porschepolisher

Look at the VIN plate attached to the A pillar on the driver's side, if the VIN has the "ZZZ" then it's a "rest of the world" car, originally sold in just about every country BUT the US and Canada.

PEvans

No one explained why the engine code says "51". Wouldn't it be "52" for an '88 model year Turbo S? Just trying to refine my understanding of these codes.

schip43

I thought that "52" was the code for right hand rive cars?

gruhsy

If the car is stamped with a ZZZ code on the firewall but an AA2 on the a pillar it was a car that did not have a destination when being built. Maybe the car was going to be regular turbo then they had an order for an S silver rose in the US and the car was changed.

I contacted Porsche North America about my turbo and my car was similar to yours with different stamping.

They are your best source for an explanation.

hope that helps

Jason

EJC951S

My VIN sticker also showed engine code 51 with AOR tranny and not a single option code.... Engine # stamped on block is M44/52. I also wondered why. The local dealership provided the option codes... long list including M758. Why would they produced an inaccurate VIN sticker is beyond me.

PEvans

As far as I know right hand drive would show as vehicle type 952, not engine code 52.

Engine code 52 as I understand it indicates the Type M44.52 Turbo S engine. I would certainly go by what is stamped on the engine if it differs from the sticker in the trunk. I am also a bit surprised that they can be different, though.

PEvans

Also, for what it is worth the M758 option code is only good to distinguish the 1988 Turbo S as I understand it. The 1989's like mine don't show the M758 option code but do break out the M030 (chassis) and M220 (limited slip AOR transmission) codes as separate options.

porschepolisher

The engine code (stamped on the block) /52 is for the 88/89 Turbo S block. The Porsche internal (factory) code for the cars are 951 (left hand drive) and 952 (right hand drive). As it was explained to me by a friend who worked for Porsche AG for many years, as the engines are assembled, the engine builders could look at the block and tell what components were needed for that particular engine, and also so that the proper engines made it to the correct chassis before VIN were stamped on.

But here's the catch, say you put a rod through the block of a 44/52, and had the dealer install a "crate motor" from the factory....you got a 44/51 engine code block, as it was an "off the shelf" assembly. So with the proper paperwork, you could have a Turbo S with a dealer installed M44/51 engine. Just thought that I would muddy the waters with that last bit of useless information

C ANDERSON

I have one that the vin is 952 bought from original owner that I went to the dealer with to pickup when new in Mobile, Al . And yes it is LH drive. So they do make mistakes . engine is 44/52 . Now yall have me curious about the data sticker don't remember if it is 952 or 951.

porschepolisher

If you have the complete number 951 or 952 in the vin, it's merely a coincidence....the following table lists how the complete vin is compiled and what each character means in the VIN:

WPOAA295XJN151248

WPO) designates a Porsche in the world VIN system

AA2) US/Canada delivered car ZZZ is ROW (broken down this would be 1st A=coupe 2nd A=2 liter engine (in US)
2=occupant safety system (0=belts only, 1=driver airbag, 2=dr&pass airbags) AA2 actually means a US/Canada delivered Coupe, 2 liter family, with driver and passenger airbags

95) First two digits of vehicle type designation (92=924, 94=944, 95=951)

your 44/52 engine code means you have a 951"S" block

X) Test code or filling character (but this letter will not always be an "X", it could also be a number since it is a test code)

J) Model year code B=1981, C=1982 and on (the Letter I was not used as it could be mistaken for a 1) J=1988

N) Production location (N=Neckarsulm, S=Stuttgart)

1) Third digit from vehicle type designation (see above for first two digits)

5) Null number (the "null number" was used if production exceeded 9,999 units in a model year)

1248) Serial number

If you have the complete string "952" in the VIN it merely means it was the 952nd car produced for that particular model year....some lucky 951 owner may actually have the "951" string in his VIN, but it could also have been assigned (depending on model year) to a 924, 944 or a 944S2

coilbox

Thanks, its very clear now.

The car is in Spain, the ZZZ is normal here.

Olli Snellman

ROW cars does not have VIN plate riveted to A-pillar. Also no sticker next to fuse box like north american vechiles have. Riveted metal plate can be found near battery.

schip43

OK 952, maybe I heard that on Top gear or something?

PEvans

Very helpful. Thanks.

What is the source?

porschepolisher

Yes, engine code M44/52 (stamped on the block pad) is for the 88 "S" and the 89 (S was dropped in 89 since only 1 turbo model was built....88 was the only year where there were 2 turbo models built). All 89's are were built to "S" spec.

Internal (chassis) code 952 is for the right hand drive cars.