Press Car

[Suffolk944]

I recently got my "Certificate of Authenticity" from Porsche and it turns out that my car started out its life as Porsche Cars GB Press Vehicle, so presumably it was dished out to various journos/hacks for testing. Just wondering if there may be any avenues to research what publications it may have featured in ? Or do I have the wrong end of the stick entirely ?

 

[Lowtimer]

That should mean lots of people will probably be able to find have newspaper or magazine cuttings featuring it.What is the registration number (or the original registration number, given that Porsche tended to use its own plates for the press fleet)? Was yours ever "94 FOR"?

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: Lowtimer

(or the original registration number, given that Porsche tended to use its own plates for the press fleet)?  Was yours ever "94 FOR"?

Now I didn't know that ! Is there anyway of finding out a previous reg ?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Now I didn't know that ! Is there anyway of finding out a previous reg ?

HPI check? Though that listed all the previous plates. I ceratinly had a list of VJ's several private plates in it's history.

 

[Suffolk944]

HPI check shows it was originally registered on its current plate and had one private plate back in 2002 before reverting back again. Intriguing it was a press vehicle but without a "special" plate.

 

[supersport]

These days most of the press cars don't seem to have a special plate. 911 HUL is still used but not many others, so it may just be that yours was one the gang at the time.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Thinking about it, might "press car" have merely been a way of pre-registering a car before moving it on as a cheaper one-owner car? 944s weren't exactly flying off the shelves in 1990; an expensive car, close to replacement and in a recession.

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Thinking about it, might "press car" have merely been a way of pre-registering a car before moving it on as a cheaper one-owner car? 944s weren't exactly flying off the shelves in 1990; an expensive car, close to replacement and in a recession.

Indeed that may well be the case I guess. Oddly the date of registration is 12.03.1990 but according to the Certificate (which I know occasionally holds inaccuracies) the Production completion date was 19.07.1990 ??????[&:]

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Oddly the date of registration is 12.03.1990 but according to the Certificate (which I know occasionally holds inaccuracies) the Production completion date was 19.07.1990 ??????

Certificates of Authenticity are a lovely thing to have, and add to the car's history. And, they cost nothing. But...they have been known to contain errors as you say. [&o]

 

[NeilW]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Thinking about it, might "press car" have merely been a way of pre-registering a car before moving it on as a cheaper one-owner car? 944s weren't exactly flying off the shelves in 1990; an expensive car, close to replacement and in a recession.

I think this was the case with mine. It spent the first 5 months / 5K miles owned by OPC Cambridge. Thereafter it was sold, with a hefty discount, to its first real owner. Or maybe it was the colour that justified the discount! []

 

[dlknight]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Thinking about it, might "press car" have merely been a way of pre-registering a car before moving it on as a cheaper one-owner car? 944s weren't exactly flying off the shelves in 1990; an expensive car, close to replacement and in a recession.

This sounds pretty viable - I have a specification printout from an OPC for my car which says Porsche Press Car on it...