Bumped Back: 1976 Porsche 912E – Sold?

December 30, 2022, Update – We confirmed the listing for this Porsche “Classifind” expired, so with no replacement found, we’re assuming this ride is “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.

The air-cooled Porsche market, particularly among 911 variants, has been strong since 2014.  Following a brief dip at the start of it, prices during the Pandemic approached almost irrational levels.  Where it’s most noticeable is among the one-year-only, VW Type 3 powered, 1976 Porsche 912E examples.  Long considered the abandoned stepchild of the air-cooled 911 crowd, prices for these entry-level Porsches now regularly trade in the thirties and forties.  That’s big money for what is a very slow Porsche.

Our latest example is this driver quality, black over butterscotch, 1976 Porsche 912e, once listed in November 2022 on Craigslist in Groveland, Florida (Orlando). The very good photos provided by the seller clearly show the slight engine cover damage and worn interior, making this otherwise very solid 912 a driver-quality example.  The seller reports their numbers-matching 912E spent most of its life in Arizona, and the undercarriage pictures confirm how rust-free this Porsche remains.

Once offered for $32,500, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the five-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for all 1976 Porsche 912e’s.  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 Porsche featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask is somewhat optimistically priced between this guide’s #2 Very Good” estimate of $31,000 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $48,000.

After a six-year absence, Porsche re-introduced the 912 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 of May 1975 to July 1976, Porsche manufactured 2,092 of the 912E, targeted only to the US market. By comparison, Porsche built 10,677 (4,784 US) 911’s 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. The 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 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 oversteering 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 “planned obsolescence” instance 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.

The Mark Mathis YouTube Channel features this Point of View” (“POV”) video showing what it’s like to drive a 1976 Porsche 912E:

At $32,500, someone considering restoring this 1976 Porsche 912E for sale could quickly find themselves underwater as the asking price here does not give much wiggle room from an already restored example.  Given the uncertainty of the classic car market, potential buyers would be better off simply enjoying the car’s current state rather than trying to restore it.

Here’s the seller’s description:

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