Aurelle

I'm trying to learn about Porsche VIN numbers. All of the "decoder" sites out there explain the first 11 digits very well. And it's very interesting. But the 12th-17th digits, they always just say these are the "VIS" or the "Serial Number." Can anyone help me understand these numbers better. The specific car I'm looking at has 135001 as the last 6. Does that mean it's the 135001st car in some series, or 5001st? Can anyone point me to a resource that can help me understand these mysterious last 6 numbers? Thanks!

Sidvicious7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_VIN_numbers

Aurelle

Thanks, I’ve looked through that. It still doesn’t explain what those last 6 numbers signify, other than “serial number.” My question is, what does it indicate in terms of... what number in the series is it? Is it sequential, the 5001st Targa perhaps? Or 35001st 991?

Fred R. C4S

I believe serial numbers are indeed sequential. When recalls are issued you’ll see the range of serial numbers affected and at times a total of cars effected and this supports no missing numbers. However, I would be surprised if the first model made had a serial numbers ending in 0001. When I worked for The Big Yellow Tractor Co., when we introduced a model or model change, we would never start with 0001. Customers tend to avoid the first of anything new so we might begin with any two or three digit number an then continue sequentially from there. The dealers knew or could determine the starting serial number, but it wasn’t common knowledge or known by customers.

SH2

You’re going to get many answers however, likely never the factual one you’re seeking. Discussion of vin sequences has long been discussed on every forum involving both motorcycles and cars, its been a mystery to many for as long as I can remember. The most important question I have for you is why is it so important to know what the last 6 of any vin represents?

Aurelle

I didn’t say it was important. Just trying to learn.

Carlo_Carrera

There is nothing to "learn". The last four digits are just a serial number. Usually the first twenty numbers or so in the production run are reserved for test cars, press cars, VIPs in the company or special preservations.

Aurelle

Not sure why the hostility. If the last 4 are the serial number, I still don’t know what the 12th and 13th digits mean. And I still don’t know what is being “serialized.” Is this the 5001st 991? The 5001st Targa? I guess there is still something I don’t know, and therefore
could learn.

Carlo_Carrera

This explains the 12th and 13th.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_VIN_numbers

It isn't "hostility" it just that this quest to "learn" is pointless. The serial number is just a number. That is it, a number. It is like learning the UPC barcode, pointless.

Southbranch

Porsche's VIN explanation, but it doesn't help much with the last 5 digits: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...69773-0001.pdf

Jack F

Submodels do not have consecutive numbers meaning that one Targa 4 GTS and the next Targa 4 GTS will not have consecutive VIN numbers. They will be sometimes 15 to 90 numbers apart. At Stuttgart factory, all cars are being assembled on the same line and the tour guide verified that one car was a North American car followed by a car heading to China. Also, 991.2 cars was being produced at the same time as 992. Hope this helps a bit.

visitador

Best explanation so far. In all other words, it depends on what model (or for which market) is being assemble at that moment

Jack F

Yes. I can't verify that the vins were sequential on the production line though.