Help with 'funny' VIN

[sithot]

oh, I know all about the factory's disclosure rules... ask me how.

Actually it was a German 356 buff who told me that the factory might have screwed up. Ask him how HE knows.

And as far as Porsche screwing up, let's not forget: 928, 914, 924, and for that matter, 996. Aber das ist eine andere Geschichte, oder?

Yes, another story...
Those were marketing screw ups and the 996 isn't all that bad, it's just not as pretty. Too much Japanese influence.

However, I'll bet they know how many they made and the numbers.

Tom

[69Sman]

Paranoia aside, I still don't see how anybody can help without posting the VIN and engine numbers.

Tom's suggestion is a good one. Did you take it?

[911s911rs]

You mean about the mysterious crayon number? I thought it was a joke. Is the VIN really 'under the dash'? If so, where exactly?

As far as posting the actual VIN, I don't see how it would make a difference. I appreciate the help, but my car is worth something to someone (me, at least) and I do not want to be forever saddled with an Albatross. What extra help would it be if I said my VIN was 119302001?

As for Tom's last, okay, I walked into that one.

[69Sman]

Tom's reply is not a joke. Pull the dash! There should be a number hand written in crayon....I believe it is called a PRODUCTION NUMBER, different then the VIN #. (I might be wrong....it MIGHT be the VIN number; however, it IS there nonetheless AND it WILL solve your mystery....NO JOKE!

OK, I get the VIN # paranoia....no need to post...

[911s911rs]

Ah HA! Thanks Tom and Stacy. I just spoke with the 356 Guru and he confimred the existence of this and one other number, neither of which should be the VIN. The second is behind the rear seats on the firewall or on the 'speaker shelf' under the rear window. He said there was a crayon number somewhere near the ashtray, but there would also be a stamped plate similar to the one by the gastank, with this Secret Number.

Does that jibe with what you know Tom?

Thanks again, I will perform said excavation tomorrow and conact Porsche on Monday.

Why, by the way, did Porsche Classic not tell me about these numbers??

[sithot]

The "number" on a 911 is under the dashboard. The one you refer to under the hood near the gas tank is on all cars and will be the chassis number.
This "secret" number does not match any of these. Again, the factory or PCNA will only acknowledge or deny if the number is correct for the serial number of the car you supply. They will not give out the "secret" number.

Here is a picture of such a number:

Tom

[911s911rs]

Thanks for the picture Tom. Please go back and re-read my last. He said their should be a stamp similar to the one by the gas tank. I am very familiar with the three VIN plates...

Do you know anything about this stamp behind the back seat? I will be checking for it today as it sounds easier to get at than the dash.

[nick-moss]

The crayon number on the top of the dash of my 68S is the same as the VIN. The stamped number by the ashtray is a build number, which the factory will not divulge, but will confirm whether the numbers match if you give it to them






Build number on dash (different car)

[neilk]

On my car, the crayon number on the dash differs from the VIN. The number is in the 4500 range and my vin ends in 0796. I think there were roughly 10,000 '73 911s built in MY 1973 so I assume my build number is more affect by the number produced YTD. Does that sound correct?

[nick-moss]

Buyers beware...with "S" models becoming so coveted, there ARE counterfeits out there...for a fact.

It seems odd to fake a car with a number outside the generally accepted range.

I assume Tom's chalk number picture is of his 73S, and the number is obviously different from the VIN, whereas my 68 has the same number as the VIN. I wonder when this changed?