New 356 owner

zedsn · 10-02-2012, 05:22 PM

I am a porsche 944 turbo guy that just purchased my first 356 hardtop that hasn't run in over 10 years that has a 1965 on the title and the engine comes out as a 1965 but both vin numbers which are identical and are believed to be original to the car date the car to 1963 and a B model. Any insight would be appriciated.

id10t · 10-03-2012, 04:48 AM

What is the chassis number? You can plug it into the finder at Porsche serial numbers start page and it will tell you the model, year, appropriate engine, etc.

c911s · 10-03-2012, 07:03 AM

if it has disc brakes it is a 64/65 C, if drum brakes it is a B.

zedsn · 10-03-2012, 07:43 AM

Both vins are the same and are the same on the title but they come out to be 1963 model year numbers but the title says 1965 356C. The vin plate under the hood says a B series and I am wondering if there is a 1965 motor and disc brake setup put into a 1963 series B and a title typo. The title has not been transfered for a long time.

id10t · 10-03-2012, 09:36 AM

The very first model year Cs came in in late '63, so it could be a '63 car that didn't get sold, etc. until after the '65s were out... post the chassis number, that will be the deciding factor. Other parts could've been changed over the years. Of course, if you got a Kardex, you would know the original engine and trans number... but I don't think the real build sheets are available any more...

Etarga · 10-03-2012, 01:12 PM

Does it have a bracket around the ash tray? And does the glove box door have a chrome unlock button with a key lock in it in the middle?

If the car vin is a 63 and the engine comes up as a 65 there is no way it is the original engine to the car.

zedsn · 10-03-2012, 03:14 PM

Hi, thanks for the help. The chrome ashtray has a chrome mounting bracket and below that is a white metal piece that surrounds the ash tray that has a knob on either side of the ashtray. The white glove box has a handle pull built into it up top middle and a lock on the far right side where a key would go.

racer · 10-03-2012, 05:33 PM

Why do we not think its a clerical error on the title?

zedsn · 10-04-2012, 06:16 AM

My 65 has a C dash and appears to be original with original paint. Any chance the factory could have a B left over with a B vin plate and put in a 65 motor, transaxle, c dash and title it as a 65 C? I am confused here. Has anyone ran across this before?

Etarga · 10:35 AM

Highly unlikely. Looks like what you have is an early C with a later C engine. It would be a helluva job removing a B dash and installing a C. The factory has nothing to do with titleing a car, that is your local DMV.

Post some pics, it would help tremendously.

BTW when you refer to 'both VINs' do you mean the one in the front trunk and the one in the door jamb on the plate?

zedsn · 10-06-2012, 12:56 AM

Yes when I say vins I mean the drivers door pillar and under the hood. They are both the same numbers.

Etarga · 10-08-2012, 07:36 PM

pics, pics, pics.

donporfi · 10-08-2012, 09:05 PM

Is it a hardtop or a coupe ? I think that there are no hardtops in 63-65.
Production of Cs started in july 63.
There is a third vin number under the hood you will find a plate with the vin, close to it on the drivers side the same number is stamped , these numbers should match.
The typo in the title could be 1965 instead of 1963.

Unobtanium-inc · 10-11-2012, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer

Why do we not think its a clerical error on the title?

I second this. We see all kinds of title screw ups. It's very common to have the wrong year, or have a title indicate the engine number instead of the chassis number as the "VIN."

Lift the hood, find the stamp that is impressed directly onto the chassis steel. That's your car. It doesn't matter whether it has disc brakes, a glow-in-the-dark ashtray, and air conditioning, that stamping is what you've got.

-- Matt