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Just bought a 'garage find' estate sale '83 944! HELP!!!

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Old 09-13-2017, 03:28 PM
  #31  
mrgreenjeans
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Yes, this is a Canadian Import as noted by others and by the black tag on your fender, placed under hood.

It is an '82 built car, also noted on that tag. It is made about 1800 cars later than my '82 built Guards Red n/a, and 2 months later as well. Pretty cool stuff with that fog lite on back and the French stickers, the KM readout....
AND, did you notice the fuel kpg gauge ???

Sweet

I cannot say for certain by the pic, but that little nacelle ( carryover from the 924 gauges and lites ), does it have a small 'cap' placed in that hole ? Mine does and I have seen it in other very early cars; and it's only in the right hole. Seems they must have been using up a bunch of pre-punched gauge plates, and later these were all cast in one piece without a 'cap' in it.
There are A LOT of differences in the early vs. later made cars even within the first '82-'83 year.

Do you have PORSCHE script door tops inside on your door cards ? You shouldn't as these stopped shortly before July '82 production cars. How about the 'prop rod slot' on the left front inner fenderwell ? ( from the 924 run ). Or the coarser vinyl used on the back seat and all door cards ? ( compared to a finer, thinner grain embossing ).

Great car.... Best wishes on the save !
Old 09-13-2017, 03:41 PM
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mrgreenjeans
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Originally Posted by Western_PA 944
I haven't been able to find out what that f21 is either. I have all of the original owners manuals, etc, even the window stickers (with the tape still intact... they were never applied!) that shows all the options so I'll look at that again and see if it will say what it might be. The manuals all say 1983. Also the gauges are metric - in km/h no mph at all, so I just had an 'AHAAAAA!' moment... the mileage on the odometer is in km, so 75981 kilometers = 47212.4 miles!! Woo hoo!!!



Yes !

And if those owner's manuals are truly original to the car, they will have print dates preceding the date of origin of this 944. One of mine has a date of printing indicating 'DEC. / '81'.

Do you have the toolkit, the plastic white air compressor in the black and yellow cardboard box, the plastic ground cloth and vinyl gloves for tire changing ? Or the vinyl sunroof bag ? Vinyl pouch with air gauge by VW and VDO ?Maybe the foil antennae wipe bag for cleaning the radio antennae ? If you do, this stuff is the 'holy grail' of 944 ephemera ...... don't use them if you do. $$$$$

( keeping my fingers crossed for you !!! )
Old 09-13-2017, 04:48 PM
  #33  
StoogeMoe
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It may have been built in 82, but it's an 83 model. Mine was also built in 82, but two months later than this example. I only ever saw once in the VIN with CN.
Old 09-13-2017, 10:41 PM
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Western_PA 944
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Originally Posted by mrgreenjeans
Yes !

And if those owner's manuals are truly original to the car, they will have print dates preceding the date of origin of this 944. One of mine has a date of printing indicating 'DEC. / '81'.

Do you have the toolkit, the plastic white air compressor in the black and yellow cardboard box, the plastic ground cloth and vinyl gloves for tire changing ? Or the vinyl sunroof bag ? Vinyl pouch with air gauge by VW and VDO ?Maybe the foil antennae wipe bag for cleaning the radio antennae ? If you do, this stuff is the 'holy grail' of 944 ephemera ...... don't use them if you do. $$$$$

( keeping my fingers crossed for you !!! )
Hey 'Mr Greenjeans'! Yes, she has the two original tool kits - one in a black vinyl pouch, the other in brownish vinyl pouch, the white plastic compressor (yes, in the box!) also the pouch for the sunroof... and as for the antenna cleaner,. pressure gauge, and the ground cloth & gloves, I'll have to look and see... not sure about those. Here are more pics of the window sheets (in both English and French!) and the manuals.









Old 09-13-2017, 11:40 PM
  #35  
mrgreenjeans
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Stoogemoe

the '82 cars were to go to Europe first; only a few got imported ( mostly grey market cars ) into North America.

There was a metallic brown 'test mule' '82 which showed @ the Colorado Parade in '88; it was also an extremely low serial number car. It was written up in the October issue of Panorama in '88 and the owner died shortly thereafter.
Anyone know where this car is today ? It had 924 style side mouldings and a host of non standard things which did come on later '82s and '83s.
I believe it was # 5 or 6 ..... off the line.

