1965 911, When did it arrive in the US?

[redbug2]

Hello,

I have a 65 911, SN 30318. The previous owner said it was one of the first 25 imported into the US. Is there any way to confirm that the car was one of the early shipments to the US?

Also, how many 65 911's were produced for the 1965 model year?

Thanks.

redbug2

[Bobs 67S]

Hello redbug2,

Welcome to this board.

Your serial number appears to be a digit short. I think it's six digits long.

1965 cars made:
The 1964 cars were a total of 232. Production went from 300235 to 302104 on July 30 1965. The 1966 Model year started with car 302114 on August 16, 1965.

Both authors Tobias Aichele "Porsche Forever Young" and Jugen Lewandowski "Porsche 901" give the same end and start numbers on the 1965/1966 model year. Cars were built out of sequence - they were not finished in any numbered order. So, maybe about 2000 model 1965 cars were made (give or take).

Their order of entry into the USA would have to come from Porsche museum files.

[redbug2]

Bobs 67S,

Thanks for the information, yes, I did leave out a number. It is 303018. Title says 1965.

I keep coming back to this site http://www.911specs.com/VIN60s911.htm that seems to show that mine is a 1965? I guess 911 specs has it wrong... But then again, if mine was out of sequence its possible that it was finished in 1965?

Found a pdf on google after searching "porsche serial number 911".


Porsche Club Europe Rules
Chassis Numbers and Vehicle ID Numbers for Porsche Vehicles from
Model Year 1964 (Start of 911 Series)


300 233 ... 303 390 911 Coupé Model year 1965, Porsche bodywork
303 391 ... 305 100 911 Coupé Model year 1966, Porsche bodywork

Regards,

Redbug2

[Bobs 67S]

Redbug2,
have a look at this information:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...6-911-a-9.html
Posts #179
And:
http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...65-66-model-yr
On page 26 - posts #255, 256 and 257.

It is the most complete listing of when cars were made. The information comes from the car owners and factory documents and thru the history of each car. (You would have to spend days/weeks in the factory archives to get the same or better info.)

Your car is from late November/early December 1965. It's a 1966 Model year car. It looks like your paint code will be the best indicator as to the year. If it has a 1962, or 1964 paint code it was a special order paint color not offered in 1966.


All information prior to 2007 (and is still published today) is based on the "Year of Manufacture" - vs - "Model year" and compounded by the introduction of the new model line 911 being made in 1964-1965 but officially - not being imported into the USA until 1966. The US and all 50 States DOT did not recognize the 911 prior to 1966 (The only 1965 Porsche recognized to obtain a US registration/license in those years was the 4 cylinder, 356 model).

Also look at Kenik's site: http://kenik.com/901_info.aspx

The amount of conversation on this topic is because the information has been muddled since 1965/1966 and the old info keeps coming forward from book/sources from the 1970's-1980's-1990's - anything prior to the info on the two sites above. I doubt it will ever be sorted out because books are still being sold and will be published with incorrect information, and it is impossible to put that genie back into the bottle.

OH. You have to see Dave Patemans spectacular study on engine numbers from these cars (no one has assembled this amount or has as accurate information ever been published- not even the factory - for the type sequence and build order for our engines):

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...Engine-Build-s

Lets see a photo of your car.

[redbug2]

Bob67s,

Thanks so much for the information. I'll have to spend some time and digest it.

Here's a picture of the car pre-transmission removal... I've got the engine/transmission out now and have replaced the 4-5 slider. I'm in the middle of Oil tank repair and then the engine is going back in. It needs some new paint, old paint is cracking. I've had it since 87 and probably put about 1000 miles on it... Screwed up my rebuilt transmission 10 years ago and let it sit in the garage, but that is fixed now. Hope to have it back on the road soon.

[davep]

This car was probably completed during the last week of Nov 1965 as a 1966 model. I'd sure like to get the paint code plus the engine & transmission numbers for my database. Is the interior black leatherette? I thank Bob for his kind words on my engine # study.

It is difficult to answer your question. Judging by the number of early 911's currently in the USA I find it difficult to believe that the majority were not officially imported for the dealer network. Based on that I'd guess the cars began to arrive very early in 1965. That yours would be in the first 25 I find very hard to believe.
Dave

[Frank Barrett]

Friends:

A significant number of early 911s and 912s were delivered at the factory to Americans (with the cars in U.S. spec) via the European Delivery program, then shipped to U.S. dealers. The new owners saved money on the purchase price and used the cars for European travels, etc. before taking them back to Porsche for shipment. So it's tough to say exactly when these cars "came to the U.S." For instance, my '65 912 was delivered to an American serviceman at Porsche in Stuttgart in August of that year, but I can't find out when it arrived in the U.S.

Frank

[redbug2]

davep,

Interior is black with a white headliner. I'll get the paint codes and engine number tonight. I know my transmission is not original so I won't bother with those numbers.

I know the past owner was not the original owner. Maybe owner number 2 was sold a bill of goods? Owner 2 made a big deal about it, the license plate read something like 25911 or 91125, can't remember exactly.

Were the front fender mirrors factory? Or, were they a Porsche option?

It also came with a gasoline heater and the SW radio.

Thanks,

Redbug2

[davep]

I keep coming back to this site http://www.911specs.com/VIN60s911.htm that seems to show that mine is a 1965? I guess 911 specs has it wrong.

So wrong that the site is silly. There was 1964 calendar year of 1965 model year. They have combined 1965 & 1966 model years. 1966 is actually 1967, and the rest are one year out as well.
Please get the transmission # if you can, that would help another study I'm researching.
When looking for the engine #, also get the build # next to the type # as shown here:

[redbug2]

davep,

Original Transmission is gone.... Swapped it out with AASE brothers in 87 before I knew that it might be important. Probably in someone elses 911 right now...

Here are the images, long number on engine is 903134: