Matt H

It is possible that a few were sold without the third brake light. The law could have said all cars to be sold by X or something similar.

Robby, there were actually early dash cars as early as 1984. It is said that someone in the Northeast actually has one in the US. Not sure of the differences because I have only seen them in pictures.
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SD Porsche Fan

I was under the impression that the Turbo S was the next step to the 951 series with non S cars being discontinued half way through the model year ( similar to early and late dash boards on 85 NAs). I don't believe they were produced side by side. You can think of the models as being 86 - 88 for the standard 217hp 951 and 88 1/2 - 89 for the Turbo "S" with 247hp, M030, S4 breaks, LSD, etc. Some on this board have also referred to 88 1/2 - 89 as a "952".

I'm not sure on the exact production dates for S cars but I believe it was part way into the 88 calendar year.

sweanders

What you think does not matter since hard facts are present.

Porsches model years are in production from August to June. The 944 turbo S was produced in 1988 and was a high performance model of the 944 turbo. In 1989-1991 all 944 turbos had the same engine specifications as the 1988 turbo S. So a 1988 MY car might have been produced in 1987, nothing wierd about that.

The 952 is a RHD 951.

SD Porsche Fan

I try never to let the facts get in the way of my thinking!

badcoupe

my 86's prod date was 8-85 and it had 16" PD's standard 951 4 piston calipers and the third brake light. Whats weird though is it insured as a 85 porsche 944 turbo and my plates also came back as 85 model year????? I'm the third owner of the car and have all the porsche dealer records up to 1990 on service etc. so I know it's not an builder car, wreck etc.

Nabeel

At 944Fest there was a burgandy 951 with 15 inch PDs. They may have been installed later in the car's life, but I remember talking about how it would be interesting if it were one of the earliest examples of a 951, which came shipped with 15-inch PDs. Can't remember if that car had a third brake light or not. I think the car belonged to Ben Z.? I don't know, there were lots of people at the fest who I did not get a chance to even talk to.

A couple years ago there was a guy on the Pelican board classifieds selling his 951, which he claimed was an '85.5. I remember asking him if he was sure it wasn't an '86, but he was adament that his car was a very early example and was indeed an '85.5. It was guards red, and I really can't remember whether the car had the smaller phone dials or not.

Matt H

The maroon car is Ben Z.'s (nice guy BTW). IIRC, they were "added" later.
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Robby

Matt- ANYTHING's possible... I'm sure you are right about the law saying "X" date or something, but, I always thought that date was right on the line, although, it never occured to me, for some reason, that it would have been ALL '86 cars, so, would have started several months before '86..... I can't remember too many details from that far back- I was a little kid &.... By 1990 I had killed ALL but a handfull of braincells.... HEY... it was the 80's....

I could have sworn it showed a date on the window sticker...? I can't find it anywhere... I just remember March '88- maybe that was the first sales date on the original title I signed when I actually bought it from the 2nd owner...? Anyway, as for the regular '88's being produced UNTIL the Turbo S was started & NOT being produced side by side- I have no idea- I DO know that thisw has nothing to do w/when they were sold. as OFTENTIMES a car made in '87 would not be sold until '89 & there are even more exrteme examples out ther

Luis de Prat

I'm really enjoying this thread.

Having followed Robby's posts for some time, if he's ever inducted into the prestigious Rennlist "Hey Wait For Me Racing" group, I say his title be "HWFM Racing Official 944 Turbo Analyst."

Robby

Are you sure you're in the right thread here Luis? What'd I say?

Luis de Prat

Just the way you like to "get to the bottom" of everything about your car merits that consideration, IMHO.

tifosiman

FWIW, I'm am fairly certain that there was a MY1985 951 in europe. I need to check my sources, I'll post a question over on the PCGB forum. I have seen many used 951's for sale in europe advertised as MY1985 cars. However, they have the late dash as europe got the late dash 1/2 year before we did.

Luis de Prat

Yes, there was. Only around 200 cars built, though.

Sami951

I'm guessing most 951s advertised as MY1985 are really MY86s, just delivered early in the 1985... my car (WPOZZZ95ZGN140089) is model year 86 (G) even though it was delivered in june or july 1985 (I'd have to go find the original registration to make sure, but it was summer '85 anyway). Also, in many paperwork issues like getting an insurance etc., the car's model year is considered to be the same as the year it was first registered in, at least over here in Finland (and I'm guessing in most of Europe too), so it gets slightly confusing.

Duke

I just thought I would add my 2 cents about 951 vs 951 cab...

Performance wise in a straight line there is no difference. The 951 cab is chipped and pulls very strong!
But handling is another story though. It's probably not the best comparision since I'm used to my lowered M030 Turbo S, non sunroof etc.
Quick change of direction in the 951 cab is not nearly as direct as in the 951 coupé. You can feel the body flex.

But that is probably my perception being screwed up. In the "old" days I used to think the 951 cab was rock solid.

So... while it is noticeable that the roof is gone, the 951 cab still handles well.
But "good handling" is a very subjective thing so it will of course differ from person to person.

But flooring it in 3rd from cruising at around 80 km/h in the cab is quite a feeling. The turbo rush together with the wind is an amazing feeling!