Originally Posted by Jay H

Here's a quick one of the '90 from this fall. 34k on the clock, concours only car, fully original, full records. The "Ugly Duckling" of the 911 world. Maybe the worst year ever for 911's other than maybe the mid year 1970's 2.7 liter cars as far as reputation goes...

Again, the dealership couldn't sell this car due to the color and reputation of the early 964 when I snapped it up 12 years ago...

Originally Posted by Alan Smithee

What is the official color of that 964? The only Porsche colors that get me excited are the more unusual greys. I love Atlas, but this one may be a close second.

Originally Posted by Z356

Quattro Libre: Is this the car you were thinking of getting???

I am just pulling your chain. This is my old 2007 997.1 Paint-to-Sample 911S done in 'Signal Green'. The paint code is W25. My car was ordered on spec by Porsche of San Diego (formerly called Pioneer) back in the spring of 2007. It had sport exhaust, Sport Chrono, Adaptive Sport Seats (heated) and a few other interior options painted in the exterior color (center console and air vents) which gave quite a 'pop' to the interior. The car had factory wheels painted black, which are essential (in my opinion) with this color combination. The original owner (a friend of mine from Arizona) had the dealership install a gt3-like aero kit. I bought it from him, the original owner, when the car was 3 1.2 years old, had 16K miles and with 5 months left in the original factory warranty (four years). No previous accidents and a clear CarFax. MSRP was $102+, not including gt3 Aero kit. I paid close to $50K for it about one year ago, which I thought was a great deal.

As others in this forum have heard me say before, not all 'Green' cars are equal. In my book, 'Signal Green' is the king of the 'Greens' in the Porsche world. 'Signal Green' is not the color that Porsche selected for the 2007/2008 gt3 RS. That color is officially called 'RS Green' and has a different color code. True 'Signal Green' has more 'yellow' tint than blue in the mix. 'RS Green' and 'Viper', another vintage colors from the 1970's, have more blue than yellow. In my many years of Porsche ownership I have owned a lot of the original 'Signal' colors Porsche has developed for their cars. I had an original paint 'Signal Red' 1965 C Cabriolet, an original paint 'Signal Yellow' 1973 911T and this 'Signal Green' 997. I am only missing 'Signal Orange' and I am still looking for that one! However, of all of these signature 'Signal' colors that I have owned, 'Signal Green' is by far the most beautiful, impressive & vibrant color of the lot!

A few words about PTS. All color codes can be found in the inside of the gas door on these 997s. It is spelled English as 'Colour', not American as 'Color'. The colour W25, or 'Signal Green', dates back to 1968 in the early 911's. It was a special order color and not many were made even back then. Today there are only a few dealers in the US that are very adventurous in their spec ordering of PTS cars. Euroclassics in Virginia, Porsche of West Houston, Walter's in Riverside, CA and Pioneer of San Diego come to mind. Two of these dealers (Pioneer and West Houston) ordered three 'Signal Green' 911's in MY2007 and MY2008. Mine was one of those so spec'ced in 2007. These dealers (and a few dedicated PTS customers) are brave enough to order cars most others in America would never dare. We are a richer & certainly a more colorful hobby by what these daring folks have done. And we should all be thankful that these PTS cars exist in the limited Porsche color palette of today, dominated by a few 'standards' like Black, Silver, Grays, White and Red.

Porsche is one of the few automotive companies that allow you to do Paint-to-Sample. Mercedes, BMW & VW do not. Audi has an Exclusive Department but makes it very difficult to follow through with the special colors. Porsche Exclusive is an incredible asset that we have at our disposal, allowing us to customize our sport cars in ways not offered by any other manufacturer in this 'lower' price level. You have to go to Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls Royce et al. to experience the same degree of choice and customization. But like everything else in today's world, Porsche Exclusive gets more complicated and expensive every year. Back in 1970, the super rare 'Crystal Blue' special order paint on my original 53K mile 1970 911E Targa cost $185. In 2007, the 'Signal Green' PTS on this 997.1 cost $4,315. By 2009, PTS was increased to $4,500. And in 2010, it rose to $5,500, where it has remained to the present. And the series production folks are constantly testing the painted surfaces - steel, aluminum, carbon fibre, plastic - to determine if the color fading characteristics of the requested PTS color can pass muster. 'RS Orange', for example, is not longer available because it failed these latest 'test'. So PTS is expensive, delays production and is subject to arbitrary 'sorry, can't do' by the powers that be. But if you finally get that unique color on your dream car, it is worth all the extra trouble & added expense!

