There was a time — not that long ago, actually — when most people turned their nose up at a 912. Who would want a power-handicapped 911? And yet, here we are in 2022, with (admittedly) an exciting, dusty, one-owner garage find from California with its black plates. Asking price? $50,000. Yes, you read that right. Check for yourself here on craigslist — 50 big ones. You’d think the seller could have omitted the main shot with boxes piled on the car before posting his ad! It has so much going for it though, that when I first laid eyes on the photos, I briefly flirted with justifying the price. Despite having languished as an ersatz shelving unit, that cover reveals the undeniable lines ‘Butzi’ Porsche penned, in factory Tangerine Orange livery, with pretty much everything in place, just 30,000 miles claimed on the odometer, and in a condition you could only get in a place like California. Thanks to TJ for the tip.

Take a look at that dash — it doesn’t appear to have even a hairline crack. The seats are pretty good considering they’ve hosted backsides for 54 years. Door cards are nearly perfect. All the dials and knobs are in place, including volume and tuning on that period-correct radio. Love the Coco mats, too, though the driver’s side is missing. Being the fussy buyer I am, if I was crawling around the interior, I’d yank off the clutch and brake pedal pads to have a closer look. Pelican Parts offers period-correct reproductions and these look VERY new to me. Almost too new. Confirming this would simply tell me if some of what I was looking at more broadly around the car was monkeyed with, forcing a more critical eye. I would rather see cracked and brittle rubber (or even bare) pedals on an “all original” car than new pads as evidence of claimed mileage.

Behind the rear axle is the tried-and-true 1.6L four-cylinder boxer engine, a carryover from the last of the 356s. These powerplants were detuned to make about 102HP. If you look carefully, there is the slightest hint of overspray on the bottom latch. Other pictures seem to confirm that the rear hatch was resprayed at some point. It also appears that the generator tower was recently replaced. It looks sparkling and new. Nothing wrong with that, but these are the kinds of details I would want the seller to confirm and back up with receipts. If this car has only traveled 30,000 miles and was garaged for 40+ years, that means it was on the road for 12 years. There should be at least a small collection of receipts to confirm mileage. The car does come with its manuals and original steering wheel, which is a bonus.

A last quick observation, upfront, in the trunk. I’m seeing some good things and something that makes my Spidey senses tingle. The battery box area looks decent, which would match expectations. The Pirelli Cintaurato spare is no doubt original and a cool inclusion. But, have a look at the rain gutters. I’m seeing a lot of pine needles and debris, which should not be there for a car that’s been garage-kept for 40 years. Again, to me, that’s a telltale sign that a potential buyer should be extra hawk-eyed to ensure $50,000 is spent wisely.