964 vin and registration anomaly

[JM1962]

Hi all

Hopefully tomorrow I will hand over the cash for my new toy, a 93 registered 964 cab. I have done a hpi check and all appears ok, the car was registered in April 93 on a K plate. However, on checking the vin the letter for the build year is M which is for 91. The car looks like a 93, ie. its got cup alloys and teardrop mirrors and is in exceptional condition.

Should I be put off by the mismatch in build year and registration year.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/807504.htm

 

[Mark Elder]

If the VIN matches the plate in the HPI check then it's probably just a case of a car that was built in 91 but then sat in stock somewhere unregistered until April 93. Remember the economy was not doing well at that time. There were probably cancelled orders, residuals plumetting (wonder when that might happen again[8|]) etc.

I don't know much about 964s and when features changed - but it would clearly be easy for the original dealer (or a owner since 93) to have put the teardrops and cups on the car to help it sell.

Any early photos in the history?

 

[Steve Brookes]

That sounds a bit odd. You might see an end of the line model year car not being registered until early the next model year (possibly because it was a show room car) but an MY91 car being registered in 93 is a very large gap IMO. Any chance that it's an import (possibly from Japan)? The mirrors and wheels could have been changed at any time so they're not necessarily the sign of it being an MY93 car.

 

[tim_haskins]

Hi

I personnally would not be too worried about it..

my car is also k registered and a 1991 build according to the chassis number. Mine also had the smaller rear calipers being a C2. These have now been changed to the later type and I have also fitted cup1 wheels and teardrops.

I would 100% buy on condition not the model year although the later cars did have improved sealing in the engine. Mine does not leak at all and is compleatly dry.

I have seen many cars which are a later build than mine and I wouldnt touch them!! mine is also A1 condition and I have never had any problems with it.

I think the problems Porsche had at the time with sales etc meant that some cars as previously said got stored away until sold.

Tim

 

[JM1962]

I'm pretty sure it came as new from a uk opc, I can't remember as its 4 days since I looked at the service book. Will Porsche be able to tell me who supplied it if I give them the vin ?

The car really is immaculate and I don't want to let this put me off, but it is causing some nagging doubts.

 

[tim_haskins]

The suppling dealer is normally stamped in the book.

I do understand your concerns and I would feel the same if I was buying a brand new car.

These cars are all now 16+ years old so another couple of year or so older doesnt make much differance in my opinion.

Tim

 

[tim_haskins]

Also if the car was japan imported then it states this on the log book for the car. I once had MR2 jap import and this was the case with that.

 

[tim_haskins]

Your car also has the smaller rear calipers...I can see them in the photo.

 

[JM1962]

Thanks for your replies so far.

Did the 91 cars have the engine oil leak mod ? What other differences would there be between a 91 and a 93 ?

 

[tim_haskins]

91 oil leak mod depends on the engine number it is possible that your car does have it but the only way of checking is to compare the engine number.

Differances between the years are:-

17 inch cup 1 wheels with thicker steering stops (your car is fitted with genuine cup 1s)
C4 rear brake calipers and bias valve.
Plastic intake manifolds rather than aluminium(mine has this)
Cup mirrors
Very eairly cars had rear spoiler contols inside engine cover (not inside as mine)
Also very eairly cars had differant rear shocks mountings. (not really applicable to yours)
Fitting of cylinder sealing rings on later engines
Fitting of distributer vent kit (make sure you have this although only cheap).
I think that the clutch/flywheel were improved on later cars although most eairlier one have now been upgraded.

There are a few smaller things (fitting of emergancy release cables on boot/engine cover etc) but nothing major.

I think this covers most of it but forgive me if I have forgot something.

Hope this helps

Tim

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I think Tim's got most of the differences. The only thing I'd calrify is that the only cars with the spoiler control in the engine compartment are the original 1989 C4s. All C2s and 1990-on C4s had the spoiler control on the console.

If it helps there are quite a lot of K-registered 964s on the Register which are 1991 model year (M in the VIN). As has already been said, the economy was in a pretty poor state then and cars did sit around waiting for buyers.

The plastic induction manifold is a good plus and a very obvious one to look for but it's doubtful the car would have the distributor vent from new although most interested owners would have added it.

Regards

Dave

 

[JM1962]

Thanks for that Tim.

I've done a bit of digging and found some info about the oil leak mod on this site http://www.porsche964.co.uk/history/964bio.htm so it seems theres a fair chance of that having been sorted for the 91 model year. When I looked underneath there was no sign of oil, but it was difficult to tell because of the undertray.

This is the first one I've looked at that has absolutely no corrosion at all and really does look like a 50k mile example. HPI checks out OK so I will get the info on the supplying dealer to make sure its not a Jap import and if theres no problem buy it tomorrow.

 

[JM1962]

Thanks Dave, sounds like not too much to worry about then. Its reassuring to know there are other similar 91 K's out there. I'll check for the plastic manifold when I look tomorrow.

Thanks all, I always seem to get last minute jitters when splashing out !

 

[Steve Brookes]

I'm pleased to hear for JM that others have experience of these cars being stored a relatively long time and registered later. I know with my own car that it's a late MY90 but was first registered in October 1990 when customers were taking delivery of MY91 cars. I'm willing to bet that the first owners were not fully aware at the time that their shiny new Porsche was not the latest model! With the advent of information being more freely available these days, especially via the internet, buyers of new cars are much more aware that a newer model is coming out. I guess it's now very tough for Porsche to deliver new cars in the early summer months because buyers will want the new model year version and will wait a couple of months longer, especially when facelifts and gen 2s are coming out.

 

[kevin]

mines the same, and I personally know of at least two others,


Kevin

 

[colin appleton]

Mine is the same,K reg-M in the Vin-small rear calipers-but teardrops but must have just missed 17" cups,which I would love to have.no vent kit,but fitted it myself.When we 1st bought it & I went to -then OPC at the Pierhead,Liverpool,they checked out the VIN & We ended up getting the revised steering column joint(a specific upgrade),fuel tank filler checked & I've forgotten the 3rd item..I've used Mobil 1-0-40 ever since with no leaks although John Holland at Unit 11,Warrington,reckons it would be better to use 10-40SAE.Sadly,Costco don't sell that grade & with 0-40 at £19.95 +VAT,it's most economic to use the 0-40.

 

[JM1962]

The deal has been done and I am now the proud new owner of a 964. Traded my Z3 M Coupe in and I have to say I was sad to see it go.

I rang the supplying dealer, JCT600 in Leeds, and they confirmed that it was not unusual to have a 91 car on a K plate.

I checked the engine compartment out, it has the plastic inlet manifolds and so hopefully also has the head gasket mod. It does not have the distributor vent pipe mod so that will be one of the first jobs along with getting the original Blaupunkt Bremen working again.

 

[tim_haskins]

Well done Jim,

I am sure you will be pleased with it.

Make sure you do get that vent kit...It may be worth having the distributer drive belt changed as well (I would). The car has 50k on it probably on orginal belt with no venting. I dont think it is that expensive to have done and if it breaks it can cause significant engine problems depending on where the rotor arm is situated (holes burn in pistons due to continuous sparking).

Dont want to worry you but its better to be safe than sorry.

It does look like a nice car by the way.

Tim

 

[polar964]

Congratulation and many safe and spirited 964 miles []

 

[polar964]

Colin,
It's not that you had just missed out!
17's weren't fitted as standard they were an upgrade. If the original purchaser didn't request them the car came with 16's. My car is a '93 on a K plate and came with 16" cups as documented.