Survivor Porsche 912 Finally Washed After 46 Years, Forgotten Flat-Four Lives Again

It sounds unbelievable that a vintage Porsche could sit untouched for decades, but neglected classics are more common than you might think. This mid-’60s Porsche 912 is a perfect example — quietly tucked away since 1979 and only now getting the attention it always deserved.

The car recently appeared on Jonny Smith’s YouTube series The Late Brake Show. Jonny had known of its existence for years and tried several times to give it a first wash and attempt a “will it run?” session, but the previous owner wouldn’t allow it. Odd as that may seem, his reason was surprisingly thoughtful.

The man who unearthed the 912 is Matt — the same person who pulled it from long-term storage. His discovery story is pure chance. In 2009, after returning from a fire department call, he sat down to enjoy a McFlurry while admiring a neglected Porsche 924 GT parked outside a house. The car clearly hadn’t moved in ages.

Moments later, the owner walked out and quickly pointed out that the 924 wasn’t for sale. But she casually mentioned her husband owned another Porsche that might be. Intrigued, Matt went back later that day to speak with him — and learned about the 912.

At that point, the sports car had already been sitting for 30 years, and the owner hoped to restore it one day with his son. Matt never got to see the car and left empty-handed. But two years later, the same woman showed up at his door: the Porsche was now available. The son had no interest in the project, and the father didn’t want to take it on alone. Matt, who had long been searching for a short-wheelbase, five-speed 912, immediately agreed to buy it — sight unseen.

When he finally opened the storage unit, he discovered a Burgundy Red coupe — dusty, tired, but remarkably original, right down to its drivetrain. Fourteen years later, Jonny Smith found it still wearing its “barn find” patina.

Matt explained that he never touched the car, not even to clean it. He didn’t want to turn it into a project until he was fully committed to restoring it. “Once I wash it, it’s no longer a barn find,” he told Jonny — just minutes before the Porsche received its first bath in over four decades. By that time, however, the car had already changed hands.

Life had shifted, Matt admitted. A move, a house, family priorities — the restoration dream just never fit back into the picture. Eventually, he sold the 912 to a passionate Porsche enthusiast who was ready to take the next step.

Now stored alongside other 1960s Porsches, the 912’s comeback has finally begun. Jonny handled the long-overdue wash, while Matt and the new owner worked to free up the long-silent flat-four. It didn’t fire during filming — but a few weeks later, it roared to life, and Jonny received the video proof. The new owner even managed a brief drive, a moment any enthusiast would find heart-warming.

Is this car worth a full restoration? Absolutely. While the 912 will never eclipse the 911 in popularity, this example is genuinely rare: a factory right-hand-drive model delivered through Porsche’s very first UK dealership. Exact production numbers remain uncertain, but experts agree that only a small number of RHD units were built — and even fewer survive unrestored and largely intact. This one is a genuine time capsule.

Porsche produced the original 912 between 1965 and 1969, building just over 25,000 cars. Positioned as a more affordable sibling to the 911, it came as a coupe or Targa and used a 1.6-liter air-cooled flat-four derived from the later 356, producing 90 horsepower and pushing the car to 119 mph (192 km/h). The badge briefly returned to the U.S. in 1975–76 as the 912E.