79NINE28

Hello 928'ers (errrr 92Lovers),
Perhaps this thread belongs in a general discussion forum and if so "Happy Poly Lodges". I have noticed in some cases, 928 are being advertised /listed as having 1/2 years and would like to know everyone's opinions....both informed and personal. Take my car for example (not literally I don't want to give it up!)....the VIN when run via Service Ontario in Canada lists it as a 1979 but hold on a minute- the vehicle history documents they provided show that the car was delivered from Porsche into Canada (Scarborough VW dealership) in October 1978. Factor in the very low production number and I present you the question: "Does this constitute a 1978 1/2 year model?"
It was fairly standard practice for N American manufacturers to release car model years ahead of the January calendar flip over (and same practice adopted later on by others/foreign etc. but that's another story for another day). I wonder what the manufacturing cycle was for a 928. To deliver across the ocean for early October, the car must have begun being made in early 1978. Or not?
Your thoughts......
ps my VIN ends in 00072 so another clue to the early manufacturing of the car?

Jerry Feather

The model year has only a little bit to do with the date of production. I think Porsche starts the next year's production in June or July, so a late 78 production date will make it a 79.

It is even quite a bit more complex when it comes the the GTS imported to the US in 93. They didn't import any for the Model Year 92, so they call the late 92s actaully early 93s in the US. You can tell the difference by the last four of the SN.

icsamerica

I think the only 1/2 year that is significant for a 928 is the 86.5 Porsche 928 which is a unique model with suspension, exhaust and brakes form the 87 and original body. It's not really a 1/2 exacly, the first 1000 cars are just 86. The rest with the better brakes, suspension and exhaust are considered 86.5.

Jerry Feather

And even that has little or nothing to do with the date of production.

icsamerica

I've heard of these 1/2 year things bantered about at car gathering where men drunk on fumes often verbally foam about the mouth in an effort to ascribe some significance or differentiation to their car. It's very common. For example recently I was at a party and a guy was telling me about his special car that had the "European Ignition" that was only available... bla bla bla. I know the car, I have one, it was BS. No point in arguing. BUT Jaguar, Ferrari and other low production makes sometimes make significant production changes mid year. Usually to fix a major problem or in cases where the prior year's models didn't sell out or if the next model year was delayed becasue of production supply or development issue. Like everything, research needs to be done on a case by case basis to be sure.

Might be unrelated to what you are referring to but My first 928 was a "1979" and was a gray market import. After I bought it and started ordering parts I figured out it was actually an early 1978 becasue it had some early items that were were only found on 1978 cars. I dont know why... and this story is totally anecdotal but I think the importers fudged the model year so the buyer thought they were getting a newer car perhaps to make the "deal" appear better than it was. That may have gotten harder to fudge as time went on so perhaps these shrewd marketers invented the 1/2 year.

icsamerica

Here is proof that importers had a MAJOR incentive to ascribe a later year to the car if they could. I found this classified from the period.

79NINE28

Fascinating! Please share which items/options were from the earlier year and made the car Grey Market.

79NINE28

WOW!; That's neato.

icsamerica

I recall 2 things
1. It had chrome door locks
2. The AC had a very small condensor which I came to learn was only on early 928.

They grey market was evidenced by the ugly add on square side markers.

Jerry Feather

This thread is purely academic. The Porsche 928 that anyone has is the model year that is shown by or with its VIN. How that became related the the actual car that anyone has is probably another discussion. However, If anyone has a question about what Model Year their cars is, Just look at the VIN. That pretty much tells it all. And I mean ALL!!!

Now, someone may have a Porsche 928 that is registered as a 79 but might have some carry over items from the end of 78 production, that does not make it a 78. I think the same applies to a 928 produced at the end of a production year that might have some next year production items on it. That is what we all see as a late 86 which we like to call an 86.5. It is still an 86.

I think it is a lot like restoring a 928, or any other car. You can fix anything but the mileage. If I were to take any given 928, say an 88 S4, say with high mileage, and strip it out completely, then subject it to very extensive restoration, perhaps including an entirely different power and drive train, new, different, suspension and running gear, a completely new interior and, of course, new body work and paint, what I would end up with is a like new 928 but still an 88 with whatever mileage it had before all the restoration, and that could very well be 300K miles or so.

