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Owner and photographer: Stephen Fitzgerald
Year, Make, and Model: 1976 Porsche 912E
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
I became interested in cars when I was very very young. Two of my brothers were also very avid car fans and we each picked a brand as our favorite. My oldest brother was a fan of Ferrari, my second oldest brother was a Lamborghini man. I chose Porsche. We often engaged in heated arguments over which brand and car was better. F40, Countach, 959? I still say that the 959 is king.
As I grew up I very much wanted to own a Porsche, but humble means kept that dream at bay until I discovered the somewhat unloved 912E. Being a 911S with 4 cylinders, I was happy to give up those extra two cylinders in exchange for having my dream car. Now, thousands of miles later, I’m utterly thrilled with the car and love it’s unique nature. It isn’t the fastest Porsche, but it brings a huge smile to my face and the faces of people who see it.
Initially, choosing this car arose out of necessity. Once given the green light by my wife to purchase a Porsche, we agreed on a budget of $10,000. But I soon discovered that ten-thousand didn’t buy much Porsche, which is why I moved to the 912. I learned that ten-thousand also wouldn’t buy a very good 912 either, but then while searching ebay I discovered the mysterious “E” model, only made for a single year. I wasn’t thrilled about the impact bumpers and more modern look compared to the long hoods, but I’m a pragmatist and I realized that this was the Porsche that I could afford unless I wanted to wait another five to ten years. I’m so glad I went with the car because as many know, the things that bug you about a car can often become the things you like the most. I love the look of the car now. I love its underdog Porsche status. I even love the friendly and tunable engine. People often say “Nice 911.” I enjoy correcting them and giving them a small dose of little-known Porsche history.
I found my car through the 912 owners group, for sale in San Fransisco, and they pointed me to it as a good first purchase. They warned me away from cars with fresh resprays and hidden problems and told me to suck up my pride and buy the car with horrible paint and sagging headliner because underneath it was a true gem. I’m still grateful for their guidance. The car had already been “sold” to a gentleman in Germany for more than asking price, but I begged the seller to sell it to me because it was father’s day and it was my dream to own a Porsche. Being a gentleman himself, he granted my request and my first road trip in the car was the triumphant drive home from San Fransisco to my then home in Washington state.
The car is a mostly original 912E. It was in sorry cosmetic shape when I purchased it in 2010, but excellent mechanical condition, and eventually had it completely repainted a few years later. Wanting to do something just slightly different without giving up much originality, I swapped out the original Fuchs wheels for some Gas Burner replicas that I thought played well off of the black paint. Being a pretty avid cyclist, I decided to merge the two hobbies by having Pedro Racks build me a custom rack that could haul around my race steeds in a stylish way. The car is a driver, and is regularly used for road tripping and bike race commuting all over Colorado.
I love driving the car the most up in the Rocky Mountains. The engine doesn’t seem to suffer much at altitude, and the way the car squats low and eats up the corners makes it a blast to drive. The purr of the engine, large greenhouse, and open sunroof open the senses to the beauty of motoring through some of the most majestic mountains the world has to offer. I also love its utter simplicity mechanically-speaking, and appreciate the drivability of its VW-sourced block. I love that my car manages to combine my two hobbies well.
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What are the five solid colored graphics going up the back of the front quarter panels right in front of the doors? I don’t think I’ve seen those before but I really like them.
PS – a [i]Wood License Plate Frame [/i] would be a great compliment to your wood rack on the back! I make and sell them on http://www.woodlicenseplateframe.com as a side hobby. 😉
Sweet frames! Ever make then with rounded corners like a traditional license plate frame instead of mitered like a picture frame?
Colors relate to my cycling team. I don’t race cars, so the car reps the bike racing team and it’s supporters. [url=”https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8555581/3-29/IMG_3045.jpg”]reference pic[/url]
@.. Guest ( Steve Fitzgerald ) – Its not so much that Speedvagens are bad mind you . They are not . Though their performance and racing credentials are somewhat over stated and lacking . Its more the case that we have so much better right here in our own backyard [ Colorado ] as to completely negate any real reason [ beyond my absolute and somewhat insane and irrational fascination with Pegoretti bikes .. not to mention the ECM connection ] for us [ you & I ] to look elsewhere when it comes to purchasing a world class bicycle . Especially if its Ti or Steel you’re wanting .
