French photographer and creative, Vince Perraud, talks about what it’s like to own and drive this classic Porsche
The 912 was conceived as a more affordable version of the first-generation 911 when it went on sale in 1965. One proud owner today explains why he loves his classic Porsche sportscar
Why did Porsche launch the Porsche 912?Over the years, the Porsche 912 has become a collector’s classic. As a Porsche sportscar, it combines the charm of the Porsche 911 with the practicality and simplicity of the earlier 356 model. Manufactured by Porsche between 1965 and 1969, but briefly revived from 1975 to 1976 for the US market only, the 912 was a strategic move by Porsche to cater to a broader audience without compromising on performance and style.French photographer Vince Perraud owns a 1968 Porsche 912 and enthuses that it’s a nimble, playful machine that stands out amid today’s modern, larger cars. The Burgundy-born creative explains why his 912 is such a great companion – and how he constantly reinvents its look to reflect his style and personality.Is the Porsche 912 based on the 911?“The shape of the car is really classic, and that’s the charm of the 912,” says Vince, who’s owned his 1968 Porsche 912 for almost six years and performed countless fixes and mends on its exterior and interior. “It’s an early shape – the short wheelbase – and it’s got the smaller engine from the 356.”“Back when the Porsche 912 was first launched, a lot of people said that it wasn’t a real Porsche,” Vince adds. “But I’m a photographer and, to me, the 912 visually looks very similar to the 911. I just love the shape of my car.”The Porsche 912 featured the body of the 911 but was paired with the same reliable and economical engine fitted in the 356 SC. It was a blend that allowed Porsche to offer a car that had the aesthetic appeal and handling prowess of a 911 while keeping costs lower, making the Porsche driving experience accessible to a broader range of customers.Vince finds cruising the wide country roads outside of Paris in his classic Porsche 912 highly therapeutic. A quick drive is all he needs to clear his head, says the French photographer Photo: IG @vinceperraudHow fast is the Porsche 912?The 1.6-litre, four-cylinder, air-cooled engine in the original 912 produced around 90hp. The same engine used in the Porsche 356 SC, it was renowned for its durability and efficiency. Fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox, the 912 was able to accelerate from 0−100km/h (0-62mph) in 13.5 seconds and could reach a top speed of 183km/h (114mph). With the same chassis and body design as the first generation of 911 sportscars, the 912 offered a similar driving experience, albeit with significantly less power. Not that this detracts from the drive, says Vince.“You don’t have to go crazy fast to have a great driving experience,” says Vince, who likes to take it easy and cruise the French countryside in his Porsche 912. “Even at 90km/h [56mph] you can have fun because you feel everything on the road. And the car is so light and nimble compared to a bigger car, so it feels like you can really weave through the traffic and have more fun on narrow, twisty roads.“Modern sportscars are also good for the track, but for me I just want to have fun – even if I’m just popping out to go buy some bread.”Although less powerful than the Porsche 911, the Porsche 912 holds its own on narrow roads with an ease and nimbleness reserved for the most light-footed of sportscars Photo: IG @vinceperraudHow many Porsche 912 cars were made? During its main production run from 1965 to 1969, Porsche produced around 30,745 units of the 912. In 1975, Porsche briefly revived the model as the 912 E for the North American market. This variant featured the same engine as that found in the VW-Porsche 914 sportscar, among others, and produced around 90hp. The reason why it was a US-only model was that it served as a stopgap between the 914, when it went off sale, and the forthcoming new 924 – which at first was only on sale in Europe. With just 2,099 units making the trip from Zuffenhausen across to the US, the 912 E in particular is a rare and sought-after model among collectors today.Whether he’s capturing his car on film or tinkering with the interior, changing seats and upholstery, Vince’s 912 always keeps him busy Photo: IG @vinceperraudWhat’s the best thing about owning a Porsche 912? “I love how much you can customise the 912,” says Vince. As a creative and photographer, he’s always tinkering with his car, repainting it, changing the interior and, naturally, photographing it. “You can do anything you want with it. For example, I can change the seats and the door trim – and I can do it myself with a screwdriver. It’s just so easy to play around with. There are no electronics that you can mess up. So that’s very cool – tailoring the car to myself and making it my own whenever I feel like it.”Vince’s first Porsche was a 944 Turbo, which he purchased more than 10 years ago. Four years later he added to it with a Porsche 912 because he was looking for that classic 911 shape – one that would be a natural on camera. “When I got the car it was in really bad shape, so it took me a lot of effort to make it drivable,” Vince remembers. “But I’m so glad I was able to get an old car from the 1960s back on the road, even if it was a challenge.“When I bought my 912, it was burgundy red. I come from Burgundy in France, so it was a perfect match – a soul connection,” continues Vince. “But it had several layers of paint underneath it. Eventually I took the original paint off and sanded it down to bring it back to the base metal. I decided to paint it green as a transitional colour, but it still shows some of its age – there are a few bumps apparent on the bodywork. The next step will be to properly align and clean the bodywork and after that take it back to its original colour. I am always changing something about my car and being creative with it.“My Porsche 912 has had so many lives and I find that so interesting. I always have new ideas about what I can do with the car and it’s always an interactive experience – from driving it to repairing it. You definitely have to spend a lot of time on its upkeep, but it’s totally worth it.”
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