912
1969 CoupePalm Springs
1969 CoupePalm Springs
This 1969 Porsche 912 is for sale in Palm Springs, California.
Not perfect or prissy, this tough little 912 loves to run. Imported from Italy in early 1990, it found its way to Porsche mecca, Southern California.
I’ve owned, maintained and driven it for 33 of its 57 years. It presents beautifully but is not a restoration. Apart from a high-quality color change from ivory to red, reportedly done in Europe in the 1980s, it’s best described as a well-preserved survivor, with the honest wear, chips, dings and patina you’d expect of a nearly 60-year-old car.
1969 was the only year of the long-wheelbase + long-hood 912. The Porsche COA confirms the engine (#4091994) and the optional 5-speed transaxle (#5191819) as numbers matching. The odometer reads 53K miles, but the speedometer was reportedly changed from km/h to mph after import, so actual mileage is unknown. My general opinion is that mileage may land somewhere near the 100K mile range. This is just a personal estimate.
The top end was rebuilt in the mid-1990s, with valve work, rings, guides, head surfacing. Some receipts available. New clutch plate and brake service, including caliper work and a new master cylinder. Recent maintenance includes points, condenser, and coil as general maintenance. Solexes cleaned and adjusted as needed. Original air cleaner housings included in sale.
The original headliner, glass and dash are worn with defects but intact. The newer carpet shows wear particularly in the driver’s area, and the knee pads are original and intact with some defects but not awful. Various scratching and pitting on the interior and exterior chrome. Most lighting, including the gauges, is converted to LED. Cerullo seats and Grant wheel fit the vibe nicely and the original seats and wheel are included with the sale.
The top of the engine is dry, with light seepage at the valve covers and pushrod tubes damp on the underside. The left-side pushrod tubes are telescoping replacements. Right side are original accordion-fit type. The front shift-rod and speedo-drive seals were recently replaced, and the flapper boxes work. The right rear wheel bearing makes a slight noise on some pavement. The tires and battery are about 10 years old, with no uneven tire wear. A high-torque starter is fitted, and the original starter is included in the sale. Early 70’s Fuchs are not original to the car but are, in my opinion, a very nice addition.
The floors are original and solid, and both rockers are solid, the cracking/flaking in the photos is aged undercoating. Underside shows surface rust as expected, specific rust mentions are listed below. The import documents show light shipping damage to the rear bumper and plate area, repaired before my ownership. The import documents are available. Other known items, all shown in the photos:
This is a private-party sale, as-is, with no warranty expressed or implied. Clean California title in my name. Everything here is described in good faith to the best of my knowledge. My own assessment is a #3, good-condition car. Your assessment may vary. A PPI by a mutually agreed upon Porsche specialist can be discussed with serious buyers.
A pure dose of German engineering and awesome driving experience arranged perfectly into a really beautiful work of functional art. Spend all the money in the world on it, or just enjoy the drive. Either way, it’s a purely mechanical, tactile, fully analog sports driving machine.