K-Roll's 944 Lyfe: 356

"K-Roll-PorscheTamer" (k-roll390)
12/20/2014 at 19:50 • Filed to: 944 Lyfe

A very cryptic title I bet, but it's an important one to me, and to maybe/hopefully to any classic car enthusiast, or car enthusiast in general. I'm talking about the VIN and what it means/decoded.

Now, for modern cars, to my knowledge, the VIN(vehicle identification number) are only good for a few things, most importantly, a Car Fax(I kid). Older cars though, seem to give you a lot of interesting information and such when you decode them. Earlier this week, I decided to decode my VIN because why not. Porsche VINs follow a simple decoding process as seen by this diagram below and some forum searching:

(This one is designed for the 924/931, but can be adapted for the 944 cars)

So here's my VIN; for those that can't read it: WP0AA0940EN460356

Decoded, this is what it means..(it's quite a lot actually)

WP0 = Porsche

ZZZ(RoW/Rest of the World cars use this) = blanks (in US it'll be AA-)

0 = Occupant safety system(Seat belts only)

94 = 944: Vehicle type designation

0 = filler character

E = 1984 (B = 1981, C = 1982, ......J = 1988)

N = Neckarsulm (944s were made in the Neckarslum factory, not Stuttgart (S). Same goes for the 924/931, and 951)

4 = 3rd digit from vehicle type designation(94'4')

6 = Body/engine code

0356 = serial number

Erika is #356 out of the 23720 cars produced for the 1984 MY! :D

I think that's very special and cool for a two reasons:

1. This means she's one of the earliest 944s for that year

2. This

A very important number and car, the number 356 is. :)

Does anyone else have an interesting VIN or story?

DISCUSSION (16)

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 19:56

My Jaguar is a German market car, so when I went to register it, the RI DMV apparently just couldn't handle the VIN. It returned nothing to their system, which is odd because the number itself isn't any different from a U.S. market Jag, but we didn't get the XJ12 here in 1984. They basically had to assemble a new category in their system just for my car. it was satisfying actually watching the people there do real work for once.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 20:05

That's cool, an early car and a special number.

My VIN ends in 424424 which I find pretty neat. Unfortunately, the Mach's didn't have sequential VIN's so I don't know which number mine is. The only way I know how to figure that out is through 40 bucks that I don't have right now. I do know my car was built in November, December or April. VIN decoders say it was one of the first built in November or December 2002 (Can't remember which) but my door sticker says April. I'll have to do some more research.

The Mach's did have an R in the VIN code, a reference to the Cobra Jet engines. It's an easy way to figure out if the car is a clone or not.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
12/20/2014 at 20:06

I would have loved to see or be there for an episode like that. :P

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 20:08

A '70 Torino convertible my old man bought for parts a few years back. He was doing g a Marti Report on another car he had, and he did it for this one for curiosity's sake.

Turns out, the parts car was in fact, a 1970 Torino GT Convertible, factory optioned with a drag pack, power disks, close ratio four speed, 4:10 locker rear end, and the real kicker, a 429 Cobra Jet.

One of 39 GT convertibles from '70 with a CJ.

Weird for a convertible to be optioned like that, but maybe they wanted to feel the wind in their hair whilst embarrassing Corvettes and big block Chevelles. It even had AC, figure that out.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 20:10

My Vin starts with an X.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
12/20/2014 at 20:13

It also says on a sticker that the manufacture date is March '84 I think.

I have to do some more investigating around her to see if there are some more easter eggs for me to find! :)

I didn't know that about Mach's though, I bet I've seen some clones then.

You can get a CoA(Cert of Authenticity) from Porsche for $100. It includes your vehicle's original factory specifications, production completion date (Birth Date) and manufacturer's suggested retailprice (MSRP). I'm so gonna do that when I have more money!

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
12/20/2014 at 20:18

That is awesome! :D

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee
12/20/2014 at 20:18

What does that mean?

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 20:21

Yeah, so he went and bought a THIRD Torino for parts out of Virginia and he fell in love with it and restored it. Then he sold it to some dude in England, where he still drives it on a daily basis. Daily driven in England. With a 429 cubic inch (7 litre) V8. Still hasn't restored either of the convertibles.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
12/20/2014 at 20:29

Must restore!!! ()_()

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 20:29

Knowing Porsche I'm sure there's a few other things you're missing!

There is actually one other really easy way to check for clones, often it's a missed detail. Though it's still possible to put it on. The C pillar is different.

Kinja'd!!!

I like my C pillar better!

This is something similar for my car, 45 dollars. I did just get an extra 50 bucks from my Aunt, so it's tempting.

http://www.fordshowparts.com/store_contents…

Something funny about that Cobra picture I found. It just so happens to be the same place where I got my Mach from. They sell a million Cobra's, there were 43 listed when I found the Mach.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST
12/20/2014 at 20:35

They do one for the FoST as well! But it's not really an exclusive car? Why does it get one as well? http://www.fordshowparts.com/store_contents…

Where is this magical Cobra supermarket?

I see the difference in C-pillar shape. One thing that bothers me about New Edge cars, is why the side scoops are no longer functional like they are on the earlier SN-95 cars.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 20:53

Indeed. Although, there are many cars that need work. Bith Torinos, the Ranchero GT, my 77 Capri, all three of his Capris and my Taurus.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 20:56

The ST is a pretty special car. There's not going to be many made either, so I see why there's one.

Here's the site, since I got my car a lot have been taken down. Most had been sold already, but they keep them up anyway.

http://lamotorcars.com/web/3059/inven…

Here's my original listing: http://www.lamotorcars.com/web/3059/vehic…

Cool to see my car before and after the few little things I've done.

Functional or not I like the side scoops. The rear brakes don't need much cooling anyway.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 21:46

i sent the vin off of my alfa to a guy in italy who is in charge of all the historical documents and everything matched on it except for the paint. Which was weird because all the paint codes on my car (one incredibly wrinkled sticker inside the trunk) says it should be metallic silver which means either the record was wrong (highly unlikely) or it was repainted at a dealer

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

"Dear Mister mylastnamehere,

with reference to your request we are informing you as follows.

According to our documentation files, the chassis number AR 3048471 originally corresponds to an Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce USA (115.02), manufactured on the 30 th October 1975.

The body colour is ivory, with brown wild boar tex interiors.

Yours, Sincerely,"

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
12/20/2014 at 22:46

That it's built in .

It's a Lada ;) I'd have to check, but I think the vin starts XTABA, with most of that meaning it was built in Russia at the AutoVaz factory. The same way your WPO means it was built in Germany at the Porshe factory. I haven't managed to find enough info on deciphering the rest of my vin, though, beyond the internationally standardized digits. Most of the online calculators I put it into spit out some variation of "What the fuck did just happen here", and my Russian is pretty poor.