New member with a question on identifying ROW car

[scottb2706]

Hi,
I just bought a 1979 911 that has been sitting for some time.

The seller told me it was a ROW car. How can I identify that?

I was told the bumper pads are smaller and there may be other indications.

Here are some pictures...thank you for any insight

Scott

[Canada Kev]

There are any usual cues that should help identify its origin. Some include:

The VIN is a big one. Should start with WPOZZZ...

On mine, there is no VIN plate on the A-pillar by the dash or windshield frame, but it has a data plate mounted inside the trunk, and I'm not talking about the option sticker on the trunk lid.

The rear rubber baby buggy bumper pads are smaller on RoW - could be changed on US federalization, but also US cars had these for both 1974 and 75.

The front bumpers on RoW cars have only signal lights and not running lights - could be changed on US federalization.

Many Euro countries require rear fog lights. They will be hung under the bumper on 1986 and older and integrated into the rear reflector on 1987 to 89 cars - could be changed on US federalization.

H4 headlights on RoW cars - could be changed on US federalization.

Possibly KM speedometer - could be changed on US federalization.

Later cars starting I think in the late 1970s had fender mounted side signal light repeaters.

Rear signals are amber - easy to change and often are, regardless of originating country - could be changed on US federalization.

Depending on where it came from originally, it may have a highway/inspection sticker mounted somewhere.

And there's likely more I can't think of right away

There are also many options or lack thereof that might hint and suggest, but are no way for sure. Things like no sunroof which are typically ubiquitous on US cars but are often not on ROWs. Cloth upholstery is not often seen over here. And factory AC delete.

If you want to dig deeper, there are things such as engine and transmission types, side collision beams in the door and the 5 mph bumper shocks.

[Mark Salvetti]

A 1979 won't have a WPOZZZ VIN. I think a non-US car will have a VIN that starts 91193, the important digit is the 3 (US cars have a 2).

The other thing to look at is the engine type. Should be on a flat surface at the right of the fan, a ROW should be 930/03.

I also believe those square stickers inside the drivers door jamb (the E1 and E2) are only on Euro cars.

Mark

[pete3799]

Check your VIN number here
Simon's Porsche 911 SC Site

[Canada Kev]

Originally Posted by Mark Salvetti

A 1979 won't have a WPOZZZ VIN. I think a non-US car will have a VIN that starts 91193, the important digit is the 3 (US cars have a 2).

Learn something every day...

[scottb2706]

Engine has smog controls but have not looked at s/n yet.

[proporsche]

Hi Scott ....have a look here
https://www.stuttcars.com/technical/vin-decoder/

Ivan

[zelrik911]

Originally Posted by scottb2706

Engine has smog controls but have not looked at s/n yet.

Rotor button in distributor, if original ROW, would be a big fat one with built-in over rev protection. The US over rev protection was a separate module wired in behind the instruments & dis. had a normal rotor button.

[timmy2]

Looks a lot like my ROW '78 when I got it.
Front signals were swapped out to US type.
All '78/'79's have the air pump for smog. CA market only has egr added.
My rotor was swapped to the US spec one so no over rev protection!!
The engine type and serial number is the real indicator as many other things get changed over the years
Check it.