bit of history, followed by a topical question: should Porsche, the 912 return?
In 1963, had the six-cylinder Porsche 911, the 356 follow-up. That was a difficult task, because the 911 was considerably more expensive than its predecessor. This remained until 1965 in production, but was really due for replacement. To customers somewhat to meet, they decided at Porsche four-cylinder in the 911 hang up. The 912 was born.
There was even doubted to create a completely new four-cylinder engine to develop on the basis of the 2.0 six-cylinder boxer from the 911 or the 356 engine to be drilled to 1.8-litres. Both options were too expensive were -the 912 had to remain affordable – and so was the old 1.6 Type 616 engine in the rear of the 911 is hung. With 90 hp no powerhouse, but in the 965 kg lightweight compartment 912 for smooth driving.
The 912 was a great success, in the first instance, there will be even more sold than the 911. To get the price as low as possible, the 912 is not only less powerful, but also less luxurious. So had the 912, but three counters instead of five, no chrome wieldeksels and also not a wooden steering wheel. All of the luxury that our mustaches also were able to lack, the 912 has as Targa served with the state Police.
In 1969, drew Porsche unplug the power cord from the 912, the production capacity had to be used for the flopped 914/6 and because of the 914/4 and the 911T as a six-cylinder entry-level model, there was also less space in the range of Porsche for the 912. All the way to the end for the 912, was it not, in 1975 and 1976 in Stuttgart especially for the American market, the 912E was built (photo above). Also here, a four-cylinder engine behind the rear axle, but this time it was not a Porsche block, but an air-cooled VW engine with 86 hp. The car had a hole to fill, that arose from the production of the 914, but it’s still not ready of the 924.
For the 718 Boxster has Porsche a beautiful, four-cylinder boxer (picture below) are constructed. This fills in the 718 Boxster and later on in the 718 Cayman, of course, the role of an entry-level model, but it wouldn’t be a good idea to have this block in the 911 hang? You could argue that such a 912 too much in the way of the Boxster and Cayman. On the other hand, who had, until recently, even though the same block as the 911 and that was never a problem. And if the four-cylinder in the Boxster fits, where the former six-cylinder in lag, then he must without a lot of effort also in the 911 to hang on. Currently, the cost of the cheapest 911 115.100 euros, how nice would it be if the 912 just under the ton would remain? I say: build that 912!
