What makes a Euro?

[matt911]

I've done a bit of looking around without finding a definitive source so I'm hoping you can all help.

I recently purchased a 1984 911 Euro or world car. I'm not exactly sure what the differences between the Euro and US cars are.

So far I know the Euro has no catalytic converters.
I also believes it has a different engine management.
I've noticed the headlight rings on my car are different than most but not sure if it's part of the Euro thing.
Beyond that nothing has really jumped out at me.

Does anyone have any more info or a place to find it?

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks

[KTL]

You're right about the headlight thing. Euro cars were originally equipped with the better H4 headlight assemblies. Do a search with "Euro H4" and you'll find more info. than you'd care to ever read about headlights. They're a worthwhile upgrade for US cars. Look better and work MUCH better

You'll notice your car has the orange reflectors on the front fenders. US cars do not have these. Euro cars also came with black bumper pieces that replace sidemarker orange lights/lenses in the front bumper. Looks like your car does not have those.

I believe Euro cars also have ZZZ in the VIN number. Look on the front windshield pillar, driver's side, to confirm this.

The Euro cars also typically have narrower rear bumper pads, a fog light, and red & orange taillight lenses.

Nice looking car. Great color and the wheels are a big favorite around here.

[Rot 911]

And the most important part, the Euro has more horsepower!

[Joe Bob]

Most euro have to give up the euro headlights....get DOT glass, some had to get side door protection, extra smog crap....etc.

[creaturecat]

along with the extra horsepower - an external trans cooler.

[matt911]

Originally posted by KTL
You're right about the headlight thing. Euro cars were originally equipped with the better H4 headlight assemblies. Do a search with "Euro H4" and you'll find more info. than you'd care to ever read about headlights. They're a worthwhile upgrade for US cars. Look better and work MUCH better

You'll notice your car has the orange reflectors on the front fenders. US cars do not have these. Euro cars also came with black bumper pieces that replace sidemarker orange lights/lenses in the front bumper. Looks like your car does not have those.

I believe Euro cars also have ZZZ in the VIN number. Look on the front windshield pillar, driver's side, to confirm this.

The Euro cars also typically have narrower rear bumper pads, a fog light, and red & orange taillight lenses.

Nice looking car. Great color and the wheels are a big favorite around here.

It does have a ZZZ VIN.

I've included a butt shot, maybe you can tell me if it is correct Euro or has somehow been converted.

Thanks

[gerard vaglio]

Looks like you have the correct, Euro tailights, yellow and the smaller, better, Euro bumper pads. Better because they are lighter and (I think), better looking.

Looks like a great car!

[Oh Haha]

Here's my 81 Euro SC. Pacific Blue.
Yours is most definitely a Euro with the WPOZZZ VIN.
Some people look down on these for different reasons. I think it, in some ways,, a more pure Porsche as it is the way the good Dr. intened them to be built. No offense to the other guys, of course. I love all 911's.

an external trans cooler

I thought it was a really cool thing that I had one on my '85 euro, until I had to drop the left side half shaft. This required removing the cooler, which required drining the trans. Turned a 45 minute job of replacing a torn CV boot into four hours of trying to figure out how to get the thing out around the cooler. Only to find the cooler had to come off. Total pain in the a$$.
the euro Carrera's got their extra horse power from a bump in compression from 9.3/1 to 10.3/1, good for 231 hp vs. 217 hp for the US motor.

[jmz]

compression!

[Kmatts]

Matt, the only true way to tell is to check the vin. indeed the ZZZ does indicate your car as a Euro model. and yes, yours does indeed have the proper european tail light lenses. congrats that is a beautiful car.
great color...looks a lot like my buddy Don911 car.
fyi, a "euro look" could be had very quickly. in fact, i've got the Euro sidemarkers, headlights, lenses in my garage. point being, if it looks Euro, don't just assume it is....check the VIN #.
Cheers, and congrats on a stunning car.
(great wheels by the way)
Kyle

[livi]

Very nice. The color is stunning!

Yes, check the VIN number. Should be WPO ZZZ xxxx....

Whats that little hole (?) in the rear bumper, next to the left bumper pad ?

My (euro) has a black Carrera script on the lid - but suppose thats irrelevant.

Whats that black little dot under the left door handle ?

[Paul Franssen]

That hole in the rear bumper should, in fact, normally be covered by a same-color plug. This hole, which is threaded, serves the purpose of inserting into it the steel towing ring which should be included in your tool kit.
The hole under the doorhandle: no clue. Definitely not standard Euro stuff.
BTW, the car looks beautiful and (except for the turbo-style stone guards in front of the rear wings) real Euro. Color is very similar to my old (sold) 88 Carrera.

[livi]

Now that you mention it, Paul, I do have a plug in that position on my own car.

And now I know what its for.

[matt911]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Not sure about the black button type thing under the handle, it is a bit of a mystery. I believe it to be part of late 80's type alarm system.

[greg bradbury]

This looks the same colour as mine. Metallic Slate Blue 661

[jgrubman]

I looked at this car in South Windsor CT last May - it was owned by a state trooper (!). I ultimately decided against buying it due to the conversion issues. To get it registered in Massachusetts would've required changes to the exhaust system, installation of O2 sensors, changeover in the DME to manage the new emissions information, etc. It's a fast clean and beautiful car (with those great Fikse wheels) but the cost to get it registered reliably year after year was going to be prohibitive. Plus, there was no guarantee it would pass emissions every year from now on. Does CT exempt this car from emissions testing?

[matt911]

Originally posted by jgrubman
I looked at this car in South Windsor CT last May - it was owned by a state trooper (!). I ultimately decided against buying it due to the conversion issues. To get it registered in Massachusetts would've required changes to the exhaust system, installation of O2 sensors, changeover in the DME to manage the new emissions information, etc. It's a fast clean and beautiful car (with those great Fikse wheels) but the cost to get it registered reliably year after year was going to be prohibitive. Plus, there was no guarantee it would pass emissions every year from now on. Does CT exempt this car from emissions testing?

Yep, same car.

I was warned about emissions being a potential problem before purchasing. I had the owner I bought it from (not the state cop) take it through emissions prior to purchase. It failed, he then had it "tuned" and it passed. CT emissions follow the VIN so it's clear through 2007 right now. After that it has one year and it's exempt.

I think since the car was previously registered in CT I avoided some of the problems you would have encountered in Mass.

[donstevens]

Matt,

Nice looking car. One of the other typical euro details that your car has is the rear wiper. They were available in the US but very few US cars ever had them. Other indicators are interior features. Power windows, leather seating and A/C were in almost all US cars and few Euro cars.

I love the color, Brushed Carerra script on the rear and the wheels. Very nice touches that make the car unique.

Don

[fastbacker]

Do the all the trannys in the the Euro 911/930 use taller gearing?

Thanks-
Craig Backer