[fred@appliedbiomechanics.com]

I have just imported a 1995 968 Coupe into Canada. After 2 1/2 hours with Canada Boarder and Security Agency and going through the customs process, they checked all of the paper work numbers with those of the car.



The VIN was easy for them to find (drivers side windshield A pillar location), but they also wanted to find the sticker or plate that showed them the Country of Origin (dah ... it's a Porsche !) and the date of manufacture.



It was NOT on the drivers side door below the latch as expected (and as I have seen on other models). On the 1995 model, is there anywhere else to look for the sticker ..... looked all over the engine compartment, passenger door, trunk area under the carpet and beside the option sticker.



Any help is greatly appreciated as they will not release the car from bond until they get the proof they need (they already got their pound of flesh .... GST tax, A/C tax, Duty (not made in North America), Registrar of Imported Vehicles Fee. And wait till I register it in Ontario ... PST tax, safety and emissions test, license. I don't think I will have any money left to do all of the great mods that are talked about on this site.



Hope it is all worth it .... I have not even sat in the car yet, let alone driven it !!!



TIA

Fred

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[jeff968]

I'm not sure if I recall anyplace the specifically states Germany. The window sticker does not even say so. That said there are two things you can point to. The last S in the VIN (example SS820123, the first S is the year, 1995) indicates that the car was assembled in Stuttgart Germany. You'll need some kind of manual that shows how to read a Porsche VIN to point to (I have one which I could fax you). You'll also find the paint color sticker, found next to the fuse box, has the paint color codes but also has the name of the paint printed out in both german and english. Maybe you can point to that. I've attached a photo of the sticker. Good luck.

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[flash]

bummer - sounds like somebody swapped out or at least repainted your door

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[968rz]

Besides the vin number for a build year, if this is a US car the emission sticker under the hood will show the year and I agree with Flash; sounds like the door was repainted/replaced.

Maybe you could get a doc from the original dealer (if you know who they are) or a cert from porsche (that will take time).

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[fred@appliedbiomechanics.com]

[quote name='jeff968' post='45363' date='Jan 7 2008, 08:23 PM']" You'll need some kind of manual that shows how to read a Porsche VIN to point to (I have one which I could fax you)."[/quote]



Thanks, that would be very helpful. I will try and send you a PM with my fax number and/or my email address that you could send an attachment to.

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[fred@appliedbiomechanics.com]

[quote name='flash' post='45364' date='Jan 7 2008, 09:01 PM']bummer - sounds like somebody swapped out or at least repainted your door[/quote]



I am a bit concerned that this may be the case also. I bought the car through the Auto Trader, site unseen. It is a low mileage (59K) one owner (verified by the original title and confirmed by CarFax). It also has a clean CarFax. It is a very late 1995 (VIN ending in 306).



Today was my first chance to see the car. It is dirty after being shipped, and the weather here was foggy and very gray today. The car is also Aventurine Green, so today was extra hard to see if there are any signs of repaint or body done.



The dealer (consignment dealer) assured me that there were no accidents, but I am sure that as I get into the car and start to make everything shine, and put everything right that I will find out the truth.



Can you tell me if the VIN plate is a stamped metal plate rivited on, or a foil type sticker?



Thanks

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[jeff968]

Here's the door jam sticker. You'll see it references German as Flash said. It also has the production date. Yes, SS820307 is a very late car. SS820319 is the last one. October 1995 build.



Opps, that one cuts it off, try this one...

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[fred@appliedbiomechanics.com]

[quote name='jeff968' post='45374' date='Jan 7 2008, 10:29 PM']Here's the door jam sticker. You'll see it references German as Flash said. It also has the production date. Yes, SS820307 is a very late car. SS820319 is the last one. October 1995 build.



Opps, that one cuts it off, try this one...[/quote]



Thanks Jeff. This picture certainly tells me what I am looking for ... and it sure isn't there! I took Rick's advice and sent an email and left a phone message with the dealer to get more info. Hopefully he will be up front with me if the plate was removed for paint or body work. The car looks good so far, and hopefully drives out that way. The big concern is that without the plate, Canada Customs is threatening to order the car returned to the USA?



I also sent you a PM regarding the VIN Decoder page of the manual you had. Being the newbie that I am to this site, I sent it to Rick first by mistake.



Thanks again for the help guys.

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[flash]

i know there is another vin location on the chassis, but i will have to search for it - it's a stamped number - not likely to find anything other than misc stickers in german though to indicate origin - frankly, i am a bit surprised they are interested in that since all porsches at that time came from germany - where else would it be from? - sometimes 2 plus 2 equals a duck



you could probably get a history from porsche indicating origin



unfortunately you likely won't get much help from the dealer on the door though - worth a try, but i wouldn't hold out much hope

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[PorscheDude]

I think the one stamped on the chassis is located on the fire wall by the battery or the fuse box. I forget which side.

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[Ceenit]

[quote name='smokiemon968' post='45388' date='Jan 8 2008, 09:27 AM']I think the one stamped on the chassis is located on the fire wall by the battery or the fuse box. I forget which side.[/quote]





Yes, there is definitely one stamped on the firewall, should be easily viewable when looking at the back of the engine bay. I believe it is just the VIN #, and does not identify the build location. If you have the black plastic trim on the back of your engine bay (standard on '02, common add on for '93-'95), it may be hidden by the plastic (easily removed)

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[jpk]

Contact Porsche North America; they should be able to provide you a statement that that particular VIN was manufactured in Germany. You'll also need a statement that all of the factory recalls have been completed.



If the car is in Windsor and for some reason you're forced to return it to the US; you're welcome to leave it at my place for a while (heck, I'll even let it share the garage with mine). PM me if you ned to do that.

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[fred@appliedbiomechanics.com]

Thanks for everyones help and suggestions.



With much help from everyone at 968Forums who replied to my post I was able to tell the customs officers where to look for VIN numbers and evidence of manufacture date. In the end Canada Customs accepted that the VIN imprint on the firewall matched the one on the windshield by the A pillar. I also had a document that showed them how to read a Porsche VIN to confirm Country of Origin.



I talked to the first owner (I am the second) and found out that the original Compliance Sticker had been removed from the driver side door as the door had been repainted due to vandalism (key gouge) and not due to an accident. I was disappointed to find that pain work had been done, but happy to know that it was not a MVA.



So thanks again to everyone. I had my first drive in the 968 bringing it home from the Customs Bond Warehouse. Wow !!!! What a feeling .... what a car! Come on summer !

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[smj]

Is this the nice low-mileage Aventurine MY'95 coupe that was listed just outside of Boston for quite some time? I'd wondered when that one would turn up. Looked like a very nice example... Either way, congratulations!

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[fred@appliedbiomechanics.com]

[quote name='smj' post='45645' date='Jan 13 2008, 05:58 PM']Is this the nice low-mileage Aventurine MY'95 coupe that was listed just outside of Boston for quite some time? I'd wondered when that one would turn up. Looked like a very nice example... Either way, congratulations![/quote]



Yes, it could be. The previous owner (1st owner) was in Lexington MA. I found it through AutoTrader.com, and was being advertised by a broker in Hudson MA and being sold on consignment. 59K miles, one owner. Looks good so far, feels really tight and drives out nice, a bit of paint work on the doors as mentioned to repair some vandalism (key gouges), but otherwise looks straight. Time will tell as I get into things.



Thanks for asking.



Fred

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