My Porsche Certificate of Authenticity-Porsche Factory Use?

[70S Targa Guy]

In another thread regarding a 1972 911T, one Pelican said that besides the VIN plate located in the front trunk by the latch there is also a VIN on the driver side windshield pillar which designates a US car. My 1970 911S does not have this VIN on the driver's side windshield pillar and I am sure it never had one. There is no evidence of a scar, fading, mark, etc. that it was there prior to my ownership in 1990 and removed. Furthermore, on page 227 of Porsche 911 Performance Handbook it states, "In 1969 in the United States, the VIN number had to be visible on the driver's side of the car." I dug up my Porsche COA and to further complicate matters my COA reads:

Importer: Porsche Factory Use




I called Porsche to see if they knew what "Porsche Factory Use" meant and the question went through the chains of command in Nevada and nobody knew.

I am just curious as to the history of my car, "Flexible Flyer", since I do not have the VIN on the driver side pillar and I have this mysterious "Porsche Factory Use" listed on the COA as the Importer of my car, does it mean that my car was a European car and privately imported into the US? Perhaps Grady with his infinite wisdom or someone else with a similar scenario can satisfy my curiosity? Thanks.

[GH85Carrera]

That is a strange one. I just wonder if it was a car that was a press car or something like that.

[Por_sha911]

It seems to be built too late in the year to be a Press release car.
Factory rep demo? Crash test certification car ?

[javadog]

There are two possibilities.

The requirement for the A pillar serial number tag began in 1970. I don't know if all 1970 model year US cars were so equipped, or if only the ones that were built in calendar year 1970 had to have them. I haven't seen the actual regulation. Your car was built in 1969, so if the standard didn't apply to cars built before calendar year 1970, that's one answer.

The more likely one is that your car was originally built for and delivered to a country other than the US. A careful examination of all of the options and characteristics of your car might shed some light on the issue.

JR

[beh911]

Originally Posted by javadog

The requirement for the A pillar serial number tag began in 1970...

JR

Actually, it was production of MY 69 cars beginning in January 69.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by beh911

Actually, it was production of MY 69 cars beginning in January 69.

Yeah, you may be right. I was thinking 1970, but now I'm not sure.

Thanks,
JR

[70S Targa Guy]

Originally Posted by javadog

There are two possibilities.

The requirement for the A pillar serial number tag began in 1970. I don't know if all 1970 model year US cars were so equipped, or if only the ones that were built in calendar year 1970 had to have them. I haven't seen the actual regulation. Your car was built in 1969, so if the standard didn't apply to cars built before calendar year 1970, that's one answer.

The more likely one is that your car was originally built for and delivered to a country other than the US. A careful examination of all of the options and characteristics of your car might shed some light on the issue.

JR

Thanks for the reply but unfortunately your premise of the A pillar VIN tag beginning in 1970 is incorrect; at least anyway, as stated by Bruce Anderson the author of Porsche 911 Performance Handbook that I indicated in my original post.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by 70S Targa Guy

Thanks for the reply but unfortunately your premise of the A pillar VIN tag beginning in 1970 is incorrect; at least anyway, as stated by Bruce Anderson the author of Porsche 911 Performance Handbook that I indicated in my original post.

Yeah, I may have been off a year. If you read my post again, you'll note that I think the more likely scenario is that it was not built as a US car.

JR

[70S Targa Guy]

Originally Posted by javadog

Yeah, I may have been off a year. If you read my post again, you'll note that I think the more likely scenario is that it was not built as a US car.

JR

Yes javadog, I think we are correct in our thinking and that is the most likely scenario. That was my hunch from the get go. It is starting to make more sense because now that I am thinking about it when I bought the car 20+ years ago, the car came with (and still has) the RS oil temp/oil pressure gauge (where the oil temp is in Celsius and the oil pressure says "DRUCK"). Also came with Euro tail light lenses and H1 headlights, not that you can't buy them and add them to the car if you wanted to. The only gauge that needed replacing to meet DOT was the Speedo and that is an easy swap.

It is strange that nobody here or at Porsche headquarters knows what "Porsche Factory Use" means. Just curious, does anybody else out there have a Porsche COA that has the Importer listed as "Porsche Factory Use"?

Javadog, if you are a dad, Happy Father's day to you and to the rest of the father's out there.

[ratpiper71T]

When you say Porsche headquarters, you do mean you've called and spoke to those that help specifically with COA, right? I remember the problem I had with my COA I spoke with a young lady that looked at the original documents and reinterpreted them to fix the mistakes- or so she said...

[70S Targa Guy]

Originally Posted by ratpiper71T

When you say Porsche headquarters, you do mean you've called and spoke to those that help specifically with COA, right? I remember the problem I had with my COA I spoke with a young lady that looked at the original documents and reinterpreted them to fix the mistakes- or so she said...

Yes, I called PCNA at the 800-767-7243 number which is actually in Atlanta, GA not in Nevada as it used to be. I spoke to a couple young ladies and nobody could say with certainty what the Porsche Factory Use meant. They thought it meant that my car was used as a display on the factory floor at some time but again they were just speculating. One of the senior members in the COA department named Cristen is supposed to research the issue and get back to me in a few days.

[jstobo]

There is probably nothing sinister about not having the A-pillar VIN. My 69 E does not have one either. I removed it! What happened is when I redid the interior I replaced the vinyl on the A-Pillar. I had to remove the VIN tag to do that. I lost the tag by the time I was finished with the interior and so couldn't replace it. I have owned my 69 since 1976 though, so it doesn't bother me. Probably something similar happened to your S.

[70S Targa Guy]

That was the very first thing I thought of but I am certain my vinyl on the A pillars is 100% original and there are no marks or scars on the driver side A pillar; unless of course the VIN tag is glued on to the pillar which I doubt. Do you remember how your VIN tag was attached to the pillar of your 69E?

Nevermind...I now realize that this A pillar VIN tag is riveted on. It is clear my car never had one of these A pillar VIN tags. You and your 69E just celebrated your 35th year anniversary!