Question on 1988 25th Ann. cars

Jims5543 · 02-24-2005, 02:52 PM

I found a 1988 911. There is no mention of it being a 25th Ann. car but it has the Blue mettalic leather F. Porsche signature seats, no model designations on the outside of the car, the silver blue carpeting, and the Marine Blue Metalic paint with matching rims. It seems like this is 1 of 100 Cabrios imported to the US.

The asking price is 22K I am thinking this might be a steal. Any other way to confirm that this is a true 25th Ann. car?? A

One other question, is this car special or is it just another car?

Pics:

Signature Seats:

Silver Blue Carpeting:

No model designation and Marine Blue paint:

Matching Paint Rims:

CarreraS2 · 02-24-2005, 03:02 PM

I don't think being a "special edition" adds a huge amount of value. Maybe 5%, 10 at the most?

That sure looks like a non-US, grey market car. If that's the case, it's market value is going to be reduced by at least 10%, if not more. (Rightly or wrongly, just the way it is). Be sure to check if it is a US car, so you know what you're getting or not getting.

One issue on grey market is the actual miles on the car. Given that it appears to have a US speedometer, it more than likely is not the speedo that came with the car. So the mileage more than likely is not accurate. I'd also want to know when it was imported to the US, the less time it spent in Europe, generally the better. I'd also want to make sure to have all the appropriate importation paperwork, and as much history on the car as possible.

galwaytt · 03:23 PM

Brian K - if it's l.h. drive, and has an mph speedo, then it's a US spec car. Other clues are the deeper rims and oversized rear bumper rubbers. I realise all the above are easily changed - so where are you drawing it's an import from?

Hey, what's with the "the less time it spent in Europe, generally the better"......thing? They ALL start out over here, you know !!

Of course the VIN no would answer all the questions....

trader220 · 02-24-2005, 03:18 PM

Its a ROW car, what are the miles? how bout records?

trader220 · 02-24-2005, 03:23 PM

Side markers and bumpers kind of give it away as an ROW car. Easy to tell, whats the VIN number?

CarreraS2 · 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by galwaytt
Brian K - if it's l.h. drive, and has an mph speedo, then it's a US spec car. Other clues are the deeper rims and oversized rear bumper rubbers. I realise all the above are easily changed - so where are you drawing it's an import from?

Hey, what's with the "the less time it spent in Europe, generally the better"......thing? They ALL start out over here, you know !!

Just b/c a 911 is LHD and has a mph speedo in place doesn't mean it is a US spec car!

There are lots of non-US spec 911s running around with LHD and a mph speedo.

The car in the picture has the ROW rear bumperettes, ROW lights, and the ROW side marker drilled into the front fender. It also looks like it might have the ROW rear fogs built into the rear reflector. Yeah, all that stuff COULD have been added to that car. But looking at that otherwise unmodified car, I'd say it is 99.9% unlikely.

(BTW, maybe it's just the pictures, but the backend of the car looks tweeked. The fit of the rear reflector/decklid doesn't look right).

galwaytt · 02-24-2005, 03:26 PM

trader220 - "markers" ?? thing wing-mounted indicators? Don't ye use them?

Those rear overriders aren't EU spec. Ours are shallower.

addictionMS · addictionMS's Garage

that is a signature series, do a search there are a lot of articles on them here, I own one, coupe, it have the diamond blue metalic paint, "metalic" blue seats, and turbo 15" rims colormatched. Plus the signature in the seats.

can't remember the number made, but it was not that many.

Jim

CarreraS2 · 02-24-2005, 03:30 PM

Yes, the wing (fender!) mounted lights are not used in the US.

The rear overriders aren't US spec. US spec is huge, at least 2X the size.

galwaytt · 02-24-2005, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Just b/c a 911 is LHD and has a mph speedo in place doesn't mean it is a US spec car!

.....gosh, I know that !!

Quote:

The car in the picture has the ROW rear bumperettes, ROW lights, and the ROW side marker drilled into the front fender. Yeah, all that stuff COULD have been added to that car. But looking at that otherwise unmodified car, I'd say it is 99.9% unlikely.

sure, sure - I'm not sure about the 'bumperettes' though - see post above. Still, the car looks nice, so if it's a sound car, I don't see that it matters whether it's ROW or not, and as a few have said, the VIN would reveal all..............

trader220 · 02-24-2005, 04:03 PM

John M.. the US spec cars dont have marker lights on the front fenders

ThePuf · 02-24-2005, 04:55 PM

From the pic only, that looks like the Commemorative Edition in Diamond Blue, which was released in 1988. It does not look like the Anniversary Edition in Marine blue, which I believe was sold in 89. I can't tell you about RoW or any of that stuff.

Puf

real550A · real550A's Garage

I agree with those that say the VIN will tell all. Sure looks like ROW to me. With that said, look it over good, and get a good PPI before paying that freight for the car.

addictionMS · addictionMS's Garage

link

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

another thread on the topic here

It should only have a mild premium which would be negated by its RoW status. Don't get caught up in it being 'rare' because it is not that desirable.

What about the basics? What mileage? Any records? etc etc

Ian

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

25th Anniv Edition was in `89

Jims5543 · 02-24-2005, 06:49 PM

More pics here:

http://www.jims5543.com/gallery/album04?page=2

The add does not list Vin, why am I not suprised?

They claim it has 35K miles on it. It is driving distance from me. I will insist on a PPI.

Now the NewB Question, what is ROW??

Also the book I have (Original Porsche 911 by Peter Morgan) calls the 88 the Ann. Edition.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

RoW = Rest of World. Cars built for markets other than US, Canada & Japan or in other words cars built for Europe.

That cab looks very nice (from the photos) & is probably well worth 22K (but photos can deceive). Have an independent PPI with compression & leakdown etc etc.

Ian

BTW see the thread I posted above. Everybody seems confused about the anniversary & commemorative.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Excellent car - The ROW in carrera form will have higher compression - and a little more HP 231 vs 217. They require 93 octane gas - or can have some pinging - if you are in a smog state - make sure all the smog stuff is on and you have a certificate of smog compliance. Last but not least - call your insurance company. Some will not insure a ROW car with a zzz in it's VIN#.

Diamond Blue is a very cool color - but I personally like it with the blue roof and darker interior. The ferry sig seats are neat though

Oh - I think that polished fuchs - big polished fuchs make the car... just my opinion though...

KFC911 · 02-25-2005, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jims5543
....
Also the book I have (Original Porsche 911 by Peter Morgan) calls the 88 the Ann. Edition.

Please read the threads already referenced above (where this is discussed extensively)... Peter Morgan's book is incorrect (and there are several other books & websites which are also inaccurate). I love the Diamond Blue Metallic color, but basically, the '88 Commemorative Edition is a cosmetic package (except for the short shift kit). I paid a premium for mine a few years ago, but not because of the package, but because it was a mint '88 G50 Carrera with 45K miles on her. They're not rare...I've seen quite a few on the market in the past few years...but on the plus side, all of them have been VERY well maintained with low mileage. Hope this helps...