Hi,

I was recommended on the Pelican forum to post here too. I was hoping someone could help me solve my VIN# mystery. I've just bought a 911 S Targa, believed to be a 1971 model year.

The sad thing is that the car earlier in it's life got a new VIN# in Germany, beginning with "TP" which mean "Techniche Prüfstelle". In english I guess it mean "technical testing facility". Besides the TP number, that is listed in the registration documents, I have two different numbers on the VIN# plate above the gas tank.

The old VIN# is semi-visible, and it is for a 1971 S Targa, and the car has S badging, S tacho, S oil system, but an E motor. Can't find the paint plate in door pillar either.

The really strange part is that the production number (located near the ash tray) is 0130003, and that is exactly what is stamped just above the "original" VIN#. The 0130003 stamped has the original Porsche font, with the star before and after. I am absolutely sure, I have looked at hundreds of Porsche VIN# and this is absolutely the way Porsche stamped the VIN#. Unfortunately I can't get it to show on a picture, since it has been painted.

The production number feels strange, the other ones I've seen starts with the number 1, but I am no expert on that.

There has been no welding anywhere near the VIN# plate (above the gas tank) or near the production number. The car has the same color everywhere, underneath the usual Guards Red overspray. The car can't have been welded together from two different cars, I would have seen that.

Anyone that please could help me to understand what has happened to the car? My main questions are:

1. Why would Porsche re-stamp the VIN#?
2. Can I find the original 911131XXXX VIN# somewhere else?
3. Why should TP in Germany dedicate it a new VIN#? Maybe someone from Germany can answer....
4. How can I prove it really is a 911 S Targa?

All this happened to the car before 1985.

Just to clarify; I haven't been fooled, I was aware of the history and paid for a car with these problems.

All ideas of opinions would be very appreciated!



Thanks,

Johan
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