19 replies to this topic

[Duckman]

I know that the Porsche VINs include lots of very specific details. I've performed a search but couldn't find anything specific about it. How can an owner or prospective buyer decode the information in the VIN?

Thanks, Duckman

[flash]

1 country
2 mfg
3 veh type or division
4-8 body style, engine, etc
9 accuracy check
10 year
11 assembly plant
12-17 sequence number

[Duckman]

Thanks, Bob. This in general is what I was looking for but I'm not much closer to knowing anything than I was. Do you know of a place where I can find the specific codes?

For example, my VIN is WP0AA2967PS820238. I get that my car's specific sequence number is 820238. What about the other stuff?

1 country = W: I assume that's Germany.....or does it refer to Rest of World production?

2 manufacturer = P: I assume that's Porsche

3 vehicle type or division = 0: I'm not sure about this one. Does vehicle type in this case mean automobile or passenger car?

4-8 body style, engine, etc. = AA296: Well, my car is a coupe with four cylinders but I know I can't translate this.

9 accuracy check = 7: OK, I'm lost.

10 year = P: Now, I'm totally lost. My car is a 1993.

11 assembly plant = S: Stuttgart?

12 - 17 sequence number: As I wrote previously, even I can figure out that one.

By comparison and in an effort to decode the mystery, here are a couple of other VINs.

WP0CA299XWS340728 = 1998 993 Cabriolet

WP0AA29975S620161 = 2005 997 C4S

Thanks, again, for your help.

[flash]

the letter corresponds to a year - for example, P is 93, R is 94, and S is 95

if you want to send me the vin, i can decode it for you

[josephsc]

This may help as well (968 follows the same pattern as 944): Porsche 944 VIN Anatomy

[Duckman]

Thanks, guys.

So, my VIN is WP0AA2967PS820238. Following the 944 example, including Flash's tip that the "P" stands for the year ('93), I guess it translates as follows:

WP0 = Porsche in the world manufacturer code
AA2 = Coupe, standard engine, driver & passenger airbag
96 = Type designation 96_
7 = Test code or filler
P = 1993 year of manufacture
S = Manufactured in Stuttgart
8 = Remaining digit from type designation (968)
20238 = Serial number.....or
2 = Body & engine designation and
02238 = Serial number

Specifically, I was interested in the following VIN: WP0AA299XSS321968, which I decode as;
WP0 = Porsche in the world manufacturer code
AA2 = Coupe, standard engine, driver & passenger airbag
99 = Type designation 99_
X = Test code or filler
S = 1995 year of manufacture
S = Manufactured in Stuttgart
3 = Remaining digit from type designation (993)
21968 = Serial number.....or
2 = Body & engine designation and
1968 = Serial number

Sound about right?

[flash]

yup

[blue968]

But what digit/number indicates the #car in the production line??

[flash]

read above - 12-17

[blue968]

well if understanding this correct in duckmans example , his car was the 820,238 car produced?? I didnt think that there were that many 968's produced??



For example, my VIN is WP0AA2967PS820238. I get that my car's specific sequence number is 820238

Thanks

[flash]

i understand - digits 12 and 13 are in house numbers, presumably the production run - digit 14 was used on CS - digits 15-17 are the sequence numbers

[jeff968]

well if understanding this correct in duckmans example , his car was the 820,238 car produced?? I didnt think that there were that many 968's produced??



For example, my VIN is WP0AA2967PS820238. I get that my car's specific sequence number is 820238

Thanks

The 8 is the last digit of 968 model series, the 96 appear earlier in positions 7 & 8.

The 2 is another digit refering to the coupe body style. (cabs have a 4 here)

That leaves the sequence production number as the remaining four digits, HOWEVER, you should know that Porsche started every north american model year and series with sequence number 61, 1-60 was reserved by the factory. So, knowing that you coupe is a 93 and that they started with 0061 then that makes 0238 the 178th coupe produced for that model year.

Jeff

[flash]

small clarification - ROW cabs have a 3, and US cabs have a 4 in digit 13 - ROW hardtops have a 0 and US hardtops have a 2

[xrad]

Question on year of manufacture: Mine is 'N'...does that mean mine was built in 1991? how then does 'S' = 1995?

US car #73.

[blue968]

Hey Xrad,

I am confused on that as well, it seems they skip a few letters??

[blue968]

Thanks for clearing the production thing up for me,I understand now. Didnt make sense to me before.

[flash]

they do skip letters (like O so as not to confuse with 0)

[jeff968]

Question on year of manufacture: Mine is 'N'...does that mean mine was built in 1991? how then does 'S' = 1995?

US car #73.

N = MY 1992
P = MY 1993
R = MY 1994
S = MY 1995

Don't forget about option code 718 which would reVIN a 968 for a different model year so don't get too caught up on that production date on your door if you have a 718 car.

[xrad]

ahhhh. T H A N K you!

[Duckman]

In case anybody wondered or perhaps already figured out the reason for my question, it was in order to decipher the VIN on the '95 993.