Matching numbers, How to know Options

[trojanhorsepower]

How does one match the engine, trans and chassis numbers. I have read several times that the COA's are not accurate, so how can we tell. I can see how one could narrow the numbers down to production years, but is there a way to decipher the VIN or other numbers and determine what the engine, trans numbers should be?

Thanks

-Peter

[trojanhorsepower]

Thanks Guys! So on what grounds do people say that the COA's are wrong? I guess that if you know the history of the car..... but that can't be very common.

[sixerdon]

Thanks Guys! So on what grounds do people say that the COA's are wrong? I guess that if you know the history of the car..... but that can't be very common.

Looking closely at the above COA's raises a few questions on the accuracy of a few of them. Since they are all 1974's, I wrote them down and put them in chronological order by the last 5 digits of the VIN. Here's what I see........
Transmission numbers;
#23083
#HA 11024
#95550
#HA 02204
#012284
#HA 06064
Why the inconsistency? These are all typ 914/12 tranny's. One has 6 digits and 3 start with HA! Compare the lowest one to the highest one. Where did #95550 come from?
Engine numbers;
#007678
#012565
#082238
#GA 013113
#473544
#EC 036921
Using "The Porsche Family Tree" from PCA as my source, the first 5 are 2.0's and the last a 1.8. Numbers 082238 & 473544 don't even register. The first 3 & 5th should start with GA as per the 4th. The last falls within the '74 1.8 range.

An additional note, I find it odd that the second one down has the engine & transmission number but no "birth date", yet three of them have the exact day/mo/yr and not just the usual mo/yr! Fascinating!!

Speaking for myself, that's why I question the validity of every COA, including my own. If there is a logical explanation, I'd like to hear it. Hope this helps others to question theirs.

Don
P.S. Judges take note.......