1976 Porsche 912E

While Porsche was busy building the 924 to replace the mid-engine 914, the 912 designation was re-introduced to anchor the Porsche lineup. (The original 912 name had lasted from 1965 through 1969). The 'E' was for einspritzung, or fuel injection, that was applied to the Volkswagen-based 2.0-liter flat four-cylinder unit helping it produce 86 horsepower at 4900 RPM. It received all of the body and chassis improvements endowed upon the 911 since 1969, but at a much lower base price. The 2,395-pound vehicle offered impressive performance and could sprint from zero-to-sixty in 11.3 seconds with a top speed of 115 mph. With its 21-gallon fuel tank, the 912 E had a driving range in excess of 600 miles.

The 912 E wore the G-Series 911 2.7 body and its engine was mechanically identical to the previous 914's, with the exception being the K-Jetronic fuel injection system.

Since mid-1975, all Porsche automobiles received hot-dipped galvanized body panels with corrosion protection. The chassis and structural components were made from galvanized steel and Porsche began offering a six-year warranty against floorpan rust.

The 1976 Porsche 911 lineup included the base 2.7-liter, 165 horsepower engine that replaced the previous 150 hp and 175 hp engines. Above the 911 was the Turbo Carerra Type 930 which used a 3.0-liter engine with K-Jetronic fuel injection (all of the six-cylinder Porsche's were equipped with this fuel injection system). Priced at $25,850, these were among the fastest automobiles traveling the American highways.

The 912E was an American market-only car built just for the 1976 model year. Designated in-house as the Type 923, it came with a base price of $10,845. In comparison, the U.S.-based 914 with the 2.0-liter engine had a base price of $7,250 while the entry-level Porsche 911 was priced at $13,900.

Total Porsche 912E production reached 2,099 units with approximately 500 receiving an electric sunroof.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2020