82 911SC VIN number problem
 

Hi guys..I bought my 911 about a year ago..It has a replacement VIN # tag on the driver door jam near the door strike..Before I bought it I ran a carfax and it was not a salvaged title..I had the car inspected and it wasn't in any major accedents..I bought it..The motor was making noise so I had it rebuilt and the builder sayed it had the Euro pistons in it..I was tearing out the old alarm system and found a chassis number near the gas tank??
WPOZZZ91ZBS121189..Different from the other tag..There is no tag near the windshield and the sticker near the gas tank also was shreaded..Can't figure out if this was a euro model maybee stolen, stripped and then pieced back together with U.S. parts or ??I know my imagination is running wild..LOL...Also there was no numbers on the engine..I think maybe the case was replaced..but Why???Threw a rod??Any ways it is still a nice car...Maybe someone can explain..Thanks

On my '86, the chassis number (near the gas tank) and the other VIN tags are the same except for the "ZZZ" part.
If you don't know where to look, the engine numbers are hard to find. Are you saying you can't find the numbers or the place where they normally would be is blank?
-Chris

Your VIN translates as..

WPO = world producer code
ZZZ = RoW car
91 = 911
B = 1981 model year
S = manufactured in Stuttgart
1 = 911 (again)
2 = U.S. SC or Carrera coupe
1189 = the car's serial number

The fact that the VIN specifies that it's an RoW car yet that it's a "U. S. SC or Carrera coupe" is confusing.

The serial number located on the left side above the gas tank in the trunk should match the number from the window frame plate and the sticker on the door jamb. It looks like you purchased a ROW car that someone has re-titled with a different vin #. I know that the chassis numbers would be the original for the car since they are stamped into the metal at the factory.

I think you'll find if you look at the chassis number (near gas tank) of any "US" car you'll find the serial number has ZZZ in it.
Example:
VIN near tank: WPOZZZ91ZBS121189
VIN near door: WPOAP191ZBS121189

If that is the only difference between your VIN's you're OK. I discovered that my VIN's "didn't match" shortly after I got my 911 and it gave me quite a shock. Bruce Anderson mentions this on page 44 of his book (2nd Ed).
-Chris

Jenior; If you're really concerned, there are upwards of six hidden production numbers on your vehicle. These are there to assure vin switches can be detected. If you're really concerned, contact the Highway Patrol for a vin verification. Or you local So Cal auto theif,,,he also knows where they are hidden. LOL Keep in mind, they are hidden, and at leat three of them require certain parts to be removed, and one of them is NOT easy.

Brian

Ok, The number on the california replacement tag is WPOEAO91 etc..The rest of the numbers are different..So that stamped chassis number should be the same as the tag near the windshield?? I think I have to go to the highway patrol and see what happened..There is no factory sticker on door jam..only the replacement VIN plate..I will check back...Thanks

Hi again, Checked with CHP and they told me they cannot tell me why it had the replacement VIN tag. But they said if it does not say "Salvaged "
on the pink slip ,which it does'nt then most likely it was a theft recovery..
Anyways I am looking to get it painted..Any good shops in So.Cal??
Thanks

The ZZZ are just filler numbers. When a manufacturer has no need to put unique information in those locations they default to ZZZ. It doesn't mean anything. The fact that there's a 2 in the 13th position proves it was built as a USA spec car and not a grey market car.

Can the 9th number be different?

I'm looking at a car that after the AAO/ZZZ the numbers are 915BS121529 (door vin) and 91ZBS121529 (trunk). On adelgigs it looks like the 9th number is also a filler, all other numbers are the same.

So based on the above, I get, could someone double check?:

911 SC Coupé US & CDN 91x BS 12 0001 91x BS 12 1573

911SC 204@5900 267@4300 9.8:1 1160 3181 930/10 915/62 WP0ZZZ91ZBS100001-3181 6310001 +

Simon's Porsche 911 SC Site
Simon's Porsche 911 SC Site

Thank you.

On the 82's vin and chassis numbers are different.

Yes, its a placeholder:

Z for RoW cars

X or any number from 0 to 9