Porsche 912 Production NumbersYear-by-year figures, Coupe vs. Targa, 912E and source notes

Most Porsche 912 production tables use annual figures, but not all sources count the same thing. Some refer to production, others to sales or deliveries. For that reason, the table below should be read as a source-reconciled overview rather than a factory ledger.

The 1969 model year needs special care. It was the only long-wheelbase year for the original 912 and is often discussed separately from the 1965-1968 short-wheelbase cars. Before using any single 1969 number, check whether the source counts Coupes, Targas, sales, deliveries or VIN ranges.

One detail is worth pointing out directly: these commonly cited annual figures add up to more than Porsche's official total. The 1965-1968 short-wheelbase years alone sum to roughly 30,800 cars — already close to the around 30,745 Porsche cites for the entire 1965-1969 run. Adding a 1969 figure on top overshoots that total. This is not an error in any single source; it is exactly why annual sales or delivery figures cannot simply be added together into a factory production total.

Public Porsche 912 production numbers differ because they do not always count the same thing.

Production vs. sales vs. deliveries: A car built in one period may be sold or delivered in another. Some sources use production language, while the underlying figure may actually describe sales or deliveries.

Calendar year vs. model year: Porsche model years do not always line up perfectly with calendar years. A car associated with the 1967 model year may have been produced or delivered in a different calendar window.

Coupe vs. Targa: Body-style totals can produce a different view of the market than year-by-year totals. This is especially relevant for Targa cars, because Targa production began late and includes both Soft Window and fixed-glass versions.

VIN ranges vs. completed cars: Chassis number ranges are useful, but they are not always the same as exact completed production. Numbers can be reserved, skipped, assigned differently or interpreted through later records.

912 vs. 912E: Some summaries combine the original 1965-1969 912 with the 1976 912E. Others keep the 912E separate because it was a US-market, G-series car with a different engine and market context.

The best way to read Porsche 912 production numbers is simple: always ask what the number counts.

The Porsche 912 was sold as a closed Coupe and, from the late 1960s, as a Targa. Commonly cited body-style figures list roughly 27,738 Coupes and 2,562 Targas for the original 912 production run, though these figures should still be read with the same caution as annual production totals.

The Targa is far rarer than the Coupe. Within the Targa family, the Soft Window Targa is especially sought after because it represents the earliest open 912 configuration. Exact public Soft Window production numbers are difficult to verify, because many sources combine Soft Window and fixed-glass Targa production.

For collectors, that matters. A genuine, well-documented 912 Targa is not just an open 912. It is a materially smaller production subset, and condition, originality and documentation become even more important.

The original Porsche 912 production run splits neatly into two chassis eras. From 1965 to 1968, the 912 used the early short-wheelbase chassis. These SWB cars are the purest expression of the model: light, simple and visually close to the earliest 911 shape.

In 1969, Porsche moved the 912 to the long-wheelbase chassis. The LWB improved stability and gave the final original 912 a different driving character. Because the 1969 912 was produced for one model year only, it is one of the most interesting variants for buyers who care about rarity but still want a usable driver's car.

Porsche built 2,099 examples of the 912E for the US market in 1976. The 912E should be counted separately from the original 1965-1969 Porsche 912.

The 912E used the G-series body and a different four-cylinder engine related to the VW-Porsche 914. It was created as a short-lived bridge model for the US market, not as a direct continuation of the early 912 line. That makes it rare, but also different: a 912E buyer is comparing a different car from a 1965 SWB Coupe or a 1967 Soft Window Targa.

Production numbers tell you how many cars were built or recorded in a certain way. A VIN or chassis number helps you understand a specific car.

• Is the car from the claimed model year?
• Does the body style fit the documentation?
• Is it likely to be an SWB or LWB car?
• Does the car deserve a closer originality check?

VIN ranges are not a perfect substitute for production totals, but they are essential when evaluating an individual car.

Historical production numbers explain rarity. They do not explain today's market. That is where Drive Patina adds a second layer: current visible supply.

A model year may have been produced in reasonable numbers but appear rarely on the open market. A body style may look statistically available but be difficult to find in original condition. And a rare variant is not automatically valuable unless condition, documentation and buyer demand support it.

Drive Patina tracks active Porsche 912 listings worldwide across specialist platforms, auctions and classified marketplaces. Use production numbers as historical context, then compare them with today's live listings, asking prices and market distribution.

This page uses a conservative source-reconciliation approach. Porsche's own public article is treated as the primary source for the broad 1965-1969 and 912E totals. Enthusiast-register and marketplace sources are useful for year and body-style context, but their figures can describe sales, deliveries or commonly cited production summaries rather than a single factory ledger.

• Porsche.com: What is the Porsche 912?
• Porsche Newsroom: Porsche 912 E
• 912 Group Urzwoelfer: Modellgeschichte
• Oldtimerfarm: Porsche 912 model-history notes