As far as criticism though I’ll respectfully and completely disagree . When the facts don’t line up with the Dog & Pony show presented [ and they do not with Vanilla/Speedvagen ] and they chose to present themselves to the general public … criticism is what keeps people on their toes and hopefully drives them towards improvement . Which having ridden a Vanilla … Vanilla/Speedvagen are in dire need of .
e,g .. The ‘ Show ‘ may be fascinating … but the ride unfortunately is not when it comes to Vanilla/Speedvagen’s products . And when it comes to a high end bike … it really is ALL about the ride . Not the Dog & Pony show on offer
Nein nein nein ! The man lives in Colorado ! And in Colorado vee don’t need no Porlandia Hipster Tripster Speedvagens
If we want a quality bike we’ve got Rene Herse right up in Boulder … making some of the very best steel frames in the World . For Ti .. Moots in Steamboat Springs …. which are THE best Ti frames made ever ! Not to mention a host of other smaller custom builders with a heck of a lot more credibility and experience than Vanilla/Speedvagen will ever have . Remembering Colorado is THE Bicycle racing and riding capitol of the US … Not Oregon !
But in my never so humble opinion . If Mr Fitzgerald wants THE best steelie …. he’ll do what I’ve done and head over Italy way to Pegoretti to purchase the absolute best steel bikes ever made … that are works of art to boot . Tell Pegoretti you’re an ECM Jazz fan/musician … let him loose … and you’ll get a paint job that will blow your mind . Fact is … Petrolicious would do well to feature Pegoretti’s work and shop some time . He is the Master/Sensei of the steel bicycle frame with a personality almost larger than life .
Speedvagen in Colorado indeed ! Eeesh !
I do love Speedvagens, for the record. I had the chance to visit their facility and meet them and it was truly fantastic. Any artist-craftsman working at that level in any medium deserves respect. I don’t think any bike or car or material or medium has to denigrate others to have merit. We are all made better by the diversity in our passions. Here are some pics and words from the time i visited the Vanilla/Speedvagen shop. http://www.rodeo-labs.com/2014/03/31/speedtouring-a-lunchtime-visit-to-the-vanilla-workship/
I have no deep quarrel with the car/ bike combo presented here, but perhaps your personal view of bicycle choice here Mr Martin is obsquring the appropriate options from Germany to match the vehicle, somthing Stuttgart breed to be ridden at speed like a Vandeyk? – http://www.vandeyk.de
I own one of Sashas bikes and also have broken bread and shared wine and conversation with Dario and his team in his well run shop, there is a reason Dario has build some of the Speedvagens for Sasha, it’s because there is a mutual respect between all passionate and talanted builders from all states or countries much like Petrolicious shine light on many marques regardless of origination.
Thanks! Guanella Pass. Full writeup / photos here: http://monovich.com/blackpearl/?p=660
5.5″. What I would LOVE to see someone do is take a non-black Porsche and paint these wheels to match body color. Imagine an orange Porsche with these wheels painted orange. It could be over the top, but it could look so so cool. Someone do it! http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1237111
What a fantastic car, clearly better with your attention.
Love the wheels, and all the little touches.
I have a ’67 and ’68 912, both in the shop now in re-build stage, the latter being built largely “As it was” coming out of the factory, and the former more “As it might have been”, with a Polo motor and many unique “R” design attributes I am blending with Porsche’s fabulous original design.
Great pics – thanks for sharing.
PS; I’m loving the classic style bike rack on the back as well . Stick a classic ski rack along with it and you’d have my idea of the perfect 912E in a nutshell . Well … except I might spend a couple extra dollars to pull a few more horses out of the little beast . But then again … subscribing to the Stroker McGurk philosophy of ” Too much horsepower is never enough ” as I do .. well …. thats just me ! 🙂
The 912E . By far the most desirable of all the 912’s … and in some ways even more desirable than a 911 of the same era … [ assuming you’re a Porschephile insider that knows the dirty little insiders secret about the 912E … that being it handles much better than its 911 siblings ] …
Truth be known ? I’m envious . I’ve been looking for a good one of these myself for the last three years … thinking now that I may have to settle for a VW Type 2 conversion 912 instead … either that … or spend a bundle stuffing a POLO Porsche flat four into a 912 that’s missing its motor …. hmmmmn ……