Visual differences in SC models?

[VaSteve]

I stopped by a standing (every Saturday) cruise in a couple of weeks ago in the Targa. I was in a rush and just parked it with the roof off took a quick walk around the parking lot to look at some concours (and unbelievably nice) old Mustangs.

When I returned to my car, a fellow was looking at it, complimented it and said "1983, right?". Of course he was, but how would he have guessed that? Perhaps a lucky guess? I should have asked him.

What are the visual clues?
Engine lid was down - no looking for smog pump remains
No measuring stick to measure ride height. (Mine's stock).
180 mph speedo (81-82 was 85 mph)
Dash (a/c) vents in the 70's SC were slightly different.
IIRC, carpet pile in 70's SCs was shaggier.
I think older SC's the fog light knob was different.
I can't think of anything else.

What could he have based his deduction on?

Luck?

[emcon5]

Originally posted by VaSteve
What could he have based his deduction on?

He could have got down on the ground and looked for a sump plate.

Or he could have looked at the VIN on the A-pillar. D=1983.

Tom

[Par911]

maybe he was the PO of the car.....

[1982911SCTarga]

speedo (81-82 was 85 mph)

This gets a lot of, ahem, mileage and is not quite accurate. The switch from 85 mph to the higher mph speedos occurred mid-production for the 1982 model year ("C" run) SCs. Once Porsche got the go-ahead from the U.S. feds, it was off to the races as quickly as possible with the higher limit speedometer. Great sales device.

Brian

[TerryH]

Can the VIN at the windshield bottom disclose the year? I know it works for american cars. Used to be able to get the year off tail light lenses on some cars too.

[Carl Bauer]

Your 180 speedo isn't stock for any 911SC model.

Black trim, power windows, and AC became standard on USA models starting MY 1980.

1981 was the first year of the new rear defrost/fog lights/cig lighter knobs.

From this:



To this:

[dan79brooklyn]

Didn't the autoheat knobs start in 82-83 only?

[Wil Ferch]

Or simply .."hmm.. nicest condition = newest? " thoughts rolling around in his head ???

- Wil

[rattlsnak]

my 78 had autoheat. (euro model)

[1982911SCTarga]

The icon of the cigarette (hey, what are those?) and the curling wisp of wafting smoke is so weirdly artful.

Brian

[VaSteve]

Originally posted by emcon5
He could have got down on the ground and looked for a sump plate.

Or he could have looked at the VIN on the A-pillar. D=1983.

Tom

The VIN thing is probably the most likely thing that happened. He said something about working with a Porsche wrench in Charleston. So maybe he could "read" them.

My 83 has a sump plate, Rick Lee's (late production) does not.

[Mysterytrain]

Center console A/C knobs are different. 78/79 had the air injection plumbing. Also a change in the sport seats.
Did you ask him?

[juanbenae]

Originally posted by Mysterytrain
Center console A/C knobs are different. 78/79 had the air injection plumbing. Also a change in the sport seats.
Did you ask him?

reading comprehension issues?

[Rick V]

Steve,
Don't you have a "county sticker" next to your inspection sticker? Here in Albemarle the make and year are on the stickers as well as the last 8 from the vin.

[carrera1975]

what about the radio antena, is it on the right or left fender, or windshield

[VaSteve]

Rick,
It's not on the county sticker, but I think it's all written on the back of the inspection sticker. Not like I saw this guy climbing inside to inpect all that. It was like he just "knew"

[masraum]

He probably narrowed it down to '78-83 and got lucky, or maybe he had a friend who had an '83 once and so that was his guess. I think short of checking the numbers on the lenses or the VIN, it'd be tough for 99.9% of the folks out there to get the year right on most 911s.

[Joe Bob]

He had an order from a collector in China for an 82 and yours was just one year to late.....

[snbush67]

"Porshe Wisperer" sighting.