Very early Boxster. Confusion over build date

[CharlesBanbury]

Good evening chaps.
I recently purchased another Boxster rather rashly. It’s a very early and very basic 2.5 registered (on the logbook)
in January 1997. When I say basic, I mean no AC but with leather seats and a field of plastic on the dash. Arena red and 3 former owners. The last since about 2000. This weekend, I whipped out the instrument cluster to replace the back lights for the LCD displays and found a sticker. I assume it’s a build sticker that would indicate the cars build date. This was 1996. However, using the vin number as a datem point on an online vin decoder, it shows a build date of 1999. That’s clearly rubbish as the registration is 1997. Consequently, I am keen to find the real build date. I suspect that this is a very early car. Whats the best way of achieving this without any doubt?
Any ideas very gratefully received.
with regards,
Charles.

 

[CharlesBanbury]

Just to add. Having looked at other forums, it seems that the oldest Boxster in uk spec was in Lapis blue (P186EGM) and then the Autocar press vehicle (P159EGM) However, this still doesn’t help! Any ideas?

with regards.

 

[Motorhead]

With a P-plate I assume that your vehicle registration document confirms that it’s a 1996 car Charles? If your car still has its original documentation it should show the supplying dealer who may still have some information … assuming that they’re still in existence!

Jeff

 

[CharlesBanbury]

Sadly the book pack was lost by the last owner. However, the SF in the registration seems to indicate Scotland. One webpage claims Edinburgh and one Glasgow. As a historian (albeit a medieval one!) I am enjoying the chase. with regards,

charles.

 

[pfowler1]

Hi Charles, I'm from Scotland and when I saw the registration I said to myself "Oh and Edinburgh car" so I think your research is correct that this car was registered in Edinburgh if it hasn't been re-registered in its lifetime.

Just doing a Google search has found it was registered on 17th January 1997 but it was also supposedly manufactured in 1997.

Hope that is some help. Nice looking car by the way,

Paul

 

[pfowler1]

Charles,

Also found this if you are really keen to find out.

[h2]How to request information on where a vehicle is registered[/h2]To request vehicle registration details, you can fill in a form and send it to the DVLA by post. If you’re an individual, then you will need to use a V888 form.

Paul

 

[CharlesBanbury]

To add a note, I have just done a check on the plate and the original seem to have been FIL 30. That strikes me as a Northern Irish plate and is for sale on reg transfer! Then, it goes to P301NSF in 2000. Now I’m really confused.

 

[laura]

Hi Charles. It will have been given a "year appropriate" registration number when the personal reg was removed. That doesn't help you with your investigations I'm afraid though. It is a shame Porsche withdrew the Certificate of Authenticity facility which would have answered your questions. You might try asking Porsche Reading quoting the chassis number. As a guide, I think the tenth digit is the year - 'T' being '96 and 'V' '97. I don't know if that helps.

Laura

 

[CharlesBanbury]

Thanks very much Laura. I will look at the V5. looking at piston heads forum. There is a chap who claims to have the earliest Boxster registered in January 1997. Mine was registered on the 17th of January 1997 so it has to be in the running! The research goes on. I will call Porsche GB tomorrow and see what I can find out. Thanks again for your help and advice.

with regards,

Charles.

 

[CharlesBanbury]

So, for those interested and sorry to bang on, I called Porsche GB in Reading. I think I was lucky to come across a very helpful lady who was willing (with appropriate checks on ownership) to do some delving. She quoted looking at the dealer database and the heritage records. I have to say, considering there is nothing in it for Porsche, it was a very generous offer. So, I am awaiting a response. it’s very reassuring to feel that such companies are willing to help with regards slightly silly requests.

I have also sent a Piston Heads member a post who seems to be the owner of the oldest UK Boxster a private message to ascertain his date of registration. It was a touch presuming to send a private message but that seemed the only way to gain further information. whatever the outcome, I will post again if anyone is interested. Thanks again for all help and advice.

With regards,

Charles.

