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I was wondering when the chrome inlet started. My '96 Vario-Ram coupe was built late 95, sold early 96 and has the black plastic "trumpet" inlet, compared to most 993 that have a chrome metal inlet. Also my car was one of early ones without the "Vario-Ram" lettering cast into the intake runner. 993 engine
The airboxs that have chrome inlets was part of the Motor Sound package, which had the holes drilled into the airbox, different exhaust tips (squareish) and a different set of mufflers.
Nowadays, many have drilled holes themselves (the template can be seen on the back of the cover, and Fister IIs and III are the de factor standard for muffler enhancement.
Factory Motor Sound mufflers are getting pretty scarce, I guess some people like the originality.
I was pleasantly surprised to check the PN on my mufflers to find out that they are Motor Sound. I knew the original owner put the exhaust tips on, but I did not have the motor sound airbox, which I drilled out myself about a year into ownership.
I have heard many stories and inquiries regarding the Varioram script on the 96+ cars, it does not seem to have happened at a certian point in time, as listers have posted their build dates, along with whether or not their car has the script or not, and it seems to be random, THUS, I believe it just sort of depended on which bin your builder pulled the intake from, and if it had the script on it or not, obviously some have it, and others do not, but it is not based on a calendar as to which cars got them. both intakes (with and without the script) likely existed within the factory at the same times. I have an early 96 and it does not have the script.
That is what I was assuming that the chrome inlet was for motor sound cars. Except I have two friends with later '96 cars both without motor sound, and one has the chrome inlet the other is like mine black plastic.
I like the quieter interior, a nice change from my older cars. Was there extra sound deadening with the Comfort Package