78 Euro VIN tag info
04-03-2012, 11:12 AM
#1
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
78 Euro VIN tag info
Is there any info we can gather from this VIN tag? It was a very interesting car. 5 speed, red with pasha interior but its in need of a serious make over. I'm thinking about it as another project after I finish the paint job on Cassirot so been kicking this car around. Enclosed is a picture of the VIN tag.
Last edited by Dan87951; 11-20-2014 at 05:16 PM.
04-03-2012, 04:50 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
Thats the tag forward of the radiator?
I was never sure if that was official or what, vs the fender and door jam tags, but the 81 means its a 78 ROW (non USA) model and the 1737 puts it about 2/3 of the way through the 2600 produced for that model year (not including the 1100 USA and 65 Japan market 928's).
What I've heard is that records for early cars may still exist on paper, but not electronic formats, so not much you can do except google the vin.
I was never sure if that was official or what, vs the fender and door jam tags, but the 81 means its a 78 ROW (non USA) model and the 1737 puts it about 2/3 of the way through the 2600 produced for that model year (not including the 1100 USA and 65 Japan market 928's).
What I've heard is that records for early cars may still exist on paper, but not electronic formats, so not much you can do except google the vin.
04-03-2012, 05:17 PM
#3
Three Wheelin'
Here are the production numbers pulled from a response on a thread about my '78 Euro.
MY Model Market Smallest VIN Largest VIN Qty Total
---------------------------------------------------------------
78 928 ROW 9288100011 - 102646 2636
928 USA+CAN 9288200011 - 201139 1129
928 Japan 9288209511 - 209575 65 3830
I also asked if there was an option decoder and nobody seemed to know. I have the decoder for the 17 digit vin, but none for the early cars. There is no sticker under the rear mat either with option codes.
What other type of info are you looking for?
MY Model Market Smallest VIN Largest VIN Qty Total
---------------------------------------------------------------
78 928 ROW 9288100011 - 102646 2636
928 USA+CAN 9288200011 - 201139 1129
928 Japan 9288209511 - 209575 65 3830
I also asked if there was an option decoder and nobody seemed to know. I have the decoder for the 17 digit vin, but none for the early cars. There is no sticker under the rear mat either with option codes.
What other type of info are you looking for?
04-03-2012, 07:35 PM
#7
Nordschleife Master
Early cars were I think close to 50/50 AT/Man transmissions, no idea on LSD except it wasn't rare and most people can't tell by driving on the street if they have one or not.
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04-04-2012, 12:37 PM
#8
Addict
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
That plate was used only on certain countries where weight info is required for registration. Its nowhere near universal ROW model thing. Germany and some other European countries yes but not in for example Japanise cars and in general outside EU. Some places like Swiss wanted to have their own specific data in that plate and in those countries it was probably mounted at local dealer before car was sold out and not in production line like in normal cases shown in picture.
No option sticker before '81 MY IIRR. In any case early MY cars never had them so there is no point even to look for it. Porsche has engine and gearbox numbers and options for all cars but short early MY VIN data is in some other system than from where 17 digit long VIN info comes from. So only option is to get certificate of authensity or whatever that $100 piece of paper is called from Porsche. It might not have all the info but its practically only source for option etc for early MY cars.
Easiest way to know if gearbox should have LSD is to check its serial number. It will tell what should be inside and in most cases its possible to say with fair certainty if box is original for the car or not. Same goes with engine number. In difficult cases part casting week or month can also help to identify if engine or gearbox is original or not. But in most cases if either is changed replacement part is so far off from what it should be that its easy to spot it can't be original.
First couple of MY's number of 5sp vs automatic was more like 80 vs 20 on most markets rather than 50 vs 50 or far worse like in most later year. I think only UK had near 50 vs 50 and only in '79 MY. '78 MY automatic is in reality fairly rare beast. Especially among earliest few hundred cars made.
No option sticker before '81 MY IIRR. In any case early MY cars never had them so there is no point even to look for it. Porsche has engine and gearbox numbers and options for all cars but short early MY VIN data is in some other system than from where 17 digit long VIN info comes from. So only option is to get certificate of authensity or whatever that $100 piece of paper is called from Porsche. It might not have all the info but its practically only source for option etc for early MY cars.
Easiest way to know if gearbox should have LSD is to check its serial number. It will tell what should be inside and in most cases its possible to say with fair certainty if box is original for the car or not. Same goes with engine number. In difficult cases part casting week or month can also help to identify if engine or gearbox is original or not. But in most cases if either is changed replacement part is so far off from what it should be that its easy to spot it can't be original.
First couple of MY's number of 5sp vs automatic was more like 80 vs 20 on most markets rather than 50 vs 50 or far worse like in most later year. I think only UK had near 50 vs 50 and only in '79 MY. '78 MY automatic is in reality fairly rare beast. Especially among earliest few hundred cars made.
04-04-2012, 08:06 PM
#10
Nordschleife Master
That plate was used only on certain countries where weight info is required for registration. Its nowhere near universal ROW model thing. Germany and some other European countries yes but not in for example Japanise cars and in general outside EU. Some places like Swiss wanted to have their own specific data in that plate and in those countries it was probably mounted at local dealer before car was sold out and not in production line like in normal cases shown in picture.
First couple of MY's number of 5sp vs automatic was more like 80 vs 20 on most markets rather than 50 vs 50 or far worse like in most later year. I think only UK had near 50 vs 50 and only in '79 MY. '78 MY automatic is in reality fairly rare beast. Especially among earliest few hundred cars made.
First couple of MY's number of 5sp vs automatic was more like 80 vs 20 on most markets rather than 50 vs 50 or far worse like in most later year. I think only UK had near 50 vs 50 and only in '79 MY. '78 MY automatic is in reality fairly rare beast. Especially among earliest few hundred cars made.
Great info indeed. I just figured it was an ROW thing and the US just got a different data plate/VIN plate! Good to know!
Also very true on the Auto trans in the early years! The '78 autos are few and far between actually. Jim and I have been keeping an eye out for the earliest auto '78 (which of course will be a EURO car) in the US and I bought #295 as it is the earliest we have found so far!
