VIN confusion

[cuanlee]

Hi everyone.

I've consulted Zimmerman's "Used 911 Story" and the Bentley manuals and they say different things.

For the digits in position 5 of a 1980 car, zimmerman says it designates body style (coupe or targa) while Bentley says it designates model supplement (SC or Turbo).

Any definitive guidance?

[Bill Verburg]

[javadog]

Porsche says:

0=930
1=911

There are not separate serial number ranges for coupes and targas for that one year. Odd. But then, it's usually obvious from looking at a car whether it's a coupe or targa...

JR

[cuanlee]

Bill, Javadog

Thanks for the help...

Javadog. Agree that it is odd for 1980. It seems like most other years had a 0/1 code for body style. I agree that it is normally pretty apparent but didn't want to get a coupe that had been "made" from a targa.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by cuanlee

Bill, Javadog

Thanks for the help...

Javadog. Agree that it is odd for 1980. It seems like most other years had a 0/1 code for body style. I agree that it is normally pretty apparent but didn't want to get a coupe that had been "made" from a targa.

There are other differences between the coupe and targa. You're not likely to find a coupe made from a targa. More likely to find a targa made from a coupe or a cabriolet made from either of the others.

JR

[Pazuzu]

My 80 also has some confusion in that spot. I believe that (based on searching MANY MANY sites) that they used that number differently for ROW and US cars, and when all was said and done, the number doesn't mean crap. My sunroof coupe appears to be a targa based on Pete's book, when it clearly is not

[javadog]

Mike,

Fear not. Pete's book is wrong on that issue. When in doubt, refer to a Porsche source. In this case, the spec book for the 911 from '78-'81. US and ROW serial number that year were the same apart from the engine type, which is the 6th digit.

3=ROW 911
4=US 911
7=ROW turbo

JR

[cuanlee]

Thanks Javadog

I think I'm resolved as to what I am looking at.