COA help.. Options

[tod914]

Hey gang, just ordered a COA for Das Frog. Seen in some other posts that these can be rather inaccurate and incomplete. Just got a phone message from the women whom is working on it, saying they are checking into a "490" option code. Electric antenna? Car was purchased with no radio. Would the dealership take that out if the client didn't want a radio and install a standard antenna? What else should I ask for on the COA when I call her back? Trans #, Engine #, ? And, is there a way to distinguish which alloy wheels came with the car; fuchs or mahle? John (orginal owner), had them swapped out for steelies.

Thanks, Tod

[Tom_T]

Well, the production MONTH & year on the VIN sticker may or may not be the actual Chassis No. production date.

Another member's Orange 2L was built a week before mine in Aug. 72, but had a 9/72 VIN sticker date, while mine is 8/72. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

Decode your chassis no. on the Karmann plate using an online calendar for the year of mfgr (YoM) noted on the VIN sticker as follows:

Chassis No.: WWD95XX (or...96XX)*

WW = week of year (count even one day as week #1)
D = day of work week (1-5 = M-F)
.... & translate week & day w/ YoM to a full production date

95 = Karmann Plant & * 96 = 95 + 100 added to below...

XX = # of 914s completed/stamped that date (higher # is later in day)
* 96 = 100 + XX = 1XX

COA's are notoriously incomplete & incorrect Tod, so lacking a dealer invoice &/or window sticker, it may be impossible to add the sail/rollbar vinyle, foglights & any other unlisted option items to the COA.

However, at some Parades & other events where PCNA brings their troops armed with their digital microfilm/fische files on computer to the events, you may be able to look at the actual Kardex & jot down the option codes & notations (in German) & get them translated then added to your COA that way (should be at no cost to correct a COA). You might even sneak a pic of it when they're not looking, but they're protective of the Kardexes now due to the fact that it includes the key code and origina/following owner info which is a privacy issue.

As for your interior code #21 - it should read Brown Leatherette with Basketweave (inserts), as per this chart I used to get mine corrected from their erroneous "#31 Beige..." - which was their error....


^--- note #21 in bottom left set of English codes, this is from Jeff's website too BTW

You can also pull the option codes off of Jeff Bowlsby's website.

I don't think Froggy was an Appearance Group (AG) 914 - unless it also has the center console, but the chrome bumpers did become a separate option for additional cost over-&-above the AG in the 74 MY so Porsche could ding you 2x for what had been included in the AG for 914/4's in 70-73 MYs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

So the separate chrome bumper option makes sense on Froggy.

FYI - the 74 MY AG would've included Leatherette covered steering wheel & shift boot, loop pile carpet, center console & 3 gauges, foglights/grills & dash switch, dual horns, sail/rollbar vinyl - so if all of that is there, you could look up the code on Jeff's website & take pix of them all on Froggy, then send that into PCNA COA (again!) to ask them to recheck their Kardex & add it to the revised COA.

All I have to say is - it's a good thing that Porsche is not generally as sloppy with the car building, as PCNA is with their crappy COA work, which is usually "neither fast, nor slow - but usually half-fast!" - especially on the older cars without a supplied window sticker! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

PS - HEY - cool, they actually have your transaxle number! ...very rare that they have it at all.

PSS - Only the models which included certain or all option groups &/or special options as part of that model's "package" won't include listing those specific options. So a 914-6 70-72 MYs, the 73 early/mid MY 914-2.0/"914S" & 74 LEs won't specifically list their individual options always included with it for the basic price new (911 RS is another non-914 example). I disagree with this approach, because IMHO the manufacturer should be confirming & certifying the inclusion of options on ALL of their models - whether sold at extra cost or included in the upgraded model's base price - for a "Certificate [manufacturer certification] of Authenticity [of all model items and options]".

[SirAndy]

Another member's Orange 2L was built a week before mine in Aug. 72, but had a 9/72 VIN sticker date, while mine is 8/72. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

That's because it's not a build date ...

The door jamb sticker is US only and it's for importing the car into the US.
The US sticker has nothing to do with the actual build of the car.

My best guess is that it is the month the car was either loaded onto the container ship or expected to arrive in the US.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Tom_T]

Another member's Orange 2L was built a week before mine in Aug. 72, but had a 9/72 VIN sticker date, while mine is 8/72. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

That's because it's not a build date ...

The door jamb sticker is US only and it's for importing the car into the US.
The US sticker has nothing to do with the actual build of the car.

My best guess is that it is the month the car was either loaded onto the container ship or expected to arrive in the US.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

Understood Andy. My point was that the Chassis No. is the closest thing to a build date - not the VIN sticker's date.

My case in point example was John's "Orangina" having a later sticker date but built the week or so before mine - so mine was probably shipped out earlier, even though having the chassis no. stamped later than Johns' former 914 - while his was held back long enough to get into the 9/72 stickers.

What makes it even more interesting is that my chassis no. date is 8/31/72 with an 8/72 VIN sticker date - same day! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
.... world's fastest 914 build or what! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

PS - that's why my prior post in its entirety & even the snippette above makes the clear distinction between a "VIN sticker date" & the chassis number derived "build date" - how else would one know which week a 914 was built!!??