Porsche 928 prototype..?
 

Hi,
I just purchased an old 928 manual that has the following vin: 9288100028.
Apparantly it is the 28th 928 ever built, and one of the oldest remaining in the world.
It does have some quirky bits and solutions...
Old 911 eletric window switches plus the side compartments in the door panels are sealed etc...
I am curious as to the history of this vehicle and the original paint code.
Does anyone know?
It is currently painted red and some dufus added S rear spoiler and side moldings..
I wanna have it repainted and carefully restored to its original factory specification.
The interior is in good order with black leather seats and lots of nice green carpets and vinyl...!!!
It drives very well and I drove it about 1000 kms without any problems yesterday. Engine is strong and the whole car feels very temporary and tight on the road..!
Amazing for a car that the previous owner said was an early production model made way back in February 1977.
I will post pictures later, as it is raining men outside..!
Please give me your comments and further info if possible.
Cheers. J. Michael.

We need pics. Check out 928 registry, there may be some info and pictures of the earliest cars.

Have a look at this thread, it looks like you have #28 of 50 prototypes , does it have a production date on it anywhere ?. Congratulations on your new purchase.
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...highlight=1977

Thanks guys!
May I send some preliminary photos to one of your inboxes and have you help me upload them..?
I cant seem to make them small enough you see...
Cheers.

you can send them to me..
fullerdean@charter.net

I will resize and post for you.

Hope there's some engine bay pictures.
Took pictures of another early 928 and Porsche had hand made some custom hard connection lines in the engine bay before they had tooled for custom routed hard lines.
Looked just like those custom exhaust shop pipes with pieces of curves and straight sections joined together.

Congratulations on your purchase.

Pics are a MUST!
don't assume the spoiler was added by a "dufus".. my 77 came into the US in mid-late 79 and had the S package already installed.. and it is diff than any other S spoiler, so you never know, it may be like mine
I love seeing the real early cars pop up, your's would be about the 8th oldest I have logged... and it's the 28th RoW spec 928, probably about the 39th or 40th one actually made, what's the engine #?

that's my car, 29 has a line that's 1 piece and diff, #35 is like mine but 1 piece, so mine appears to have been the test mule for that line

Since its ROW model and so low '78 MY it was very likely made in spring 1977 right after Geneve car show introduction in March. IIRR first 20 cars were made before the show and production started little after.

First 50 being prototypes info I mention in linked old thread seems to be wrong on early model years. Wrong in a sense that factory would have first made x number of special cars and then started actual production from VIN 0061 for ROW and US markets and 9561 for Japan. In reality first cars where production models which just happened to have some different features than later cars made during model year. This means all numbers were used from first or last without gaps in the middle and cars made got more production like when production parts became available.

Check for early US '78 pics in below thread. It was made months after first ROW cars yet it has some preproduction features.
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/229546-very-early-78-model-year-us-model.html

It would be very interesting to know engine and gearbox numbers. They have to be really low.

Since its ROW model there weren't any VIN sticker in door opening so production month could not be seen from it even when car was new.

Its very likely black seats are not original. Combination with green carpets is something Porsche wouldn't have done back then. Lots of pics of all small details is a must.

Cheers!
And thanks!
Erkka...
Here is the gearbox no:
928301305 4R 7540
I think it was...
Its dark here now!
I will take more pakka pics tomorrow.
Thanks for your feedback!

Can't wait to see some detailed pictures!!!

It might be one of these! I shot these in March 1977 at Zuffenhausen. I would suspect it was originally silver,--most of that first year's production was painted silver.

Nice find Michael!!

Was that the one that was for sale on 'Blocket'??

Look forward to seeing some more detailed pics!!
(I can also host pics for you, if you need.)

That sounds like casting number. Gearbox number should start with G28 and be under the box next to rear subframe.

Looks like it is.

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/362973-is-this-the-28th-928-produced.html

A handbuilt 928, that's such an awesome piece of history, definately keen on oogling some pics!

Good morning fellahs!
I am up and eager to get deeper into the identity of this shark..!
Thanks for your learned responses.
I will have a cup of tea and then promptly snap more detailed photos and get more info..!
Yes it was the shark from Blocket!
A nice chap in Nothern Sweden, Umeå sold it.
A psychologist with two very small kids..
Had no time to enjoy his ancient relic...
So I volunteered!
See you in a bit.

Maybe year ago it was also for sale in Finnish used car website IIRR. Seems owner at the time has some ties into Finland. I should have that ad saved in PDF file somewhere if its in fact same car.

Erkka!
It is the same car as you posted a link to I believe...!
The gearbox was replaced.
Luckily he mentioned if I wanted the original box, I could have it...!
Like an after thought!
I was very happy he asked..!
So I have it lying outside in a sheet of plastic for the time being.
The car drives really nicely...
At times on my long journey home I thought I was in my GTS...!
Amazing for a 31 year old car!

Congratulations, you are very lucky to have such a special car, you are at the best place to take good care of her. Welcome to the family my friend.:cheers:

Erkka!
It is the same car as you posted a link to I believe...!
The gearbox was replaced.
Luckily he mentioned if I wanted the original box, I could have it...!
Like an after thought!
I was very happy he asked..!
So I have it lying outside in a sheet of plastic for the time being.
The car drives really nicely...
At times on my long journey home I thought I was in my GTS...!
Amazing for a 31 year old car!

Thanks Whitefox!
I want to make her silver again...
The interior is in pretty good shape.
So I will spend most time on the exterior.
Erkka!
You Finnish Uber intellect!
Here is the engine no:
M28/01 8180040
I think it was...
Tight little space in front there...
I think it is a V8..!)))))

