- Currently available for purchase on Bring a Trailer is not only a Porsche 912, but also the story of the man who cherished the vehicle.
- It was purchased by George Vaccaro in 1967 as a means of traveling around Europe on a budget. His feelings for the 912 became deeply ingrained in him, and he and his wife decided to ship it back to the United States, where it was given the nickname "the Gray Fox" and served as a daily driver for decades.
- On Thursday, October 28, the auction will conclude, and bidding has already surpassed $80,000 as of October 24. In April of this year, Vaccaro passed away at the age of 80, and his family is hoping to find a buyer who will be willing to keep this vehicle alive in the same manner that he did all those years.
There aren't many 1967 Porsche 912 coupes still on the road, and none of them have the kind of backstory that auction lot #58316, which is currently available on Bring a Trailer, has. As this beautifully produced video accompanying the auction listing explains, this is the story of a man who loved his car so much that he couldn't bear to part with it more than 50 years ago.
Rather than renting a car while on a 10-country European vacation in 1967, George Vaccaro decided to purchase a new Porsche—which cost $4515 with options at the time—and drive it across the continent. The plan was for him and his wife to sell the car at the end of the trip for a price that would allow them to make a profit on the transaction. However, after seeing and experiencing everything that the Porsche 912 had to offer, the plan was changed, and the Porsche ended up in the United States, where it served as a daily driver for many years.
Why Vaccaro and his wife were so taken with this 912, which earned the nickname "the Gray Fox," is simple to comprehend. The 1.6-liter flat-four engine and four-speed manual transmission in this car, which was painted Slate Gray and had a black vinyl interior, were the perfect combination for enjoyable driving more than 50 years ago. With such meticulous care given to this 912, it continues to provide a thrilling enthusiast experience today.
You could be the next owner of this vehicle if you have the financial means and, one hopes, the ability to maintain this piece of automotive history in the same manner as Vaccaro did. With four days remaining in the auction, the current highest bid is just under $83,000. The car's "importation correspondence, service records, black California license plates, a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, magazines in which it was featured, trophies, a tool roll, manufacturer's literature, and a clean California title" are included in the price, according to BaT.
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The reason for the sale of this 912 is that Vaccaro, who was 80 at the time of the sale, passed away earlier this year. This car holds a special place in the hearts of his twin daughters as well, but they want someone who is passionate about automobiles to become the second owner, someone who will not only enjoy the drive but who will also be able to care for — and enjoy — the 912 in the same way their father did. Because he took pleasure in it. The mechanical odometer displays 89,000 miles on it, but it appears to have rolled over at least once.
As the trophies and media coverage included in the auction indicate, this 912 has been attracting attention for quite some time now. A two-year-old engine-out overhaul was completed by BTM Motorwerks in Campbell, California, with the assistance of the car's original owner. Recent work has included the replacement of the tires and hood struts, as well as the repair of the upholstery. In addition to an analog clock, there are four leather-wrapped spokes on the steering wheel. In addition, the car is equipped with 15-inch wheels with Porsche dog-dish hubcaps, a heater, and a cassette stereo from Panasonic (apparently installed in 1974 after the original radio was stolen). Because of the exterior restoration, according to BaT commenters who have seen the Gray Fox in person at events or while driving, this Porsche 912 coupe is one of the most beautiful examples you're likely to come across these days.