VIN Confusion

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

I stumbled upon an '86 911 Turbo on ebay that is being sold by a dealer. The listed VIN is a 14 digit number from a tag from Quebec. I keep asking for the 17 digit number, stamped in various places, but they send me pics of the tag and the valid Tennessee title which has the same VIN on it and labels the car a 930.

Does Canada do something strange with VIN numbers that I am not aware of? My honest opinion is that this car is a wide body conversion with a turbo drivetrain, but I can't tell for sure.

I live in Florida and am sure this car would be tough to title here.

Experts please chime in.

isby · isby's Garage

My '84 Carrera 3.2L is a Canada-spec car ... KM on the speedo and everything. All I can tell you is that it has a 17 digit VIN.

ian c2 · 10-28-2021, 05:43 PM

Could be a car that had no provable factory identification (17 digit “worldwide” vin), so was provided with a state issued “tag” for registration purposes .
California does/used to do a similar thing .

Mixed76 · 10-28-2021, 07:32 PM

If I was paying the money being asked for an 86 turbo I'd go to Quebec and see for myself. Or have a third party inspector get you the information.

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rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

post the VIN they gave you..

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Could be a theft recovery and the Canucks re-issued a VIN not in compliance.

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

The Vin on the Quebec tag is 40209860728006. The car is in NY with a TN title. The dealer told me that if I was a Porsche "purist", this may not be the car for me.

I think it is a conversion with a turbo drivetrain.

DaytonaCoupe66 · 10-29-2021, 02:59 AM

Odd; maybe the bones of the car/donor predate the 17 digit regulation, and via updates and title changes it's been rebranded a 1986. I think the 17 digit became an item in the late 70's? All automobile vins in Canada are 17 digits, even rebranded and kit cars being assigned a vin for the first time.

group911@aol.co · 10-29-2021, 05:24 AM

You should follow his advice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfdwn

The Vin on the Quebec tag is 40209860728006. The car is in NY with a TN title. The dealer told me that if I was a Porsche "purist", this may not be the car for me.

I think it is a conversion with a turbo drivetrain.

Matt Monson · 10-29-2021, 05:29 AM

It’s an early car, that’s been converted. Not born as a cab or a turbo. Likely a theft recovery or crash victim rebuilt from salvage. They are very good at not posting many very revealing photos but there’s some evidence if you look closely.

djpateman · 10-29-2021, 10:20 AM

That would be a government issued VIN replacement. Never seen one from Quebec before, but I guess that every jurisdiction has the opportunity to issue something similar.
Certainly nothing at all like a Porsche VIN, so that really makes it a parts car and valued appropriately.

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

What are the subtle clues that show this car to be an early one? I have had a lot of 911's, but could not pick up anything from the pics, except what appeared to be a wide body conversion.

I was not planning on going after this car, but it makes me angry when I see one misrepresented. Some poor person will buy this car thinking it is "the real deal".

Matt Monson · 10-31-2021, 05:14 AM

The A-arm cap changed to this design in 1974.

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

What year range do you think the car is?

vinceSPEC · 10-31-2021, 08:19 AM

Any idea where in NY the car is located? I’d be willing to go see it and check all the spots for original vins if it’s in my area

surfdwn · surfdwn's Garage

No, I don't. The ebay auction ends today.

Coastr · 11-02-2021, 03:34 AM

I assume the fuse box photo is an early fuse box because it doesn't have the angled end.

So those parts make it a pre-G body car...but I thought none of those had the indent for a front AC condenser? If so that would suggest the entire front of the car has been replaced.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Run Forest run!

It is not a car to sink any money into, unless you can get if for 20 grand or something. If some hack mechanic welded up a car to look like a 930, it likely is the giant can of worms.

HarryD · 11-02-2021, 12:09 PM

Sold to unwary buyer for $62k!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/313724014454?hash=item490b688f76:g:Gs8AAOSwYTBhdWM j

Looking at the pictures, they carefully hid the VIN number stamped in the trunk by the Smugglers box.

wjdunham · wjdunham's Garage

If someone did do a conversion, they changed the trailing arm mounts and used the 930 arms as the rear brake calipers are on the back side of the wheel and looks like the inner pickup points have been moved - or at least the back half of the car is 930?