Find options on a 1975 911S

[jwlhomebrewer]

My wife just got me my first air cooled Porsche. Trying to figure out what I have. I was able to break down the vin but have had no luck on anything else.
Is there a way to figure out what options came on the car?
I know it is a "S" with a Targa top and I think it has been repainted white from gold. Did they offer a wide body this year ? I know it's not a Carrera like it's badged.
Where else can I look?
vin # 9115211043
Engine # 6550393
Color # 406-9-3

[Oh Haha]

Damn, what a wife!!!!! Congrats and welcome to Pelican.


My books to check VINs are all put away but I know they didn't have a widebody in 75.


It looks like they did a good job on the conversion, however.

[longhornchris04]

Definitly looks like someone did a turbo-look conversion (hence the wide-body). That tail is an early turbo-tail (the early carrera tails don't have the back vent) and it has the turbo front spoiler (I think, that lower picture is dark in front).

According to http://www.adelgigs.com/911vin%20numbers.shtml (can't get advanced mode to work at work, stupid firewall) that VIN is definitly a 1975 S Targa.

Check the engine block, right side of the fan housing (by the heater plate) for a number. There should be a 911/## unless its had an SC motor put in, then it will be 930/##. Or post up some engine pics and we can help further ID the car.

Odds are someone that put the time into a quality turbo-look conversion at least made the reliability mods, as the 2.7 was not known for its reliability stock.

Oh, and thats a very pretty car.

[jwlhomebrewer]

Thanks for the help guys. So there was no wide body option in 75 correct. On the S was the front calipers aluminum? I do have paperwork on the engine being upgraded with 11 blade fan, hyd. chain tensioners, and head studs. Do I need to worry about anything else in the motor do to age or anything else? It has 46k miles on it. The # I found on the engine tonight is 911/44. What does that tell me?

[Wyvern]

Wewlcome

Nice car (does your wife have a sister ...? )

I have a 75 widebody S coupe also with the upgraded 2.7

I have found the forum here VERY helpful ...good group.

Are those 15" wheels ? If so tires are all but non avaliable

[javadog]

The 911/44 number tells you that the engine was built to comply with California emissions, so that is likely where the car was first sold. The power output was reduced from 175hp to 160hp on these engines. Have a look under the engine and see if the exhaust has thermal reactors (do a search here to see photos.) If so, I'd suggest taking those off and replacing them with an earlier style of exhaust. The heat exchangers from SSI are a nice upgrade.

As for your other questions, there were no widebody cars in 1975 in the US. Europe had the turbo, which we didn't get until 1976. In any case, Porsche didn't build turbo targas back in those days, so what you have is a regular 911 with added flares. The tail on the rear is from a 1977 turbo. The paint code tells me that the original color was "Gazelle Metallic."

The serial number won't tell you much, other than it was a '75 California 911S targa. You can apply for a list of options originally fitted to the car at a Porsche dealer. You have to supply proof of ownership and about $100 and what you eventually get is called a "Certificate of Authenticity." These sometimes have errors on them but they are a decent place to start. Or, you can get familar with the cars by buying a few books and figure the options out on your own. There weren't all that many options to begin with. With enough detailed photos, we could probably tell you what you have, over the internet.

As for other upgrades, take a look ahead of the right front wheel and see if you have an oil cooler there. If not, I'd suggest adding one. Keeping these cars relatively cool in the summer helps their longevity. If you want to know if you have the aluminum front brake calipers, just find a magnet and check them.

Cheers,
JR

[don gilbert]

Homebrewer, what does your targa top look like, is it the fold away or the solid fiberglass one, which is very rare on the early 75 targas

[RoninLB]

"Porsche 911 Red Book" has about 16 pages on the 1974-77.

It's a bit of a bible on what was available.

If you want a fax hit my sign in name, hit e-mail, and send me fax # and when it can be sent.

or just buy the Red Book from Pelican Parts for about $20

[jwlhomebrewer]

Foldable Targa top and the Red Book was put on order yesterday.

Jon

[75Carrera]

Nice looking ride. Gotta love that wife! Here's what our '75's came with...