the 87 targa that I almost bought (big mistake)

[H20911]

The vin numbers had been switched.
I will write up the whole story later when I get back home to Florida (in Maryland now) I came up to visit my parents and pick up the car that I had a deposit on after buying it on Ebay 2 weeks ago.
I will give all the details later but the car fax indicated that it was a 1 owner with 115k and no issues
but when I looked at it the vin in the trunk did not match the one on the sticker in the door.

door vin = WPOEB0913HS160398 = CLEAN CAR FAX
hood vin = WPOZZZ917HS160398 = ??????????????

the zzz in the second vin is a euro car. Can someone run a car fax on that number and tell everyone what it is? Was it federalized?

I will give all the details with pictures when I get back home on monday. I might get up to hershey tomorrow.

thanks!

[SpeedracerIndy]

I'm pretty sure all 911's have the ZZZ vin in the trunk area regardless of euro or not. My fathers US spec 88 Carrera has the ZZZ vin in the trunk just above the gas tank. And, I'm positive his is not a euro, as we have all paper work from day one.

The second number you posted is different by one number (with the exception of the ZZZ part). Was that a typo? If not, then the vin could have indeed been switched. Carfax will work on euro VINs.

[H20911]

although they could have been added it also had side marker (euro style lights) on the fenders.
in the 911 buyers guide that I have it states that the zzz is a euro designated model and it should if it is a US model start with WPOAA With 12 numbers after the double A.
I do not have my red book handy to break it down.
The book that I have handy does not differentiate between the number under the hood and the one on the door jam and say that they could be different.

the one under the hood is:
WPOZZZ917HS160398

but the "7" might be a "2" or a "Z" it is hard to tell.
the paint that was on the vin also rubbed off with my thumb and appeared to be not that old.

can anyone give more insight on this?
thanks

[ubiquity0]

I think all Carrera's, including US models had the ZZZ letters on the trunk VIN. A Euro model would also have ZZZ letters on the door VIN.

[yelcab1]

Originally posted by H20911


door vin = WPOEB0913HS160398 = CLEAN CAR FAX
hood vin = WPOZZZ917HS160398 = ??????????????


thanks!

What are the chances of finding a euro body in america with the same 8 digits at the end? Answer = absolutely zero.

It is supposed to be that way.

[aways]

I have a 1987 targa, and the VIN # in the front hood matches the
door-jam VIN #... i.e. no ZZZ. It is odd that your production numbers
(0398) match. This is too much of a coincidence, so I'd say that it's
likely that some US cars had the ZZZ designation in the trunk lid,
as others have said. I wouldn't worry about it.

[dtw]

As a former Euro 3.2 owner, I can confirm this is legit. Go get the car if this is the only thing holding you back.

[Steve87-911]

A lot of tubs got stamped with the ZZZ VIN before the factory knew its final destination, hence the diff. If the rest of the numbers match, it's fine. Mine's the same way. Don't let that stop you.

[H20911]

Okay I can agree that it is a wild coincidence and it is likely that it is the same but why is the letter on one a 7 (or a Z or 2) but definately not a 3 in the same digit location of both vins. also the plate on the pilar had been removed and replaced. the whole thing is weird (paint rubbing off with my thumb). The car was only in fair shape.
I will post pics monday.

[Eric Coffey]

As stated, the ZZZ vin stamp in the front trunk is normal, even for a US car. However: A-pillar VIN plate replaced = run away (IMO).

[Steve87-911]

Ya, what Eric said. If the plates have been tampered with, just keep driving to hershey. Funny how the 9th digits are diff, unless the 7 is really a Z?

In case it matters next time, here's some good chit. (for 80s cars at least.)

North American VIN: WPOABO91CFS120001
European VIN number: WPOZZZ91ZFS100001
1.2.3rd letter = 'WPO' = manufacturers code for Porsche.
4th letter = body code eg.: 'A'=coupe, 'E'=Targa, 'J'=Turbo, 'Z'=fill in letter for Europe/R.O.W.
5th letter = engine code for U.S. cars.
6th letter = for U.S. cars 'O' = seatbelts only; '2' = airbags.
7/8th letter = model type eg.: '91'=911; '93'=930.
9th letter = placeholder for U.S. cars; 'Z' for European/R.O.W. cars.
10th letter = model year eg.: 'F'=1985.
11th letter = 'S'=Stuttgart
12th letter = model type 91-1 or turbo 93-0
13th letter = body and engine designation.
14/15/16/17th = build numbers in sequence.

[Ray B]

Don't know about 87s, but my 88 has small stickers with the VIN affixed to each body panel,engine and tranny- they should all match.

[craig001]

Ubiquity0 is right. Most Porsches (I'm not sure about 356's) have the ZZZ VIN number on the firewall. I read somewhere that the reason is that when Porsche is building the car they don't know what market the car will be going to. The VIN's should match except for the ZZZ's. This was true on my 928, 944, and should also be true in my 964. As far as today's cars go, I'm not sure.

[Flyer88]

Mine is the same, don't worry about it. As Steve mentioned many tubs were stamped before the destination was known so as long as the other #s match you should be OK. The 9th digit is just a placeholder so it could be anything.

[MOMO3.2]

Ray B:

87 Carreras have the VIN stickers affixed to all the panels too. I was really relieved to find them all intact on my 87 because it has had some body repair performed in the past. The fact that the stickers are there indicates that any work was probably not too extensive or it would have been cheaper just to change out the panel. Porsche was smart to start using them.

Mike

FWIW the Carfax on my car is perfectly clean.

[JBO]

That is the way it should be. I think 1978 forward had the ZZZ in the trunk. It's also not that unusual for some original badges to be removed on a repaint, and not replaced.

[61sktnbug]

so im dying to know are you going back to get the car?

[Steve87-911]

Hey H20911,
So what was the verdict? Did they say why they tampered with the a post vin plate?

[Ned nyna 11]

My 87 Targa has XXX on the vin in the trunk and the door jamb vin is the same except for EBO instead of XXX.
The trunk vin plate is also painted black.

Ned