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YOUR RESEARCH1/98 build date... anyone earlier?
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Use by the 993 since 1995
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Suggestion
check the date on the inside edge of the drivers door.
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Suggestion
(picture from the day I bought it and the first test drive with the euphoric kids)
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Suggestion
Wife and kids asked me if I was studying for a test, LOL.
Use nickasil cylinders, they aren�t always �nickies�
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Suggestion
(�Nickies� is a trademarked product name that belongs to LN Engineering, so even though many builders do use Nickasil cylinders, they aren�t always �Nickies�...
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Just realized that my car was built in January of 1998.
Serial number ending in 620096
What did 996 serial numbers start with?
Anyone have an earlier build?
Most manufacturers dont start their serial numbers with all zeros and a 1. So it is very possible your car is the 96th 996 produced for the 99 model year.
Truthfully i have no idea. But i personally doubt it. When most car lines change out production series, they must stop production at that particular facility for weeks to retool and redie the line for that particular new model. Perhaps production was done at the same time. But i doubt the same line since the 993 and 996 have nothing in common.
From some of the build data I have seen in the past, the earliest cars were built around October 1997. There have been several sold in Europe over the past year with 1997 build dates. As I recall, the table of build data by type shows there were 14 built in 1997.
The 996 went on sale in the USA in April 1998. My car was sold in May of 1998 with a 3/98 build date. As I recall, the last seven digits of my cars vin are 62015xx. Is it possible yours has been imported from Europe?
What is your engine number? I assume it is M96.01 with the last four digits around 0596. I think the engine numbers started with 0501.
Was just with them on the weekend! Maybe next drive we're on. Both cars are in Melbourne Australia - not sure how many '97 build dates got delivered here. Probably only low double digits...
Some of the first 14 we're right hand drive? I wonder if they were used for testing in the Australian heat, which would make sense if they were built between October and December 1997.
That's an early one for sure. I don't know that there's a direct correlation between VIN # and engine number sequence. For example I have a 2/98 build date - 620291 is the VIN but the engine number is 5023.
I'll grab my engine serial number as well once I get the car on my lift (in about a week).
Found a VIN decoder tool online.
https://www.stuttcars.com/technical/vin-decoder/
Thats correct. 996 were built on the same line than 993s. Altough many people likes to say that aircooled models where more "manual" worked, the true is that they shared the line and building methodology (with the obvious differences due different car's design). During the first year of 996 production, the 993 was on production too so you can find pictures of both models on the same line.
^^^ Also remember that the the 986 Boxter was in production in '97 and the 996 shared many of the same parts...I'm sure there are a few very early 996's bouncing around out there (late '97 early '98 production?)... We won't know for many years until 996's become collectible "barn finds"... Don't hold your breath though - you'll turn blue and die
The thing is not about the first 996 having any difference (or special thing) with the subsequent year models. They were build all on the same production line... that was the same used by the 993 since 1995.
It seems that only 14 units were delivered in 1997 and all of them where shipped to Brazil (??)
For the 996 model (Mk1 and MK2), total units produced in 8 years were 175.262 units, making the production per year around 21.900 units (if you include 1997 the number would be even lower)
For the 964 and 993 3.2, total units produced in 8 years were 122.385 units, making the production per year around 15.300 units.
We can find exclusivity in other factors (aircooled, etc)... but not in the "limited" number of units or construction methods...
It's true that there doesn't seem to be a direct correlation between engine number and vin. The vin numbers had variations too, I assume based on the market the car was going to, different body types, etc.
3/98 here I thought I had an early car.. now I'm jealous..lol
VIN 621137, .. but she is rolling quickly up on 184k on the original 7088 engine number. So strange.. does anyone else see the Sonnen Porsche banner ^^^^^ that is where she was ordered thru, internet sale. No mods but LSD.