Edgy01..!
I think I see it!!!
Its 3. row from the left!
The 5th car.
Shining in all its silver glory..!
Thanks for those pics and the great Porsche history you documented back then.
Cheers to you!

Me again..!!
The passenger seat has a date stamped underneath it...
18. MRZ. 1977
Jawohl Mein Herr!
Early spring 1977!
Here is the gearbox no:
G28/03 118 0754
Cant wait for your feedback Erkka..!!!!

Engine number is right in line with other known early ROW's and is very likely original.

ROW 0028 = M28/01 818 0040
ROW 0221 = M28/01 818 0264
ROW 0289 = M28/01 818 0326

Since ROW and US cars have different engine series it doesn't matter what period US numbers are. Since so few if any automatics were made early on ROW automatic engine numbers don't have to be counted in.

Early 100's of '78 cars seem to be all 5sp. Or does anyone know smaller VIN than ROW 1557 and US 0631 which have automatic gearbox? Those are from 928 Registry.

So seats are correct for period. This still leaves somewhat strange black/green color combination. We really need lots of pics to know whats what.

Thats too high in my opinion. Other early '78 have much smaller gearbox numbers.

ROW 0289 = G28/03 118 0075
US 0016 = G28/03 118 0091

US 0016 was made in August '77. ROW 0289 very likely in same month or slightly earlier. Some mixup up and down in gearbox numbers would be normal but 754th gearbox made in ROW 0028 car doesn't seem right to me. It is correct type and MY but probably from later car or possibly changed under warranty very early on.

There should be casting week number in somewhere between cooling ribs on passanger side of the gearbox IIRR. If it shows later date than what is cars expected manufacturing date its clear indication box can't be original.

What gearbox is in car now? It has to be G28/03 or othervise also torque tube and rear subframe needs to have been changed too.

ROW 0034 = M28/01 818 0047

Here are pics Boomarang Baba sent me to resize.

Interior color combo doesn't seem right. Either black or green pieces have been changed some time in the past. There is potential in it but many details would need to be sorted out. Good project in any case as its hard to find anywhere near as early car.

Definitly an odd rear Spoiler. Are those the early window switches?

more pics

Dash is in very nice shape. I can't believe Porsche would do such a cruddy job attaching the door insets. But it could just be that the plastic fittings broke. Those do look like 928 seats to me, and with the date it does seem like they are early seats. Maybe they're from another very early 928? Seems unlikely that an early 928 owner would just happen to find very early seats to replace his with. But maybe he was an early pascha-hater and couldn't wait to put something else in when he took delivery .

Looks cool but a major project!

More pics

the window switch plate has been changed, thus the 911 style switches
I'd like to see a couple closeups of the rear spoiler, it appears to be the same as mine... which is an early prototype for the S package, mine was installed late 78 early 79 and as I stated previously, it's a diff material, it's a shiny more rubbery spoiler than the production ones which are kind of spongy
that interior was definately redone by someone not familiar with the car... or aesthetics

Where is my ten foot pole....:icon107:

Rixter..!
Show me a pic of your window switches please..!
Dan The Wo Man-
Take a hike..!!)))

Relax sweety.....It'l buff right out. :thumbup:

Na....
Ich dont think zo....
We may need that 10 foot pole of yours...!!!))))

Awesome looking project.. expensive tho', but great fun as a restoration!

A strip-to-shell repaint in original Silver, full engine refresh, and replacing seats and door inserts in original fabric would be my starting point.

You might also want to try asking Porsche AG for the original spec sheet - see if they can confirm the original interior colours to aid you in picking the right fabric and carpet kits :) My Letter of Origin from Porsche included paint codes, and "Black Leather Interior", as well as engine numbers, option codes etc.

If you need to track down fabric, you might want to try these guys:

http://www.lemansautofabrics.co.nz/

You mentioned a GTS, so evidently not a stranger to 928's :) Nice purchase, I'd love an early RHD car to restore.

on left is #34, on right is #29

Great advice Hilton!
I will give the Vin to Porsche in Oslo and have them check it for me..!
Cant wait to see it in its original colors.

Rixter..!
Nice cars...!!
Black n white!
Cool.
Both yours..?
Somehow mine would be nice in the middle once its silver again..!
Perfect balance..!
I am going to post some pics taken by a professional photographer of my GTS.
See if I can manage to downsize and upload the files sans Dean Fuller..!!)))

Hey Rixter, did you notice post 29, 6th photo from top? Star knob.

J. Michael, when the key is removed from your ignition lock cylinder, is the key slot vertical? Mine is. Every other one I've seen is angled 45-degrees CCW.

Hi Jon!
Yours it obviously the mule for the experimental ignition key setting..!
because mine is like all the other...
I guess mine is the mule for ugly color combo...!!))))

Same car with its original color!
 

Will try to upload a few pics here of the car after its respray.
It does look alot better now!

Very nice!!! :)

I love it!

Thx so much!
I shall try to upload more pics of it.
Cheers.

Thx so much!
I shall try to upload more pics of it.
Cheers.

Wow - what a piece of history. Nice to see it on the road!!

More pics from the restorational proces? Looks great!

more pics :)

Who the heck was the PO, Santa Clause? Who does red on green????

Silver on green must have been very unique! I'm glad your going to bring it back to it's original specs.
I'm also redoing my 79 from the shell out, it's a lot of work, but worth it :)

Your going to keep all the little prototype switches right? If any of them are corroded, and you can't find a replacement, I will be willing to soda bicarbonate blast them for you.

Blythe

COOL !!!!!

I’ve been recently researching my 928, I’ve owned it since 2001 vin