Quattro, only you can answer the question if a PTS Green car is worth it and what price to pay for it. I didn't have to pay a premium for it because I bought it from a good friend. But I would have been willing to pay more than what I ended up paying for it, simply because I have never seen a more beautiful color on a 911 than this 'Signal Green'. It is all personal opinion, of course.

By the way, I would have the dealer selling this car in Texas confirm the 'colour code' for you. This car may indeed be 'Signal Green' and not the 'RS Green' of the gt3 RS. The reason I say that is that for MY2007 (only), Porsche reserved both the 'RS Green' and the 'RS Orange' colors exclusive for their gt3 RS models. Only in MY2008 did they allow these 'signature' gt3 RS colors to be ordered on other models! In fact, there were many done in MY2008 - the base gt3's was allowed in PTS 'RS Orange', as well as '08/'09 Turbos in that color, plus some Limited Editions Boxsters in 'RS Orange' and Caymans in 'RS Green'.

In any case, good luck with your decision!

Saludos, Eduardo
Currently in Vail Valley, Colorado

Originally Posted by Jay H

Here's my "Fire Sale Brown" PTS pile of junk.

Paint to Sample 1984 3.2 - Bitter Chocolate (from the 1975-76 color palette) over special order tan/brown full leather interior (interior code 75). The car has only three options - alarm system, "Monterey" radio and sunroof. 15" phone dials are original equipment.

Left "abandoned" in the original owner's driveway for 5-6 years outside before it was sold to 2nd owner in 2005 in a poorly running condition. 2nd owner got it running, then flipped it for a small profit to me after a year. First shot is from 2nd owner when he looked at it while For Sale. I buffed the paint out by hand (your looking at original paint for the most part). Completely new suspension, everything works except the alarm which the original owner disabled it somehow when new, full records from new including every fuel fill up since September 26, 1984 (date of delivery). It's gotten 22-24 mpg consistently since 1984 (I still keep the fuel log going).

I get dirty looks, sneers and pick up drivers cut me off in the 997. I get thumbs up in this thing - I guess most people like old cars.

I've had car guys ask me how I can be seen in this ugly poop brown old car. F'em. I simply love it.

Just for reference, Car and Driver reported the '84 Carrera was the fastest production car in the US in that year with a 0-60 time of about 5.4 seconds. 200 hp, 185 ft lbs, ~2800 pounds. '84 was the first year of the computer controlled fuel delivery system called Digital Motor Electronics. These were good cars...

Originally Posted by Bruce R

Funny I've now won three concour prizes not for the cleanest car but more a "peoples choice" award and it must be because of the PtS paint I mean how else to explain? My car is otherwise the lowest on the 911 totem pole, a 2wd Carrera Coupe. Not sure what other explanation to provide?

Originally Posted by Jay H

That color was Baltic Blue with a Silk interior. Very "period correct" for 1990 just coming out of the Miami Vice days. In the right light, it'll show some hints of purple and red in the paint. This color was offered in 1989 and seems to be more common on 1989 3.2's and 1989 944's. I have a US color brochure from 1990 and that color is not listed.

If I was to paint to sample, Baltic Blue would be one of my choices. It's a great medium blue that shows well.

Thanks to all for the compliments.

Originally Posted by Bruce R

Nice write up Carlos.

Originally Posted by Z356

However, of all of these signature 'Signal' colors that I have owned, 'Signal Green' is by far the most beautiful, impressive & vibrant color of the lot!

Originally Posted by Z356

Bruce, I think you got me confuse with your favorite Mexican eatery south of the border - Carlos’n Charlie’s! But no harm done... I love your Maritime Blue PTS coupe! Saludos, Eduardo

Originally Posted by Edgy01

I ordered my 1977 in Bitter chocolate in January 1977, and took delivery at the factory in March 1977. A great color!

Originally Posted by Z356

Quattro Libre: Is this the car you were thinking of getting???

I am just pulling your chain. This is my old 2007 997.1 Paint-to-Sample 911S done in 'Signal Green'. The paint code is W25. My car was ordered on spec by Porsche of San Diego (formerly called Pioneer) back in the spring of 2007. It had sport exhaust, Sport Chrono, Adaptive Sport Seats (heated) and a few other interior options painted in the exterior color (center console and air vents) which gave quite a 'pop' to the interior. The car had factory wheels painted black, which are essential (in my opinion) with this color combination. The original owner (a friend of mine from Arizona) had the dealership install a gt3-like aero kit. I bought it from him, the original owner, when the car was 3 1.2 years old, had 16K miles and with 5 months left in the original factory warranty (four years). No previous accidents and a clear CarFax. MSRP was $102+, not including gt3 Aero kit. I paid close to $50K for it about one year ago, which I thought was a great deal.