Per Adrien Streather, 996 The Essential Companion; the 993 and the 996 were built on the same assembly line, along side the 986. Book is on my desk, pages 15-18, page 18 picture caption says it all :-) My car is a 2/98 production, W designation and early engine serial number. Been researching the crap out of it. Wife and kids asked me if I was studying for a test, LOL. Been reading it and flipping through for past 3 days. Fascinating! Definitely intrigued by my early build. The shared production and early parts bin commonality. When my father bought his 1984 Carrera in early production, by 1985 Porsche had made 154 production changes in that year. Basically trying to stay afloat, design improvements and supplier changes. The 996 saved Porsche financially and the bad rap for our water cooled 911 is unfair - I am sure we all agree. And by golly, Porsche designed it to be an improvement in 100's of ways and it certainly is! The earlier the production the better, until you get to the 3.6
^^^^ just meant you have new desires and options with the 3.6. Porsche was constantly looking at improvements and success. Very customer driven and by the time the 3.6 rolled out, a lot more options and configurations were available. Most people buying the later cars, in my opinion, want those options and perceived upgrade to the 3.6.
Mine is 2/98 production, and from my understanding would be the 149th cabrio produced for the �99 model year. My in-service date was May 1998, based on the build - literally zero options - and what was added at the dealership - sport classic II wheels, CD changer, stainless door sills, this was probably their first 996 cabrio and it was sold with expensive add-ons.
From what I�ve read January 1998 was the first batch of US spec coupes, and February 1998 was the first batch of US spec cabrio�s. That may or may not be correct :-)
Daryll
A 99 cab just came up on FB being parted.
I attached an interior shots. Is this what he means by the trim having a toucher look? Or is this just sun bleached? I wouldn't think the sun because the seats look decent
I see a lot of 2/98 build dates. I don't think we've ever had a 1/98 build date car here before.
That is definitely one to keep, I am personally on a quest to buy the earliest 996 I can find, but of course, my quest is more difficult, because I only want a car with a failed engine :-)
I have Coupe, 6MT,
WP0AA2992XS621642
, build date 4/98. Full leather, turbo look hollow spokes, big red brakes.
86355 miles on chassis, 12402 miles on Flat6 Innovations 3.6 Street Performer.
My 1st 911. It has been a great experience thus far. No regrets.
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Why do t I have ID plate on my car?
registered in UK on 17 March 98, so must be very early build? Maybe Jan 98?
This is What I have on the place where ID plate should be? And BTW- I have 3 spoke steering wheel
Here is my VIN
Mine is
621999...a 1999 with the last 4 of 1999...kinda cool. I had a dealer nice enough to print out some sort of history report. It shows the warranty date started July 16, 1998, guess all this makes mine an early addition. And yes, it has a 4 spoke steering wheel!
Hi all,
I'm from the Netherlands and my Zenith Bleu 996 was first registered 05.12.1997 and delivered at Porsche Z�rich. Vin 601764.
Great car, with almost the complete history from new.
JJ
Wow! That will be already a MY98 but really early unit
Does anybody have heard about those 6 units MY97 that accordingly to the book from Adrian Streather were imported to Brazil?
My 6sp coupe has a 1/98 build date, with the last 4 of the vin being 0073. I'm lead to believe that my car is the 72nd car delivered. Something about the vins jumping production/delivery by 1, due to Porsche keeping the first production car or something ???
Fwiw, in the Porsche 928 world VINs 01-10 were preproduction cars. Car VIN 011 is actually the first production 928. I�m not sure how similar or different it works for other P-cars before and after.
I too have a 1/98 build 996, the last five of VIN being 24200. It�s pretty cool seeing and learning about these early builds. Is there a registry type thread out there, or should we start one??
I've got a 1/98 car that I'm thinking about selling. It's a project and needs to be restored. Any thoughts on the best place to sell it? It is just a basic Arctic silver with black interior, the only options are memory seats and a CD player. I'm not sure if placing an ad or trying to submit it to an auction is the best selling method.
Hi there, I have an Australian 1/98 delivered (RHD) 996 with a build plate of Nov 1997.. I am assuming that makes it one of the 14 built in 1997. So whilst some may have gone to Brazil Australia got one.
I would be very keen to know what it's production number was out of the 14..
New to the 911/996 99 ownership club... 4/98 build date. Covid project building this out since I will never be able to own a GT3! Original motor was long gone when I got it so I build my dream car over covid with a Vision Motorsports 3.4 -> 3.8 with CrMo sleeves/ 100% rebuilt/ new pistons/ oil mods/ std rods/ valve job/ new IM shaft/. Street build/ not for track use! Top gear headers, Top Gear 200 cell X cats, fister mufflers, RSS HD underdrive pulley, IPD plenum, FVD sport TB, FVD oil pan and X-51 style baffle, new rads + center rad for 3.8 motor / Vision highly highly recommends, LN IMS with new motor... and everything else is new that was accessible. Last piece of the puzzle is a FVD tune but supposedly no one wants to tune the old DME. Motor and car pulls just fine using stock 3.4 "tune". Passed SMOG and engine was broken in with joe gibbs driven for 500 miles. LM 60 weight oil for CA weather approved by VMW. Cheers!
