This 912 looks like it just came out of a time tunnel that brought it straight from the early 1980s to us — we wouldn’t have been surprised to see it on the set of Stranger Things.

The seller says it was modified — indeed — in the 1980s, but since then the engine has been removed (it’s no longer present) and the transmission too, even though the latter comes with the car. The instrument cluster remains original, but the seats do not; there are quite a few makeshift parts. The good news is that it has a factory sunroof — and while that may not count for much in its current condition, it’s a rare and highly appreciated option among purists, who, of course, will hate what’s been done to this car.

Still, we don’t believe there’s a right or wrong approach — often, it’s just a matter of perspective. We like originality, but at the same time we’re fascinated by the scars a car carries with it, or by the legacy of a former owner’s dreams — someone who used this car to fulfill a desire that might otherwise have been unreachable: owning an RSR, even if just in spirit. In any case, if you’re interested, find it for sale at $13,000 here in Foresthill, CA.