The once lowly and totally disrespected Porsche 912 ( this should sound familiar to any of you long term 356 guys???) is finally getting some of the attention it deserves.....the slightly de-tuned SC motor, in a sleek new body (what's THAT??? you can unbolt, the FENDERS ???) mated to a 4 or 5 speed gearbox, rack and pinion steering....etc etc.
I have had lot's of both, and I have always felt the356 and 912 are family... much more so then the 911's - Turbos etc etc. The 912 has been consistently shunned by that crowd (Rgruppe,etc)...
There is a '912 Registry' group, small but dedicated, that has traveled the same path that the early 356 Registry did.
Why not invite them to join in our events, shows etc....just to test the waters, to see how well the two groups can get along. I predict that it would go swimmingly....after all, the Motor, is the true heart of the beast......and they both share the same 'heart'.
Any fair-minded 356'er, that looks at an early (1965) 912, and sees a painted dash, and 3 gauges.....has to at least consider...356D !!!!!!

I'm just sayin'...........

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Member # 1809 , June 1978
'60 Cab-'60 Rdstr-Envimo S:90
'60 Rdstr-'64 C Cpe-'62 Cab
Envimo S:90-'63 Cpe-'62 Cpe
above…all Sold and long gone….
current Garage Pals…
IM Roadster D
1960 T-5 Coupe (52nd one built)
1968 912 Coupe

I've often felt that the painted dash 912 is the closest connection to a 356 that can be had. My brother Matt and I have been trading this one back and forth for years now. I'm hoping he gives it up to me again, this time I'm keeping it! It's a very cool car, one family owned, very original, all matching numbers complete with toolkit and warranty cards in the glove.

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I always need stories for my Barn Find column in the magazine, if you have a good story to share, please let me know.

Light ivory over Red......SWEEEEEEET !!!!!!
A real 'keeper'.

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Member # 1809 , June 1978
'60 Cab-'60 Rdstr-Envimo S:90
'60 Rdstr-'64 C Cpe-'62 Cab
Envimo S:90-'63 Cpe-'62 Cpe
above…all Sold and long gone….
current Garage Pals…
IM Roadster D
1960 T-5 Coupe (52nd one built)
1968 912 Coupe

I have both 356s and a 67 912. Totally different cars in the way they drive and feel. The only thing they share in common is the engine. My suggestion is to have at least one of both.

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Here's a thought: Let's start a 616 Registry to cover both cars!
I already have a 356 and a 912, am active in both Forums.
Well, at least the idea of a joint meet might be kinda cool. In my area of the country, there aren't too many of either. We are swarmed with post-modern (1998+) Porsches...
Jus' Sayin'...

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Great minds must think alike. Here's the '65 912 I picked up 3 weeks ago.

And a sunroof, no less!
And other than me, the cost of ownership attracts the younger crowd ... At last weekend's Pelican Parts show I talked with 3 912 owners in their 30s.

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Greg Bryan
356Talk Moderator

Getting 912 owners involved with 356s sounds like a great way to get a somewhat younger audience interested in the Registry and these cars in general. There must be some way to include them. A joint event or two could go a long way.

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Emil Wojcik
'64C Euro coupe

Yeah, there are always the doom and gloom guys who say the younger people don't want 356's, I always disagree, they want them it's just many can't afford them, yet. Hence why many have 912's.

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I always need stories for my Barn Find column in the magazine, if you have a good story to share, please let me know.

If memory serves me, 912's are welcome at the annual 356 swap met in Anaheim the day after the L.A. lit meet every March. I know I have seen several both being displayed or for sale--sometimes both.

Greg

This is the 356 Registry, not the 912 or any other type of car registry. I have no problem with 912s, in fact, I love them, but they are not a 356 and have their own Registry.
356D? Give me a break! A 912 is a great car in it's own right, don't label is something it isn't.
Just for your info, the RGruppe does have members with 912s and 356s. The RGruppe is more about "Sports Purpose" than focusing on a specific type of Porsche.
The 356 Registry is about a certain model and should stay focused on 356s. That is not dissing any other car or being elitest .

Regards

Jim
Charter Member, 356 Curmudgeons
356 Registry #825
RGruppe # 038
And a bunch of other Porsche Related groups.

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I agree with Adam. My 50 year old son wanted one in the worst way. Now he drives mine (He owns a 2004 Porsche Boxtser S 550 Spyder limited edition also).

Do we let 550 guys in?

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Current:
2012 Silver 991
1995 Midnight blue 993
1965 Red 356C

Past:
Fond memories of 14 others (including a '63 Normal and a 61 S90)

Jim brings up good points, the main one being that there is a 912 Registry already which I think is currently struggling to keep up the effort of running a nation-wide club, producing a magazine and running a web-site. Kudos to the volunteers that are persevering.
In the California, at least, the two clubs cooperate in organizing events and there are usually a good representation of both 356, and 912s (and early 911s) at most of the events.

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Greg Bryan
356Talk Moderator

I don't think it has anything to do with this being 'the 356 Registry' and 'they have their own Registry'. That's a given and I don't see any reason for that to change.

But any cross-pollination between the two groups can only be a benefit to both. Right now, many 912 enthusiasts are also interested in 356s. History says that won't always be the case. As these cars age, so do we. Like it or not, eventually the 356 will fall out of favor and be replaced by whatever model the newer generation remembers from their youth. More and more will remember growing up with 912s and 911s. Then, eventually, later iterations of the 911 and who knows what after that.

The more these groups can be linked together, the longer the inevitable can be postponed. Separate registries, yes. But the less segregation between models, the better for the longevity of the earliest models.

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Emil Wojcik
'64C Euro coupe

Upon reading my post, one will find that I did not imply that the two Registries should merge into one, but that we "invite them to join in our events, shows etc..."
As Emil appropriately points out, the two groups are natural allies and combining events could potentially double the field to 'interested parties", that would not in any way demean either model, but could increase the level of....what's the word I want....FUN !!!!!
I recall that in the past, there was some bad blood between the '12's and the 'tub's'.....I hope that is faded away by now. I had no intent to 'dis' the 'R' folks....they do go a different way with the Marque....speaking of 'different', the Pre-A is different then a C, and a C is different then a 912, but really, they're ALL 4 cyl. air cooled evolutions of that 'People's Car', the good Dr. designed in the 1930's.....
Let's celebrate our similarities, not focus on our differences.
:-]

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Member # 1809 , June 1978
'60 Cab-'60 Rdstr-Envimo S:90
'60 Rdstr-'64 C Cpe-'62 Cab
Envimo S:90-'63 Cpe-'62 Cpe
above…all Sold and long gone….
current Garage Pals…
IM Roadster D
1960 T-5 Coupe (52nd one built)
1968 912 Coupe

We’ve been taking the 912 engines and putting in our tubs from the very beginng of 912’s life. Could be a little bad blood. 912 901 transaxle in a 356 with independent suspension. Now the 912 is on the rise their engines will be more difficult to obtain.
Rusty

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Rusty