My car has Invoice date 19971124, and vehicle delivered date 19971212. Sold at Sportswagen am Olympiapark in Munich in desember 1997. It was delivered with engine #66W02389 and transmission #2003096. Car's VIN ends on 601921.
Here it is today, it has 208k km, new AT engine in 2019 at 198k km. When I bought it it had 199k km, so the new engine had just 1k km when I got the car). I have driven 9k km this summer, been quite busy :-) . In the next months it will get a new Porsche factory zeroed transmission.
(picture from the day I bought it and the first test drive with the euphoric kids)
I was told that the early �99s were hand built, and shared certain more costly processes with the 993s. My �99 C2 has a 5/98 build date, so I�m thinking this may help boost its resale value if I decide to sell it and get a Nissan 400Z in 2-3 years.
Can anyone confirm that US 996 Production started with a VIN ending 0061? I read that somewhere and just want to be certain. If that is the case some of these cars are alot earlier off the line that we thought.
In the process of buying a 996 with VIN WP0ZZZ99ZWS600301, and first registered in 13.October.1997.
I read that there were only 14 cars produced in 1997, does this mean that this is one of them?
i spoke with vision, you have an amazing engine. You spent what about 25k on that engine?? Almost every one uses nickies, vision uses chrome moly. I bet your car is a blast to drive.
�Almost every one uses nickies, vision uses chrome moly.�
^^^ To What End? What is the claim for preference over Nickasil ? (�Nickies� is a trademarked product name that belongs to LN Engineering, so even though many builders do use Nickasil cylinders, they aren�t always �Nickies�... there are also builders who use steel cylinder sleeves - though these are known to be an inferior product that eventually leads to more problems down the road...
Hi Folks,
I�m just researching my latest toy, a RHD 6MT Carrera Coupe. Bought here in Sydney Australia in August 23, and it had been imported from Sth Africa via its prior owner who brought it out with him.
Regarding build date, this does look super early. Its VIN last digits are 601160, and the claimed date of production as per the Porsche Parts Link VIN identifier (Porsche factory document) is 30 October 1997.
Has some very nice features too. Door cards do not have the leather elbow pads like most 98 cars I have seen. The interior is full leather throughout. Headliner is the very early blue textured vinyl. The car is pre traction control (so no T/C button anywhere), it has no rear wiper, and is obviously cable throttle. The car has a sunroof.
Very original condition Silver Metallic with grey / blueish leather.
Have got the original BBS 18� X 7.5 & 10 Holhspeiche Turbo 1 wheels, albeit it was delivered to me on 996.1 GT3 wheels. Tyres are Pireli PZero, but I have ordered 225/40 & 265/35 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.
Non standard features include: 993 RS engine mounts, 997 GT3 shifter, transmission mount inserts, black 3 spoke GT2 / Turbo steering wheel and matching black genuine shift boot. Exhaust is original, albeit with fewer baffles in mufflers, and I have the oil cap air cleaner mod. I am investigating upgrading suspension to either KWV3 coilovers, or Ohlins R&T. It has standard original sway bars.
Such a joy to drive. These early 996�s are genuinely very alive and light footed. The throttle cable (and associated lightning fast throttle response) as well as a complete lack of any big brother control means driving one hard is very reminiscent of the early cars.
Pardon the interior shine, that was just after a coat of leather protection.
Showing original blueish / grey four spoke wheel and grey shift boot. Seat was also re-padded post this shot.
Nice, congratulations on purchase.
Those leather patches in the door cards cover the side airbags, which your (and all other MY98) did not receive as standard, in case you didn't know.
Ok Wow, thankyou! I had no idea why my car
did not have those, nor did I know what they did.
I should also mention my car was delivered to me with the genuine 4 spoke 993 steering wheel and the grey gear shift lever. I must say, the 4 spoke sickly grey wheel looks like something out of an �89 Camry and was so damned ugly that it very nearly made me walk away from this one. The GT3 wheel however is magnificent, and very nice to use also.
