Pastiche by Brod

Cape to Cape Entries over 30...10 to go.

1966 Porsche 912 SWB Coupe  

The New Look...

A 1966, Left Hand Drive Guards Red Porsche 912 that was originally built for the USA market, but after a few years arrived in Ireland, via the UK. Then emigration to France from whence it returned earlier this year. In pretty good condition, she has already won one concourse award!

The 912 was also awarded the prize for the Best Racing (!) Porsche at the 2007 TIPEC National event.

 Silverstone 2007
MCH 912 D…My Porsche

We are all told to listen to one’s head, rather than one’s heart, when buying a classic…or any car for that matter. But I will readily admit that it was my head that dictated the purchase of my first Porsche…a 1966 912 SWB Coupe that had just been imported from France. (I believe the previous owner was seduced by a BMW…)

In July 2005 I read an advert for a 1966 Porsche 912 and Carolyn and I decided to have a look at it as we had been after a 912 since we parked beside one on the 2000 Classic Marathon. After some indecision (and an agreement to sell the Imp) we bought the Porsche and drove it back from High Wycombe to Brookenby…and a couple of weeks later, we had won our first (and probably only) concourse award at a subsequent Porsche Club GB Region 4 event. 

The driving position of the 912 was appalling…badly collapsed seats…and so new seats and full harness belts were sourced and fitted and a pre-booked holiday to France taken. On Hallow E’en our garage was broken into (along with 16 others) and someone tried to hot wire the Porsche and ripped all the wiring away from under the dashboard. 911Sport then collected the car and took it off to Bardney to have the electrics replaced. Some weeks later it returned.

Since that inauspicious day, our 912 has managed a number of displays at the 2006 and 2007 HRCR Open Days at Gaydon as well as an appearance at the 2006 RAF Coningsby Open Day. Last year we participated in the Mablethorpe and District Motor Club’s ‘Mermaid Classic Run’ around the Lincolnshire lanes.

The 912 was very comprehensively serviced by Phil Woolley's people at 911Sport in Horncastle before the Cape to Cape Tour 2007 and, apart from a slight carburettor problem, completed the round trip without mishap.  The event was organized with Macmillan Cancer Support in order to raise funds by driving from NW Scotland to SE Ireland (about 1400 miles) and all 40 entrants raised funds. I fitted a Brantz 2 Tripmeter and Rally Clock to ready the 912 for its Classic Tour debut…the Fourth Grand Cape to Cape Tour from 30 April to 6 May last year. 

And in October 2007, we took the 912 out on the Norwich Union Classic, starting from York and finishing at the Silverstone circuit.  Then we went off to France for a couple of day's break.

Navigator's view...

With a new pair of headlights and rebuilt carburettors, all seemed well for the 5th Cape to Cape.  We'd raised £4500 for Macmillan and were looking forward to driving the Porsche in France from whence it had come just before we bought it.  But it was not to be...fuel problems on the M1 at Forest East Service Stations side-lined us and we had to complete the Tour in our 2002 KIA Rio SE and leave the 912 in the garage.

Four months later, at the beginning of October, we suddenly realized that we had to get the engine sorted as we had an entry on the 2008 Norwich Union Classic.  With much sending and receiving of e-mails with Andy Prill we managed to fit a new fuel pump...and all was well.  So Norwich Union Classic was on...and we started from Cheltenham this year in glorious weather.

Now for some more engine work.  Well, as usual, this ended up as being a little bit more than 'some' engine work!  Doesn't it always? But by the time I collect it from Gantspeed in Mareham le Fen, the engine should be more on song with better throttle response and more efficient oil circulation, a full geometry set-up should help the handling and renewed door internals will allow me to open the navigator's window and prevent rain water trickling into the car with the new membranes fitted.  So, the 912 is off the road for a short time and the Cape to Cape Tour next year has been taken off the agenda, but the Norwich Union and other shorter events will be selected.

Just watch this space.

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Last modified: 14 Nov 2008 10:40