Do these numbers match?

[Ccporsche]

Does this add up?
A 912 with an engine number 4094067

Would that be the original engine?

[JT912]

I responded elsewhere on this board and others have responded on the 912BBS and the Early S Registry. Seems like you've pretty much covered your bases. Short answer is no.

Even a shorter answer: no, probably a '69 engine.

Otto

[Rick Becker]

4094067 is a plausible number for a 1969 912 type 616/40 w/ emission control) for USA/CDN; here's a link to the Registry VIN table with engine number ranges, etc.

912 Registry | VIN Table

[Jaems]

Hey Rick,

I think your chart has it reversed. The 7XXXXX engine numbers are for the export engines. The 8xxxxx number engines are for Germany and Sweden.

You have the Exp 7xxxxx for Sweden and Germany.

[Rick Becker]

Great catch Jaems, thanks. While checking the Type Classification Table in the factory IX/78 Technical Specifications pocket guide, found another interesting fact: it states the 1966 model year began July 1965, not September as sometimes suggested.

Rick/Jaems,

Could the difference between July and September reflect the difference in production/delivery for European and overseas/US market, so that basically both dates are correct?

Otto

[Rick Becker]

Good point Otto, there can be a wide spread between the production and delivery dates, from almost none when the original owner picked up a car at the factory via tourist delivery, to a car shipped overseas and then not immediately purchased on the dealer's lot...

[Jaems]

The July was the change over for the model year. However, July is also the factory's summer vacation time. Their production starts up again in August.

The current model year ends in June. However, do to the existing sale of the 65 356's. Which were most likely done by June; and since the travel time from the factory to point of entry in the US was approximately over 30 days by boat. The existing 65's 912 were probably shipped in July of 65 and then (as was the common practice back in the 60's with cars that did not have any major body changes) titled as 66's. That is why we have some very early 66's with painted dashes purchased in August. So by the time the August productions were in full swing. The 66's with non painted semi-gloss black dashes were showing up in September of 65.

Not all dealerships sold everything on their lot right away. This is why someone may have purchased a painted dash later in the year of 65 say in October or November. I know that the dealership that was here still had a couple of 89's that were finally sold a year after the 90's Carrera's two's and fours had arrive.

This is most likely why the spec book lists the 66 starting in July of 65 instead of August of 65. I know that this is very confusing to most folks that want to have their cars be 65's.

[Rick Becker]

A couple other interesting points:

1) Porsche used the 64xx paint codes for the very early 912s; still trying to determine if the 66xx codes appeared as of July. Special orders '66 models could still come with 64xx colors.

2) Per Excellence Was Expected, page 415 "Initially the 912 was not exported to the United States, so 365C production for that market rolled on until it was ended officially in September 1965." Anyone ever heard of 356 titled new as a 1966?

Rick, Jaems,

In addition to your notes and my previous post, we should not forget that there are some more or less minor differences between the US and European version of the 912. This also gives a difference in administration of starting dates. For the factory these where different cars. Otherwise things like US heaters would be mentioned on the certificate of birth as an option for a European car. With all respect for Germans, they where not very flexible, estrictly according to rules and verything had to be documented.

I think the date of titling is not interesting in this discussion, because Porsche factory is not interested in the titling of a car. For them the day the car left factory is the reference. They don't keep any record of other dates during the selling proces.

That some '66 special order models had 64xx color labels on them can be explained by the fact that during the production of the car a "label" for the color was needed. If the color was a '64/'65 color, they had a clear description of the color to be used on the car. Perhaps was this also caused by the time difference june/august. For the special ordered models during may/june special color tables for the US market where not yet available and they used the earlier 64xx color codes, although a '66 model was ordered. Again just an idea.

Nevertheless, it's stil an interesting discussion.

Otto

[Jaems]

The production of 356's was ended 5 April 1965, then they start the 65 912. Since the body was so different I doubt that any dealership would try and sell a 356C or SC as a 66. Though the DMV could of made a mistake and title it as a 66. I once had a 68 912 listed with a vin number of 138xxxx instead of 128xxxx. I never could get the DMV to change it.