The story of Porsche's seminal 912 model has been well and often told, but the unique life of this particular 1969 912 is documented in several books that you've likely never seen or even heard of.The late Michael Newlon drove his Porsche 912 all over the western United States, and wrote (and published) books to share his adventures.
On the surface Michael Newlon was an average American guy. He was born of a normal family, grew up, went to school and college (co-incidentally graduating from the same university as this writer), got a job as a business consultant, bought a cool sports car, served in the military and reserves, and married, retiring with his wife in 2005.
His '69 912 was configured like many others; Mr. Newlon bought the car new, and ran it as every day transport for the first several years of its life. It was originally painted Light Ivory 6804-131, a standard 'soft white' 912 colour. He described its specification thus: 'It has a very nice monaural Blaupunkt AM/FM/SW radio. Its only factory option was tinted glass all around – pretty basic, even for 1969. Long after delivery, I discovered the car had actually been assembled using a Karmann-built 911 chassis, complete with dual battery boxes, factory 911 suspension fittings and wiring harnesses.'
He drove, used, and enjoyed it, particularly for long solo journeys on some of the more storied American highways: US Route 95, State Route 99, California State Highway 101, California 395 and others. Picturesque roads leading to and through historic places, with a variety of natural and manmade wonders to be enjoyed along the way. Michael Newlon photographed and memorialised his adventures, writing and having published (through self-publishing house Outskirts Press) books about four of those trips, one of them covering the more than 1500 miles he travelled.
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Bu hikaye Classic Porsche dergisinin Issue No: 42 sayısından alınmıştır.
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From R To S And Back
No sooner had it left Baurʼs workshop in April ʼ68 than this 911R was back at the factory, this time at the race department, being softened up in S-spec as a one-off road car. Luckily for us – and for race ace Gérard Larrousse on the 1969 Ronde Cévenole – its next owner swiftly had it returned to full R-spec back at the factory.
Natural Selection
Driven by a 17-year determination to break records at his local track, Jack Olsenʼs RSR-inspired 911 shows the simplicity of the early cars can still set the pace some 45 years down the road.
Robert Barrie
A Visit to Retromobile , Followed by Some Thoughts on the New Race Season – and Then It’s Time to Consider the Minutiae of Slam-panel Decals on Early 911s…
A Matter Of Taste
It's all in the detail. Andy Boyle's tasteful take on an outlaw 356C coupé brings together the best of ideas to create a classic Porsche that would have done the factory engineers proud.
Road Warrior
The story of Porsche's seminal 912 model has been well and often told, but the unique life of this particular 1969 912 is documented in several books that you've likely never seen or even heard of.The late Michael Newlon drove his Porsche 912 all over the western United States, and wrote (and published) books to share his adventures.