Thanks for posting your books and papers !!! Great stuff. The base price in America was something like 18,500 in US dollars and a like equipped model to yours would have been around 22,500 ??? maybe less. Crazy stuff that exchange rate !!!

Yes, the '82s would be C codes in the VIN, but as noted they are few and far between; they DO show up once in awhile @ National events in America. ( there was a wrecked one in brown, a euro spec. that got parted locally in '84. Heavy front end hit and twist. I looked it over in the salvage pool and was shocked how different in details it was from mine.
Old 09-14-2017, 08:56 AM
  #36  
paredown
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Congratulations--that is pretty much my dream experience right there--you are battling the effects of age and the car being parked, but you are not battling the effects of abuse.

I've been looking most of the summer, and there are a lot of really tired, beat 944s out there.

I wonder if this early production was more or less a Euro car--I know when I bought my VW GLi in Canada (1984) the speedo showed KPH/MPH. Maybe they did not have a bilingual gauge yet?
Old 09-14-2017, 11:01 AM
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Western_PA 944
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Originally Posted by paredown
Congratulations--that is pretty much my dream experience right there--you are battling the effects of age and the car being parked, but you are not battling the effects of abuse.

I've been looking most of the summer, and there are a lot of really tired, beat 944s out there.

I wonder if this early production was more or less a Euro car--I know when I bought my VW GLi in Canada (1984) the speedo showed KPH/MPH. Maybe they did not have a bilingual gauge yet?

I'm thinking (and hoping!) this was a Euro car.
Old 10-07-2017, 05:40 PM
  #38  
Western_PA 944
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Okay, we're back from the cruise to Bermuda! Following the advice that many on here gave me, I took this beast to a local Porsche specialist that came highly recommended to do the timing & balance shaft belts and tensioners, and the water pump as well. Picked her up from there this morning.Other than that, not much more was found to need repairing or replacing. Aside from the pump & belts, fuel tank was drained & cleaned, fuel pump was fouled and replaced, fuel filter changed, fuel rails and injectors removed, cleaned, adjusted and were fine...then the car ran - but basically only 1 or 2 cylinders fired. Turned out that a crank reference sensor was the culprit, and once that was replaced, VOILA!! Fired up ad ran FINE. He was surprised at how little other than the belts and water pump needed attention considering the car was basically in 'hibernation' since 1998.Fluids were changed as well. Total 'damage' from HRE Porsche, just over $1,600. Then 4 new tires put on earlier today and she's now back where she belongs - ON THE ROAD! All legal - registered, insured, and inspected and just itching to get out and enjoy the open road. Here's what she looks like now!

Old 10-08-2017, 06:44 PM
  #39  
alex.rhodes
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Congratulations on a nice looking car. Glad to hear that you were able to get it up and running for not to much money. I would suggest some new tires before testing the handling. The wheels look good with the color.
Old 10-08-2017, 06:49 PM
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Western_PA 944
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Thanks... and those tires ARE new! LOL Just got them yesterday - Cooper Cobra GTZ's and they are a 92W rating.
Old 10-08-2017, 10:02 PM
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If those are new tires, why are you responding to an internet forum. There are corners waiting to be apexed. Enjoy the car and the looks from everyone.
Old 10-13-2017, 10:17 PM
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voiceprint1
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great find, hit that rubber with some back to black. Curious you didn't mention the condition of the brakes?
Old 10-13-2017, 10:42 PM
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AnthonyGS
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Car looks incredible! Congratulations and may many happy miles come your way.
Old 10-13-2017, 10:56 PM
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The brakes are perfect... when I had tires put on last Saturday I checked all 4 wheels and the brakes are virtually new, like 95% or better left on the pads and the rotors are perfectly smooth, and she brakes just as smooth.


Originally Posted by voiceprint1
great find, hit that rubber with some back to black. Curious you didn't mention the condition of the brakes?
Old 10-14-2017, 09:49 AM
  #45  
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Yeah, she is a sweet ride! Only had her back on the road for a week after her 20 year 'hibernation'. This car is a pure 100% survivor.Totally all original (well other than the high tech Kenwood AM/FM/cassette stereo and speakers that was installed back in '83... and I have the receipts - $2,485!) The owner had MS and wasn't able to drive it anymore, so it was garaged (with the fitted cover on it) since 1998.

Originally Posted by AnthonyGS
Car looks incredible! Congratulations and may many happy miles come your way.


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