First 1976 912 E Prototype Is Alive and Well

Patient Zero

The Porsche 912 E - an entry-level, four-cylinder-powered version of the iconic 911 - was produced from 1965-1969 and quickly became a favorite of many for its nimble handling and lightweight construction. However, the 912 E was revived for one model year - 1976 - in the U.S., when Porsche sold just 2,099 examples. This Light Yellow example just so happens to be number 0 of that lot, as it's the very first prototype produced, and it's still around and doing quite well today, decades later.

Photos: Porsche

Heart Transplant

The U.S.-spec car was taken off the assembly line during production and sent to Porsche's Development Center in Weissach without an engine, gearbox, engine oil tank, or fuel pump. There, it was fitted with the same 90 horsepower flat-four boxer engine present in several Volkswagen products including its Bus and Type 4, as well as the Porsche 914.

Photos: Porsche

Early Stages

Records show that there were internal discussions at Porsche about the economic viability and development of the 912 starting in 1972. These were based on the 911 F Series line - the predecessor of the G Series - but development didn’t make it beyond the prototype stage. U.S. dealers, in particular, were not interested in the car initially, because the 914 was already successful as an entry-level model and was not in competition with the 911.

Photos: Porsche

Change of Plans

An inexpensive 912 would have probably stolen a few customers away from the expensive 911 but a decision was taken in 1974 to launch the 912 E in the U.S. and to cancel its worldwide distribution. The 912 E - now based on the 911 G Series - was to be exported to America as the VW-Porsche 914 would be discontinued in 1976, but its successor, the Porsche 924, would not yet be available in the US - unlike in Europe.

Photos: Porsche

In Compliance

That's where this Light Yellow 912 E prototype came into play - it covered a total of 95,471 kilometers on the road and test rigs. Porsche had not only upgraded the engine with a Bosch L-Jetronic system but had also equipped the car with secondary-air injection and thermal reactors (reducing CO and HC emissions) as well as an exhaust gas recirculation system (less NO_x), fine-tuning it to ensure compliance with U.S. emission standards.

Photos: Porsche

Long Road

Porsche received a Certificate of Conformity With the Clean Air Act from the State of California on July 30, 1975, and the 912 E prototype was retired a year later. It received a reconditioned engine and was sold to a private buyer from Leonberg - a transaction that was arranged by then Porsche Head of Development, Helmuth Bott. The car remained in the customer's family for 29 years before it was sold to Automuseum Prototyp, an automobile prototype museum located in Hamburg, Germany.

Photos: Porsche

Capturing the Spirit

A sports car in its purest form, the 1976 912 E is truly a cool little footnote in Porsche history, and in many ways accurately captures the feeling of the original 356 thanks to its four-cylinder powerplant and svelte curb weight. Thankfully, this early example is still around to remind us of its short-lived existence.

Photos: Porsche

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