As others in this forum have heard me say before, not all 'Green' cars are equal. In my book, 'Signal Green' is the king of the 'Greens' in the Porsche world. 'Signal Green' is not the color that Porsche selected for the 2007/2008 gt3 RS. That color is officially called 'RS Green' and has a different color code. True 'Signal Green' has more 'yellow' tint than blue in the mix. 'RS Green' and 'Viper', another vintage colors from the 1970's, have more blue than yellow. In my many years of Porsche ownership I have owned a lot of the original 'Signal' colors Porsche has developed for their cars. I had an original paint 'Signal Red' 1965 C Cabriolet, an original paint 'Signal Yellow' 1973 911T and this 'Signal Green' 997. I am only missing 'Signal Orange' and I am still looking for that one! However, of all of these signature 'Signal' colors that I have owned, 'Signal Green' is by far the most beautiful, impressive & vibrant color of the lot!

A few words about PTS. All color codes can be found in the inside of the gas door on these 997s. It is spelled English as 'Colour', not American as 'Color'. The colour W25, or 'Signal Green', dates back to 1968 in the early 911's. It was a special order color and not many were made even back then. Today there are only a few dealers in the US that are very adventurous in their spec ordering of PTS cars. Euroclassics in Virginia, Porsche of West Houston, Walter's in Riverside, CA and Pioneer of San Diego come to mind. Two of these dealers (Pioneer and West Houston) ordered three 'Signal Green' 911's in MY2007 and MY2008. Mine was one of those so spec'ced in 2007. These dealers (and a few dedicated PTS customers) are brave enough to order cars most others in America would never dare. We are a richer & certainly a more colorful hobby by what these daring folks have done. And we should all be thankful that these PTS cars exist in the limited Porsche color palette of today, dominated by a few 'standards' like Black, Silver, Grays, White and Red.

Porsche is one of the few automotive companies that allow you to do Paint-to-Sample. Mercedes, BMW & VW do not. Audi has an Exclusive Department but makes it very difficult to follow through with the special colors. Porsche Exclusive is an incredible asset that we have at our disposal, allowing us to customize our sport cars in ways not offered by any other manufacturer in this 'lower' price level. You have to go to Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls Royce et al. to experience the same degree of choice and customization. But like everything else in today's world, Porsche Exclusive gets more complicated and expensive every year. Back in 1970, the super rare 'Crystal Blue' special order paint on my original 53K mile 1970 911E Targa cost $185. In 2007, the 'Signal Green' PTS on this 997.1 cost $4,315. By 2009, PTS was increased to $4,500. And in 2010, it rose to $5,500, where it has remained to the present. And the series production folks are constantly testing the painted surfaces - steel, aluminum, carbon fibre, plastic - to determine if the color fading characteristics of the requested PTS color can pass muster. 'RS Orange', for example, is not longer available because it failed these latest 'test'. So PTS is expensive, delays production and is subject to arbitrary 'sorry, can't do' by the powers that be. But if you finally get that unique color on your dream car, it is worth all the extra trouble & added expense!

Quattro, only you can answer the question if a PTS Green car is worth it and what price to pay for it. I didn't have to pay a premium for it because I bought it from a good friend. But I would have been willing to pay more than what I ended up paying for it, simply because I have never seen a more beautiful color on a 911 than this 'Signal Green'. It is all personal opinion, of course.

By the way, I would have the dealer selling this car in Texas confirm the 'colour code' for you. This car may indeed be 'Signal Green' and not the 'RS Green' of the gt3 RS. The reason I say that is that for MY2007 (only), Porsche reserved both the 'RS Green' and the 'RS Orange' colors exclusive for their gt3 RS models. Only in MY2008 did they allow these 'signature' gt3 RS colors to be ordered on other models! In fact, there were many done in MY2008 - the base gt3's was allowed in PTS 'RS Orange', as well as '08/'09 Turbos in that color, plus some Limited Editions Boxsters in 'RS Orange' and Caymans in 'RS Green'.

In any case, good luck with your decision!

Saludos, Eduardo
Currently in Vail Valley, Colorado

Originally Posted by Quattro Libre

Eduardo, thanks for that write up, much appreciated, and a very fine looking car you have/had! Jay, similarly, the 964 and 911 look great, I'd be proud to own either of those.

And finally Bruce, I think your Maritime car is stunning.

After much thought, I decided the green car in question is not for me, but I think a PTS car definitely is... It's just a matter of what PTS colour! What I'd REALLY love to see is a 997 in Smyrna Green, which is this color: