Need help to I.D. a 79 widebody

[Norm Faustino]

Hey Guys, Norm here! I'm looking at a 79 "turbo Look " up for sale. Does anyone know how to positively verify a factory W/B from the vin? all th info I have from Bruce anderson's performance book only shows it as an SC. If anyone can help me with a value or desirability rating I would be greatful. Here is the VIN: 9119201417.
Also does anybody have one of these? how is the driveability, insurance, and relliability factor. thanks ahead pelicans.
-Norm

[Peter Zimmermann]

Obviously it's an after market body change, sometimes, but certainly not always, done following an accident. 9119201417 is:

911 = car type
9 = 1979
2 = USA SC
0 = coupe
1417 = consecutive build number

Be very, very careful with this one. It's in that range of cars that might have broken head studs, it's about 30 years old, and it might have been crashed. Find a 911 expert near you to have a PPI done, the gremlins hiding in that car are anyone's guess.

[Norm Faustino]

Okay Peter, thanks for your help, but what makes it obvious to you that it is aftermarket? Is there something in the vin of a true widebody that authenticates it to be a true factory widebody? that is the part I'm having difficulty understanding. This car has a lot of issues mostly coachwork stuff like inop sunroof and poorly closing doors and engine lid but it drives nicely and shifts well and the price is 9000 bucks so it's not that scary. What can you tell me now.

[jimbauman]

I think it's because there were no factory widebodies of that era unless they were turbos... and that one isn't...

[kycarguy 935]

Norm, all the factory wide bodies for 1979 would be a 930 and start with a 930 vin.

If for some reason the guy claims it was done at the factory under the Sonderwunsch program I would want some paperwork.

Over the years many,many, many 911's have added wide bodies.

I actually owned a 1976 3.0 Carrera that had the full wide body treatment at Porsche. The guy gave me the receipt when I bought the car from him. He was in the Air Force and brought the car to California from Germany.

There are some out there but not many that Porsche made.

[Norm Faustino]

Wow! a real lesson in VIN-ology indeed. Thanks so much you guys. I think I'll pass on the franken Porsche and keep looking for my widebody.

[McLovin]

if you are looking for a factory widebody non-turbo, you need to look for an 84-89 Carrera with the "M491" option. That's the option code for the factory widebody.

You can't tell the M491 factory wide body from the VIN, you have to look at the option code sticker in the owner's manual and/or under the front hood.

When you see SCs with supposed "factory" widebodies, they ALWAYS turn out to be aftermarket. The sellers often claim it is factory, but it never is.