912 Model 1967 Year April 2017 Acquired

2018 for me is all about participation: say ‘yes’ and do as many things as possible. For cars that means more events, more track days, more road trips, more driving and of course… this column.

Porsche for me was a natural progression from my younger days being obsessed with all things classic Volkswagen. Similarly to those VW days, Porsche bites you with the same bug! Any genuine Porsche enthusiast in my opinion knows that it is so much more than just a brand. It’s an ethos, a movement and even a way of life that stays with you.

My 911 story started with a 996 Targa with the Tiptronic ‘box that changed gears… eventually! It was heavy and cumbersome, but still fairly fast and handled how a Porsche should.

After only a year of ownership (and a cheeky deal), a 997.1 C2S Cabrio followed. It felt light years ahead of the 996 and was a pleasure to drive in every way. I’m not normally a fan of any Cabriolet, but that car almost converted me. I next made the mistake of visiting my local OPC only to find myself having a test drive in a 991.1 C2 GTS Coupe. As it turned out, the demo car was available and, well, that was that. I bought it. I loved that car; it was great in every way and genuinely special to drive. I don’t mind admitting I didn’t actually realise how special it was until it went.

Then came the flutter with a GT4, which nobody can argue with as being a great driver’s tool and a special piece of equipment. It was so precise, but for me it just didn’t have that special something that I’ve come to associate with driving a Porsche, and so I moved it on.

Then came the 912. Having missed something ‘old’ in my life for so long, I decided it was time to fill that gap. Coming from someone with fourcylinder, air-cooled roots, the 912 seemed like a fun way to get that back.

The bit I’ve missed out is that I buy cars as daily drivers, not weekend or sunny day garage queens. The 912 is, therefore, driven very regularly. I can’t explain how great that little car is: I think it’s a keeper. Perhaps everyone should go back a few years and reconnect with what made Porsche so special.