This forum is brilliant, thanks to all for your great and very helpful contributions here.
I have now ordered a copy of the Adrien Streather 996 Essentials book.
Hello everyone, I've a 1/98, 4 spoke steering wheel. Artic silver with Metropole blue interior. In 2021 the car received a full engine out overhaul including, IMS, RMS, new complete clutch & flywheel, water pump, fuel rails etc etc. Car had just turned 100k and the IMS was fine but replaced as a precaution.
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Hi everyone.
Interested in buying one an early 996.1.
Seems most of them are ROW cars, is this correct?
What is the cutoff date for the hand built ones?
I know they were made from very late 97 to late 98 but is there an exact cutoff date or VIN I can use to search for an early car?
How many made it to the US?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
All 911's have been built on the same assembly line since inception...hand built is a myth since Porsche continually modernized the assembly line over time regardless of the model year. Cars with "W" in the VIN were built from Sept 1997 - Aug 1998 and were all ROW production. Cars built with "V" in the VIN began production in Jan 1998 and were destined for North America as 1999 models. General consensus is any car built before Sept 1998 (regardless of destination) are consider early production (variations in interior finishes, cable throttle, ambers on NA destined cars, etc). It's not an exact science, but if you know what to look for the early production cars are easy to spot.
Thank you
@gbarron
.
To clarify, there are V production cars between Jan and Sep 88 that were destined for the US and were considered part of the early .1s?
I don't care about hand made. I'd like to look for one of those 2,900 lb early C2s and need to know what to look for.
I've had many 911s but this would be my first 996 and know nothing about them.
Correct, "V" cars built between Jan - Aug 1998 are mostly considered early .1 cars. July/Aug 1998 builds requir further scrutiny when searching as some of these cars were starting to be equipped with later .1 equipment. The earliest C2 "V" car you can find without any options will be the lightest versions. Bonus points for a 6MT slicktop coupe.
i can affirm that early 996's destined for North America can have a 'W' designation. The attached certificate of authenticity for my baby shows that it was built January 14, 1998. I have full documentation back to later 1998. The car started life in Pennsylvania and was never ROW. My research has indicated that the earliest VIN for North America bound cars ended with 620061 which would make mine the 5th car built for North America. It is still going strong!
Your car is an "X" VIN which designates 1999 model year. This is correct for early built 996.1 models destined for North America. No "W" VIN cars were sold new in North America.
I need to clear up an error I made..."V" VIN cars were 1997 model years, only 14 were built prior to Sept 1997. "W" VIN cars were 1998 model year production for ROW, and "X" VIN cars are 1999 model year. "X" VIN cars began production in January of 1998 for North American markets, and Sept of 1998 for ROW markets. Clearly I got my alphabet mixed up in previous posts!
Hamd built was a myth? Is that because of your definition of hand built or my misunderstanding of it. Have you seen the factory photos of an early 996 mixed in between 993s all being hand assembled on the same assembly line at the same time ? Is the 993 and that particular 996 not considered hand built? Theres no robotic assembly equipment i can see only people im not being sarcastic either im assuming thats hand built by term definition regarding all 911 before factory aitomation was built or used?
Yes, I have seen photos of the 993, 986, & 996 all being assembled on the same factory line. My comment is based on the 911 assembly line processes throughout the evolution of the model. Advancements would have been made to the assembly line numerous times, there was no defining cut-off point where the factory stopped assembling cars by hand & started the next day fully automated...a mixture of both would have co-existed throughout. 996 assembly after 993 production ceased would have followed the same processes already on the line. Advancements would have continued during the 996.1, 996.2, 997.1, & well beyond.
BTW...According to Nathan Merz, the majority of 993 production wound down in mid-December 1997 (a few road cars would be assembled in early 1998, most likely customer/factory special orders, race versions continued throughout 1998). If for some reason a prospective buyer wants a 996 that was gauranteed assembled by the same "hands" as a 993 on the production line, then a 1998 "W" VIN (ROW) model is the one to have.
I recently purchased my C2 manual and discovered that it�s a 1/98 build, build date January 31st and shipped to a dealer in Ontario. I wonder if it was one of the first 996 in Canada, that would be cool.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
