Looking for feedback on 1976 912E, missing one VIN tag

[heliskimaster]

Hello, I’m new to the community so hopeful to receive some feedback on a 1976 912E I’m considering purchasing from a friend. It is my first Porsche and vintage car.

From what I know, the car has had two prior owners. Engine was replaced as now has Weber carbs after the EFI went bad and couldn’t be replaced. Brake system and transmission have been rebuilt about 3 years ago after my friend purchased the car from its original owner. Car has lived in Colorado and body corrosion/rust is minimal, on par for its age. Mechanical survey completed on the car this week indicated all major systems are in very good shape as is the body. The sunroof works well. Have driven the car twice and it runs great, very enjoyable to drive. Car is black exterior with black interior. Seller and I haven’t finalized price, but we seem to be agreed in the $20K neighborhood. 184K on the Odometer.

Only issue of note with the survey was the VIN tag in the trunk is missing.

Questions:
- What are the other locations of VIN numbers?
- Is it possible to have the stamped trunk mounted VIN plate recreated and if so, what documentation is required to be provided?
- Does the missing VIN plate have any significant impact on current value or resale potential

Thanks in advance for your help!

[drauz]

my question to my friend, as we gazed upon the location of the missing VIN plate, would be “how do we know for a fact that this near half-century old car wasn’t clipped at some point in the past?”

[Matt Monson]

Post pictures of the missing vin and surrounding areas.

[Rodsrsr]

Yes post a pic. I'm confused. Is the stamp there but blank, scratched off or is the plate not there? Pic will tell a lot. The two other vin locations are a sticker in the drivers side door jam (below the rear hood release) and on the drivers side "A" pillar there should be a plastic tag riveted to the pillar, but the primary identification is the stamp in the frunk area.

[dwelle]

if you're referring to the aluminum VIN plate that's attached inside the trunk on the passenger fender rail, it's not there on a '76. my '76 looks like it's missing, it even has the black paint that goes around it. some discussion on it here:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/228954-77-vin-plate-mystery.html

otherwise, VIN should be stamped in front of the smugglers box, on the A pillar and a sticker in the drivers door jamb...

[heliskimaster]

Thank you @drauz, @matt monsoon, @rodsrsr and @dwelle for your responses and insights. Had the opportunity to view the car again today and inspect a few more things including the VIN plate in question. As noted, the second plate is in the trunk (first pic) and that was the case today so this issue seems to be resolved. Attached are pics of both the window frame plate (second pic) and the trunk plate.

I now have a second question I’ll pose here to you and in a second post. In Colorado, classic cars must pass an emissions test when title transfers in a sale but not thereafter until the car is sold again. Its apparently different rules in different states. I’m told the dual Weber carb setup isn’t going to pass inspection and an air pump was put on to help the car meet emissions. That and some ‘grease‘ ($) at an emissions facility helped the car “pass” the test. I was told a replacement fuel injection system isn’t readily available In terms of replacement parts/system and why the Webers were installed. I have no idea if this is true, so please weigh in here.

I‘ll add there is some lore in the car’s history in that it was possibly autocrossed and engine modified to improve power, possibly including bore/stroke, cams and carbs. Unfortunately there is no immediate way to know, but the shop that surveyed the car noted it was faster than a stock set up.

The larger concern I have is assuming I can get a good emissions test now, what’s the likelihood I could sell the car down the road if that’s what I decided to do?

In other words, am I buying into a potential dead end deal or are there options to maintain/improve marketability?

What would be a back of the napkin estimate to re-engine the car and transmission and which motor is recommended for a 912?

Appreciate your feedback - thanks!

[Rodsrsr]

Well mine started out as a 76 912E and is now a backdated RSR look with a turbo 3.2 The 76 912 has a galvanized body so its a great candidate to mod. It also already has the engine mount so very little is needed to drop in a big motor. Unlike the early 912's the 76E is basically a 911 re badged with a 4 cylinder. All 911 components are literally bolt on.

[ryans65]

Glad you got that figured out.

That is an "unkown" 912E vin also, if you feel so inclined head on over to 912vin.com and submit that to the 912E registry. I think they have accounted for over 1400 of the original 2099 cars. Pretty neat.

[B.W.Jones]

Rodsrsr, Tell me more about your beautiful, modified 912e.

[Rodsrsr]

Thanks for the compliment. I wanted to build a wide body and stumbled across a super clean 912E which I decided to use as a donor car. My reason was that since I was going to upgrade all of the systems either way it didn't matter. I can tell you first hand that the 912E is virtually identical to the 911. The motor, brakes, suspension, ect are all items I would have upgraded either way, so it was a great candidate. The body is also galvanized so most 912E's will have little to no rust.

[heliskimaster]

Rodsrsr, can you specifically comment on the aftermarket fuel injection system you rebuilt with? I’m still looking at the 912E with Weber carbs but for marketability purposes may want to put fuel injection back on the 912 engine. The original FI died and parts couldn’t be found to replace it, so carbs were installed. Thanks 👍

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by heliskimaster

Rodsrsr, can you specifically comment on the aftermarket fuel injection system you rebuilt with? I’m still looking at the 912E with Weber carbs but for marketability purposes may want to put fuel injection back on the 912 engine. The original FI died and parts couldn’t be found to replace it, so carbs were installed. Thanks 👍

Unfortunately I'm not going to be much help with that one since I'm running a 3.2 ltr with factory motronic.