This very Porsche 912 Targa is the reason that Andrew Burns and I met in High School, in the local AutoZone parking lot. Funnily enough, it was just as the car became Irish Green, instead of its factory dirt brown.
March 17, 2021 Car Autance Feature Photo Details
- Car(s): 1969 Porsche 912 Targa
- Location: Newcomb’s Ranch, Angeles Crest Highway, CA
- Photog: Chris Rosales (IG + Twit @Chrishasacamera)
- Camera: Sony A7R II w/ Canon 135mm f/2
I knew Burns from around school, I think. Either way, I saw the bright green Porsche missing the engine grill and looking a little unfinished and I wanted to get some pictures of it. I walked up to Andrew and his dad, introduced myself, asked for pictures, and got six years of friendship (and counting) from one small gesture.
They showed me around the thing, which I didn’t know much about in 2015. I knew that it was a four-cylinder 911. I didn’t know that the VW Type 1 engine was heavily reworked by Porsche, and I think I learned that there was a short and long-wheelbase early-911.
I really did just want some pictures of the cool green Porsche, but it was my earliest experience with cars connecting people. It is the defining experience, in fact. Cars are a vector for being social, making friends, learning about yourself and your tendencies, and learning about others and their tastes. Because of that little green Porsche, I’ve lived a lifetime of experiences, and have many more to come.
Now, six years later, it early-2021, the 912 is still around running strong and coming up with us to breakfast club on ACH. Well, it was running strong a month ago.
It recently blew its engine, and the process begins anew. Maybe St. Patrick’s Day will give the new rebuild some good luck for years to come.
As big as we could get it:
Irish Green is one of several green hues Porsche’s offered over the years. Rennbow, a Porsche color wiki (yeah that’s a thing that exists) says you might have found this paint stock on a 356, 911, 912, 912 E, or a 914. That site’s editors added: “Irish Green, a medium non-metallic green, is a color whose charms start with its name and go from there. It’s delightful on any car. There’s a reason why Porsche chose it as the color for the one millionth 911.”