 

[MJB]

Mine was registered on the 17th of January 1997

The DVSA MOT site states that the car was registered on 31st January 1997 - further confusion! I presume that you did not HPI the car prior to purchase, so this would be a good move as it will give details of registration number transfers and so forth. Regarding the NI registration, this may have been a British mainland private plate from new or a genuine NI registration from new and I have come across many cars imported from, for instance, the Channel Isles that have their date of registration on mainland Britain recorded as their registration date, not their original registration date. If you don't get anywhere I'll happily look into the chassis number, but would suggest that you PM this rather than publish it here.

 

[CharlesBanbury]

Thanks so much for your help. I will see what Porsche comes up with and if there is still confusion, may I take you up on the VIN offer?

with regards,

charles.

 

[CharlesBanbury]

For any interested parties, this is the latest:

Porsche GB were good to their word and sent me a comprehensive breakdown of all the information that they have on the car. It was manufactured on the 13th of December 1996 and then registered on the 17th of January 1997. This in itself is interesting as I know production started in “late 1996” but I just can’t find out when! Also, my research tells me that the press cars were manufactured with manual mirrors and the production cars with electric mirrors as standard. The build details on my car shows that electric mirrors were added as an option on the options list, along with leather seats, a radio (still in the car) and a center console. This leads me to think, that if power mirrors was an option, then had this not been requested, the car would have come with manual mirrors. does this have significance? I have emailed the owner of the lapis blue and silver cars that are apparently the oldest (email via piston heads so its perfectly possible that he has not received it) to ask if he has a build date for his cars but, to no avail. Does anyone have anything to add? I am loving the research but seems to have come to a bit of a dead end. I am going to call the club on Monday to see if they can help. Does anyone know who would be the best to call?

with regards,

Charles.

 

[BrianJ]

Only a month between production and first registration is pretty slick, especially over Christmas. Presumably on a car of this age the 11th letter of the VIN is an S (Stuttgart); I don't think assembly at Valmet in Finland (U for Uusikaupunki like my 986) started until 1997. From what you say about the spec, it sounds like a customer order or a dealer order for early production. Did Porsche UK tell you who the ordering dealer was, or would they? Peter Cook is/was (not sure) the PCGB archivist - you might try calling Cornbury House and asking for him - he may have some more info about early production.

 

[Peter_Bull]

A good person to call would be the Register Secretary Tracy Wilkins. Details in PP.

 

[CharlesBanbury]

Many thanks again everyone. I have tried calling the club but to no avail. I will try again later. According to the web site office staff are working from home so there are bound to be some glitches. I will post again when I have some more details. I am amazed at the generosity of people on this forum. I am a member of another club (that shall remain nameless) and the majority of the reply’s one gets to questions are laced with undertones of “what an idiot… Ha Ha he knows nothing, I am such an expert etc” it’s quite comical but often overtly rude! Here it’s basically a haven. Thank you.

with regards,

Charles.

 

[BrianJ]

Rather than calling Cornbury House I suggest you email Maxine Rhodes (Membership@porscheclubgb.com), explaining what you are looking for (eg Peter Cook). She is very helpful and will forward your request. Boxster Register Secretary Tracy Wilkins is boxster@porscheclubgb.com. Hope you bottom out your query.

 

[CharlesBanbury]

Many thanks. I have managed to get hold of the office and a very helpful chap put me in touch with Peter Cook. I have sent him an email and hopefully he will be willing to help. I will relay any information when I have some.

with regards,

charles.

 

[Ruston]

Hi Charles, interesting to read about your investigations. The V5 for my Boxster has a date of first registration of 03 01 97 so you’ve prompted me to do a bit more digging to find the build date as it must be very early in the production run!

 

[CharlesBanbury]

I have found out some more:

have a look at your vin number and focus on the last 4 numbers. According to Peter Cook, who very generously did the research for me, this will give you the build number of your car. So, 1002 will be the 1002nd car off the line. It’s great isn’t it. I now have all the details on mine. It’s not as early as I thought but it’s. Been great fun finding out. What’s your build number?

with regards,

Charles.