Shell Numbers
- Thread starter DSCBoy
- Start date
From my days of working at British Leyland [&:], we had a tag number on a tab in the dash area until the VIN number was allocated and stamped (VIN numbers are allocated quite late in the production process because they contain country specific info and you don't want to commit yourself to what you are going to use a shell for until as late as possible). The tag number was simply a production sequence number for the factory - did not even relate to car type.
Although Porsche quote a build date for a car, that is not the shell build date. It's the assembly start date (or possibly the paint date) - and probably the date the VIN gets created and allocated to the shell. The shell will be pressed and welded and dipped and primed before that date and just be part of a stock to be used on any car that can use that particular shell type (ie shape and cut-outs).
But as RS shells were quite special you can imagine someone accounting for them all and logging what happened to each and every one of them.
Although Porsche quote a build date for a car, that is not the shell build date. It's the assembly start date (or possibly the paint date) - and probably the date the VIN gets created and allocated to the shell. The shell will be pressed and welded and dipped and primed before that date and just be part of a stock to be used on any car that can use that particular shell type (ie shape and cut-outs).
But as RS shells were quite special you can imagine someone accounting for them all and logging what happened to each and every one of them.
pncarrerars
New member
My RS (& maybe all porsche shells) has matching numbers stamped on the front cover, rear parcel shelf & rear cover.
PhilRS
New member
I second that.
One can literally pear through the rear window, on right side corner of the car and read said shell number.
For the RSR, I am told that shells were taken off the production line and then sent to the racing department for the fitting of racing equipment. So, even though the VIN numbers of RSRs are consecutive the shell numbers of said cars have "gaps" between them. The magnitude of the gap depends on when the shell was taken off the production line and sent to racing department. So, there is still an order between VIN and shell numbers, but only VIN numbers are consecutive. For example, shell number of VIN car 34 will be (e.g. 100 units) smaller than shell number of VIN car 35, unless VIN car 34 has been reshelled, in which case it can have a greater shell number than car 35.
Dunno whether the same story applies to Ngt and cup cars.
Of course one can always write to Porsche to make sure that VIN, shell, engine and gearbox numbers do match. You will require a proof of ownership of the car.
One can literally pear through the rear window, on right side corner of the car and read said shell number.
For the RSR, I am told that shells were taken off the production line and then sent to the racing department for the fitting of racing equipment. So, even though the VIN numbers of RSRs are consecutive the shell numbers of said cars have "gaps" between them. The magnitude of the gap depends on when the shell was taken off the production line and sent to racing department. So, there is still an order between VIN and shell numbers, but only VIN numbers are consecutive. For example, shell number of VIN car 34 will be (e.g. 100 units) smaller than shell number of VIN car 35, unless VIN car 34 has been reshelled, in which case it can have a greater shell number than car 35.
Dunno whether the same story applies to Ngt and cup cars.
Of course one can always write to Porsche to make sure that VIN, shell, engine and gearbox numbers do match. You will require a proof of ownership of the car.
pncarrerars
New member
Front cover=luggage compartment cover=bonnet
Rear cover=engine cover=boot lid
Rear cover=engine cover=boot lid
lee fulford
New member
You'll probably find the doors are also stamped.
Alex Postan
New member
911 shells have a number stamped into the dashboard, hidden by the "Hockey Stick" trim.
My RS has '40212' stamped into the front compartment cover near where the interior light would have been.
Also the engine lid has a matching number but with different spacing - '4 021 2'. It's on the inside of the engine lid, on the lip nearest the back window between the hinges. If you look up from the fan towards the rear window through the gap you should see the number.
I can't see any numbers on the doors but as the car is in the garage and it's raining I can't open them wide enough to have a good look.
I assume there's a number stamped inside the car somewhere - but is probably covered over with carpet.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has either the same number, or whether you have matching numbers but different to 40212.
Could this be the body number - and does that mean each RS body was built with it's own individual and number-stamped engine lid, front cover and doors?
Also the engine lid has a matching number but with different spacing - '4 021 2'. It's on the inside of the engine lid, on the lip nearest the back window between the hinges. If you look up from the fan towards the rear window through the gap you should see the number.
I can't see any numbers on the doors but as the car is in the garage and it's raining I can't open them wide enough to have a good look.
I assume there's a number stamped inside the car somewhere - but is probably covered over with carpet.
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has either the same number, or whether you have matching numbers but different to 40212.
Could this be the body number - and does that mean each RS body was built with it's own individual and number-stamped engine lid, front cover and doors?
lee fulford
New member
My numbers are 44464. Maybe we could compare to chassis number sequence to see if it ties in with dates.
Think the numbers on the doors (if any) will be behind the cards.
Think the numbers on the doors (if any) will be behind the cards.
DSCBoy
New member
Well to throw the cat among the pigeons I have 2001 on my engine lid (but given my car no longer wears the 3.8 RS rear spoiler I wonder if its the original lid?) and my front lid (which appears to be steel and hence not original) has no number I can see...
Given my rear parcel shelf is currently carpeted I´m stuck for the number there, so I guess its going to be the doors, which I am sure are original... so any ideas where I find the numbers on them?
Cheers
Rick
Given my rear parcel shelf is currently carpeted I´m stuck for the number there, so I guess its going to be the doors, which I am sure are original... so any ideas where I find the numbers on them?
Cheers
Rick
Alex Postan
New member
I am a free man and will not be filed, numbered or classified. [
]
Come in No 6, your time is up.
Down Rover, Down[]
(2200607)
]Come in No 6, your time is up.
Down Rover, Down[
] (2200607)
ORIGINAL: Alex Postan
I am a free man and will not be filed, numbered or classified. [
Come in No 6, your time is up.
Down Rover, Down[
(2200607)
Or you could just contribute your numbers ?
We have just discovered how to tell if the front end and the back end of a car ties up with the middle --- a matter of some interest to owners and prospective purchasers ?
Chris.
DSCBoy
New member
Agree we may be onto something here.... although not sure I've acheived anything myself :-(
But next time someone tells u a car is all original panels it would appear we can tell whether it has had a big frontal or rear ended from matching the front and rear lids at least.
Any clues on where the numbers might be on the doors? Anyone?
Cheers
But next time someone tells u a car is all original panels it would appear we can tell whether it has had a big frontal or rear ended from matching the front and rear lids at least.
Any clues on where the numbers might be on the doors? Anyone?
Cheers
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