1965 Porsche 912

Porsche's simplistic model lineup created a unique set of problems when it came time to replace its beloved and long-lived 356 sports car, which had established a reputation for its high quality, high performance, and competitive pricing. Its replacement would have to be as successful as its predecessor and retain its loyal followers while tempting new customers into Porsche ownership. Initially, sales of the new 1964 Porsche 911 were disappointing, partially due to its price and the continuing demand for the 356, which was scheduled to be phased out. Porsche tackled both of these issues with a more appropriately priced, four-cylinder, entry-level version of the 911 dubbed the 912 (initially 902).

Dimension Compairson
- The Porsche 356 had an 82.7-inch wheelbase and was 65.4 inches wide.
- The Porsche 911 initially had an 87-inch wheelbase and a length of 168.9 inches.
- The Porsche 912 had an 87-inch wheelbase and a length of 162.8 inches.

1965 Engine Comparison
The Porsche 356 was powered by a horizontally opposed, overhead-valve, air-cooled four-cylinder engine displacing 96.5 cubic inches (1,582 cc) and having four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a light alloy block and heads, and two carburetors. It produced 75 (DIN) horsepower at 3,600 RPM. The optional 1600 SC variant had higher compression (9.5:1 compared to 8.5:1) and produced 95 (DIN) horsepower at 5,800 RPM. Both versions produced 88 lbs-ft of torque at 4,200 RPM.

The Porsche 911 was equipped with a horizontally opposed, overhead-cam, air-cooled six-cylinder engine displacing 121.5 cubic inches (1,991cc) with eight main bearings, two Solex carburetors, 9.0:1 compression, and delivering 130 (DIN) horsepower at 6,100 RPM and 129 lbs-ft of torque at 4,200 RPM.

The Porsche 912 had the same four-cylinder engine as the 'base' 356, displacing 1,582cc and fitted with a pair of Solex carburetors. With a compression ratio of 9.3:1, it produced 90 (DIN) horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 91 lbs-ft of torque at 3,500 RPM.

1965 Mechanical Comparison
Both the 356 and the 912 were equipped with a four-speed manual transmission in the rear transaxle. The 912 could also be fitted with a five-speed manual unit (the 911 used a five-speed).

The Porsche 356 was suspended by parallel trailing arms with transverse laminated torsion bars and anti-roll bar at the front. The rear used swing axles with transverse torsion bars. Both the 911 and 912 used an independent rear setup with semi-trailing arms and transverse torsion bars. At the front were MacPherson struts with single lower transverse A-arms, anti-roll bar, and longitudinal torsion bars.

The Porsche 356 used a ZF worm and lever steering setup, while the 911 and 912 had rack and pinion.

Disc brakes at the front and rear provided the stopping power for the 356, 911, and 912.

1965 Bodystyle Comparison
- The Porsche 356 was offered as a 2+2 Coupe and a Cabriolet
- The Porsche 911 and 912 were solely offered as a 2+2 Coupe

1965 Price Comparison
- The Porsche 356 listed between $4,100 and $4,875 depending on body style and engine configuration
- The Porsche 911 listed at $6,490
- The Porsche 912 was priced at $4,690 with the four-speed and $4,770 with the five-speed transmission.

Production of the 356 concluded on April 5, 1965.

First available to European customers by June 1965, the Porsche 912 quickly became a market leader, a trend that continued when it went on sale in the United States. Beyond just the differences in engine size, the 912 lacked some standard features found on the 911, but not enough to deter a multitude of buyers. The enticing price of the 912 was more appealing than the more powerful engine of the 911, allowing the 912 to outsell its six-cylinder sibling by approximately 188% in 1966. During a five-year manufacturing lifespan, Porsche produced nearly 30,000 examples of the 912 coupe and approximately 2,500 of the Targa body style (the Targa production began in December 1966).

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2023