Improved Cert of Authenticity
 

I just received mine yesterday for my 73S Targa after sending the check last week. For those interested, the package now consists of:

1. A folder that states Certificate of Authenticity with embossed front silhoutte of a 996
2. Letter from CEO of PCNA
3. Parchment paper with quote from Dr. P
4. Actual cert on letterhead with colored crest on top

Extras included a poster/specs sheet, catalog for Porsche accessories and some yellow Post-it-Notes with the black crest in the background.

I guess they listened to previous complaints on how plain the previous certificates looked like.

This "Certificate of Authenticity" from PCNA is still a far cry from the Factory Kardex of the good olde days. If you were polite in asking, and patient afterwards, you'd be sent the entire build details of your car....for free! One of my 356 owning friends has the Kardex transcript, and it's a very informative document.

I just opened mine up today.

I was a little bit dissapointed with this quote in my letter:

In other words, we do not know for sure about your car. Or maybe you know more than we do. Well, why would I have asked them if i knew for sure?

They also went on to say that they had no record of the MSRP , or transmission number. I got the same information by email free from someone at Porsche in Germany.

I am not knocking their charge, as for the materials I have received for the cost is reasonable, but the facts should be accurate, nailed down concrete.

My car does have the correct engine though, according to PCNA!

Sheesh...all this Kardex/certificate stuff. Years ago, I just wrote the factory. I got a nice letter back, listing all my car left the factory with, it's build date, etc. Still have the letter. Now,Porsche knows it can charge for this info, so it does...another sign of the times, yes?

Re: Improved Cert of Authenticity
 

Yep, thats what I got when I spoke about what a waste of money it was. Really, $40 for a sheet of paper. The other stuff is just Porsche advertising merchandise.

When I bought my car 6 months ago, a guy I know in parts dept. of local Porsche dealer called Atlanta w/ my VIN # and got me an "over the phone" cardex the next day for free. Date of manufacture, all build and option codes w/ explanations, etc. I'm pretty sure I, (or anyone else), could have done the same, FWIW.

I tried to do that for my '79 but ran into some problems. Perhaps b/c it's a euro, but everyone I spoke to was very polite and as far as I know did everything they knew how.

Carl, Atlanta would not have info on ROW car, but you still should be able to e-mail Stuttgart and get it. Porsche does not guard this information, (like they do with their trademarks). :cool:

I applied for my Certificate of Authenticity late last year. The first certificate I received was incorrect. It listed a 911E that had a different engine number, different exterior paint code, different interior material color/type, and different optional equipment. As I had just purchased the car a couple of months before, I almost stroked out! After two very long phone calls to PCNA and a months delay, I finally received what I think is the correct Certificate of Authenticity.