Faux Frankenstein: 1976 Porsche 912E 993 Rebody – Sold?

September 23, 2022, Update – We just confirmed the listing for this “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found we’re assuming this ride “Sold?” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

Facing a one-year production gap between the end of its mid-engined, air-cooled 914 and the yet-to-be-launched, transaxle-equipped, water-cooled 924, Porsche reintroduced a four-cylinder-powered 912E for the 1976 model year.  Fast forward nearly forty years later, and a popular trend is to “back-date” newer air-cooled Porsche 911s with pre-safety bumper bodywork.  Rather than follow the backdate trend, a prior caretaker of this rare 1976 Porsche 912E originally listed in August 2022 on Craigslist in Kennedale, Texas (Dallas) decided to forward-date their ride with late-1990s Porsche 993 bodywork.

Luckily, this “Faux-Forward” 993-bodied 912 no longer relies on the original 2.0 Liter Type 4 Volkswagen-supplied engine. In its place is a proper 3.0 Liter flat-six donated from a 1980s vintage 911SC.  The seller reports this conversion relies on all steel body components.  The seller proudly states, “I’ve even had several Porsche owners tell me they are completely blown away with the quality and can’t tell from the outside it’s not a 993.”

Currently offered for $45,000, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is at the high end of the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for 1976 Porsche 912Es.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the car featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls just below this guide’s #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $48,000 for a stock 1976 Porsche 912E.

After a six-year absence, the 912 was re-introduced to North America for the 1976 model year as the 912E (internal factory designation 923) to fill the entry-level position left vacant by the discontinuation of the 914, while the new 924 – another Porsche-Volkswagen joint effort vehicle and the 914’s official replacement – was being finalized and put into production. During the production run from May 1975 to July 1976, Porsche manufactured 2,092 of the 912E (E=Einspritzung), targeted only at the US market. By comparison, 10,677 (4,784 US) 911s were built for the 1976 model year. At $10,845 MSRP, the 912E was $3,000 less than the 911S.

The VW “Type 4” engine was originally made for the 1.7 liter VW 411/412. The 912E uses a Porsche-designed 2.0-liter revision of the engine with a longer 71mm stroke crankshaft, new rod bearings, and new pistons to increase the cylinder bore to 94mm. Power output was 90 SAE horsepower. The 912E’s Bosch L-Jetronic / Air Flow Controlled system was later adapted for the 911. The 912E has a 20+ gallon fuel tank, 30 mpg, and a 600-mile range.

The 912E has the same chassis as the 911 and therefore handles much like the 911. But with less power and less weight behind the rear axle, the 912E is more forgiving and less prone to sudden oversteer than the 911.  The E was the only 912 offered with a corrosion-resistant galvanized chassis and is the most comfortable version of the 912. The interior is the same as the 911, though some pieces were extra-cost options including two of the five gauges. 14-inch Fuchs alloy wheels were a popular option; “Cookie-Cutter” alloy wheels were also available (it was rare to see a 912E with the standard 15-inch steel wheels). Other options were an electric sunroof, 923/02 anti-slip differential, electric antenna (located on the passenger side front fender), power door mirrors, power windows, headlight washers, and H1 headlamps. Air conditioning was a popular dealer-installed option. As a stopgap, the 912E was the single instance of “planned obsolescence” in Porsche’s history. With only 2,092 built, its one-year-only model run, and the desirable qualities inherited from contemporary 911s, the 912E is one of the more collectible four-cylinder Porsches.

Road & Track said, “The 912E will obviously find favor with those who prefer a slightly more practical and tractable Porsche. It’s a car with almost all the sporting virtues of the more expensive 911S, yet it’s simpler pushrod 4-cyl. engine should make for better fuel economy and less expensive maintenance than the 911’s six” “The fittings are simpler in this model although in terms of materials, trim and finishing the 912E is of high Porsche quality. “The 912E is comfortable where the Carrera is harsh, rational where the Carrera is excessive.” R&T’s 11.3-second 0-60 mph time and 115-mph top speed looked good against the observed 23.0-mpg economy.”

The CarCast YouTube Channel features this video of Adam Corolla interviewing race car driver Tanner Faust’s family-owned Porsche 912E:

With a virtually bullet-proof 911SC-era flat-six upgrade combined with sexy 993-era bodywork, this 1976 Porsche 912E Outlaw is a substantial improvement over the base car’s humble beginnings.

Here’s the seller’s description:

Show or go: What would you do with this 993-Bodied 1976 Porsche 912E?  Please comment below and let us know!