1973 S targa imported from England in 1984

[pu911rsr]

I recently purchased a LHD 73 S targa that was sold to an American professor in England at high end sports car dealership in 1984 who imported car into US. I am an avid Porsche enthusiastic and some folks on the early 911 registry have suggested I contact PCGB for AFN records. I am going to do what I can to research car's history prior to 1984 and appreciate any helpful pointer on how to go about that.
Some I will start with general post and see where this goes.

Phil

 

[pu911rsr]

pic of car, lovely shade of blue.
Phil

 

[porscot]

Here is the link to the Porsche UK webpage that refers to the process for applying for a Certificate of Authenticity.

http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/porscheservice/certificateofauthenticity/

Regards
Graeme

 

[oliver]

If you are saying that it was originally supplied by AFN, then it may be worth speaking with Jeff Moyes, he should have a lot AFN archive info.

Try him at info@porscheguildford.co.uk or ++44 (0)1483 408800.

 

[38F3E1]

Hi Phil.

If you contact me at 911@porscheclubgb.com we can have a chat as I have some information about the car.

Ian.

 

[pu911rsr]

Everyone thanks for all the excellent suggestions.

Phil

 

[pu911rsr]

I did receive PCGB COA that indicated that car was a GB delivery car. Ian love to hear back from you regarding further information on vehicle. Can anyone tell me who AFN is?

Regards,

Phil

 

[Robin]

AFN were the original approved importers of Porsche cars into UK. Previously they would have been imported by individuals as private purchases, often collected at the Stuttgart Zuffenhausen factory and driven back to UK.
An earlier importer was Charles Meisl, who was a UK based Czech, who had a company that was an importer of many things including Cibie lighting. The company was called Britover (Continental) limited.
AFN stands for Archie Frazer Nash who made the Frazer Nash cars before branching out into other things. They were located at Isleworth, West London.
There is a book about AFN written by Denis Jenkinson called "From Chain Gang to Turbo" and one about Charles Meisl called, "Four Wheels on my Basket" both are interesting reads.

 

[pu911rsr]

Robin,

Thank you that is extremely helpful.[]

Phil

 

[pu911rsr]

I wanted to follow up - I have received my COA and did exchange a few emails with PCGB archivist. He said AFN records showed car was RHD drive which is odd since car is clearly LHD. Did folks actually convert RHD cars into LHD or are AFN records incorrect, seems much more plausible.
Phil

 

[Robin]

I have never heard of AFN converting a RHD car into a LHD car but in the records a RHD 911S Targa with chassis number 9113310761 was bought into UK by AFN to be re-exported. Where to and to whom I have no idea, but perhaps after it was exported from UK the next but one owner converted it to LHD. Just a guess?

 

[38F3E1]

Hi Phil.

Manual records from 40 years ago cannot be 100% trusted. Although the majority of cars imported into the UK were RHD there was always a small number each year of LHD imports through AFN.

The only people who will 100% be able to confirm are Porsche themselves. As they have provided you with a CoA I am sure they will confirm to you if the car was originally manufactured as LHD or RHD as this information should be on record.

Ian.

 

[cbonetti]

ORIGINAL: Robin

I have never heard of AFN converting a RHD car into a LHD car but in the records a RHD 911S Targa with chassis number 9113310761 was bought into UK by AFN to be re-exported. Where to and to whom I have no idea, but perhaps after it was exported from UK the next but one owner converted it to LHD. Just a guess?

Wow you had me worried for a minute...
9113310761 belongs to me and is RHD. Luckily when I checked the pic of the chassis plate of the OP his chassis no is 764

 

[Robin]

Hi Carlo, sorry for any confusion, your car was one of those few cars that were imported by AFN and the records show it was immediatly exported. The 761 chassis number was one of those that we don't know where it went, it was just listed as "exported".