83SC - ROW vs US car??

[gorfllub]

Hiya.

I recently got my first Porsche. an 83 SC.


In doing some research, I think I may be a tad confused.

The best I can tell, my car is a ROW car.

VIN#WPOZZZ91ZDS101409

But a few things are puzzling me. I read somewhere that the OXS light was added to ROW cars after 83 with the 3.2 carrera. Is this so? My car does have the OXS light.......

I acquired a bentley manual (For US cars). It talks about the Oxygen sensor module under the Passenger seat. I have NO electronics or boxes under that seat, nor do I have a catalytic converter.

It had (I took it off) a rear "fog" light. Ugggggh... it looks bad IMO.

My oil temp gauge has no temp indications. The oil pressure gauge actually says "Druck Press". The speedo is in MPH on the outside, and KMH on the inside.

Is there anywhere to help my decode the VIN? Or can anyone shed some light to the origins of this beast?

Best I can tell, it was first registered in Canada in 1991 and has 4 owners between then and myself.



Thanks in advance for any help!

[jazzbass]

ZZZ indicates ROW cars. Note that the VIN stamped in front of the smuggler's box the trunk always reads ZZZ, so you have to look at the VIN on the A pilar by the driver.

Some other ROW tells:

1. Turn signals on the fenders behind the rear wheels.
2. Small rear bumper pads (for wide euro license plates)
3. Orange turn signals in the rear
4. No side impact brace in the door
5. Bumper brackets instead of shocks holding the bumpers on the body.
6. H4 headlights instead of crappy sealed beam US spec lights
7. Rear fog light (like the one you mentioned).
8. No side marker in the front bumper.

[jazzbass]

One more thing - ROW cars that have been federalized for the US will usually have nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 changed to their US spec counterparts. That leaves 1, 2, and 7 the best tells for a ROW car that has been federalized.

[SpeedracerIndy]

jazzbass pretty much covered it all. You can also look for the engine type assuming it hasn't been changed. An 83 RoW SC should have a 930/10 motor. The engine type is stamped into the case along with its serial number to the right of the cooling fan and just to the left of the oil pressure sending unit.

[Adelgigs]

Check out the VIN link on my website at www.adelgigs.com/911sc.shtml - whilst there register your car in the owners registry !!

[gorfllub]

yes. I did register last night.....

Well that is the VIN on the a pillar. The lights seem to have been converted. As well, the rear bumperettes seem to be of the same size as other SC's I have seen, although they are wide enough apart to fit a european plate.


Thanks for the info folks!
Jeremy

[SpeedracerIndy]

Look at it this way, you have 22 more HP than you thought you did (assuming you have the 930/10 motor still).

[MAS]

Originally posted by jazzbass
ZZZ indicates ROW cars. Note that the VIN stamped in front of the smuggler's box the trunk always reads ZZZ, so you have to look at the VIN on the A pilar by the driver.

Some other ROW tells:

1. Turn signals on the fenders behind the rear wheels.
2. Small rear bumper pads (for wide euro license plates)
3. Orange turn signals in the rear
4. No side impact brace in the door
5. Bumper brackets instead of shocks holding the bumpers on the body.
6. H4 headlights instead of crappy sealed beam US spec lights
7. Rear fog light (like the one you mentioned).
8. No side marker in the front bumper.

Re the orange turn signals. Canadian cars had/have orange turn signals, but I don't think they're considered ROW cars.

(For example, my Canadian 77 911S has orange turn signals, but the rest of it is US-spec, apart from the KPH speedo)

-MAS