What your 928 is is the model year it is registered as and whatever it might have on it does not change that. DUH!!!!

79NINE28

I think this thread is entertaining and actually educational. "The Porsche 928 that anyone has is the model year that is shown by or with its VIN. How that became related [to] the actual car that anyone has is probably another discussion."
I think we can side thread here? Please explain some of the ideas behind "how that became related"? cheers

ROG100

I have been immersed in 928's since 2003 and have never heard of reference to 1/2 year apart from USA/CAN 86 cars. 86 USA/CAN after VIN 1000 had the suspension and brakes of the 87 as already stated.
This was for purely USA/CAN market 32v cars and not ROW.
All ROW 86 16v S2 cars and ROW 32v S3 cars had the suspension and brakes from the 87. No 1/2 year split.

Wisconsin Joe

A few points:

"Model Year" is established by the manufacturer.
One way to determine it for certain, in cars with the 17 space VIN is the letter in the 10th spot.
My 85 is "F".
You can scroll through the "Official VIN Check" thread to see what letters go to what year.
In cars with the 10 digit VIN, those that know what they are looking at can tell what MY the car is.

The actual production of each model year began in late summer. My understanding (could be wrong and welcome correction if so) is that the factory changed the assembly line during the standard European summer vacation time, when the majority of the workers were gone.
When they came back, they started making the 'next year' of cars.
This can get confusing because some European countries consider the 'year' of the car the year that it was first registered. So a MY79 that was produced, sold and registered in, say, November of 78 would be registered as a 78, not a 79. I think it's also possible for a car that sat on the lot the entire year and wasn't sold until the following year to have a 'registration year' a year later than the Model Year (an 81 sold and registered in January of 82 for example).
There are early cars that are advertised as "1977". While there were no MY77 928s, there were some that were sold in late 77 and so have a European title that lists the year as "77".

Grey Market cars are Euro cars that were brought into the US under the old (no longer possible) 'federalization' process.
A car not available in the US could be imported and then modified to meet US standards. Mainly lighting, safety and emissions.
One very obvious 'tell' for a Grey Market 928 is the corner marker lights. Euro cars had none. Some of the importers went to the trouble of cutting holes in the front fenders and rear quarters that would fit the factory corner markers (my car has that). Many (most?) however, just screwed whatever lights they had handy. Many look like they were intended for trailers. Some are in really odd spots.

One reason the Grey Market process no longer exists is that some of the shops doing the 'federalization' were rather sketchy. Changing the model year to make the car 'newer' (more valuable) wouldn't surprise me in the least.

As far as the 'half year' goes, there really aren't any 928s that can really be considered that.
The 64 Mustang, 70 Camaro, and a few others were cars that were released by the factory part way through the model year, instead of the normal fall release.

The US '86.5' is an unofficial name given the cars that, after VIN 1000, had the 'S4 bits'. Front suspension, brakes, exhaust, battery box and a few other things. Somewhat different than the 'standard' US 86. Many consider it better (me included).
The 'funny' part about it is that all the RoW MY86 cars have all the '86.5', S4 bits. So all 86 cars outside of North America are '86.5' configuration.

husker boxster

Hey is there a phone # for the RSR? I'd like to check and see if it ever sold. Thanks.

hacker-pschorr

It's very common for cars to have a manufacture date previous to the model year it's being sold as. Some 2022 model year cars were already available in spring of this year, with most on the lot by the beginning of fall.

My 928's
78 - 01/78 (#277)
79 - 04/79 (#1691)
80 - 10/79 (#281)
81 - 01/81
87 - 02/87

944's have a half year in 1985, when they switched over the interior.
My 1987 944S was made October 1986


​​​​​​It's just as common if not more so with run of the mill cars like Honda's, and why you need the VIN when ordering parts. I've seen 5-6 different variations of parts based on the VIN for BMW's of the same model year.

I love saying any car I show up in is a "one of a kind" and when people ask why I say: "It's the only one I own this color".

I think Corvette owner are the worst when it comes to making up elusive options to make their car more rare:

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