What year is your 912?decode your chassis number.
Enter the chassis number stamped on your 912. Unlike the 356, most 912 numbers can be decoded to an exact year with real confidence — we'll tell you which.
How to read a 912 chassis number.
No year digit built in, but the number range itself tells you both the body/builder and the year — Porsche-built Coupes ran in the 350000s, Karmann-built Coupes in the 450000-463000s, and Targas (from 1967) in the 550000s.
Format is 128 + a body-code digit + a 4-digit sequence. 0 = Karmann coupe, 2 = Porsche coupe, 7 = Porsche Targa. E.g. 12803871 decodes cleanly on its own.
Format is 129 + a 2-digit body code + a 4-digit sequence. 00 = Porsche coupe, 01 = Porsche Targa, 02 = Karmann coupe. Also fully self-decoding.
| Model year | Porsche-built Coupe | Karmann-built Coupe | Targa |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 350001-350699 | 450001-451500 (est.) | — |
| 1966 | 350700-353592 | 451501-458100 | — |
| 1967 | 354001-355601 | 458101-463204 | 550001-550544 |
| 1968 | 1282xxxx | 1280xxxx | 1287xxxx |
| 1969 | 129000xxx | 129020xxx | 129010xxx |
912 chassis numbers, answered.
Where do I find the chassis number on a Porsche 912?
On most 912s it's stamped on the front luggage-compartment floor near the spare tire, and on a plate near the gas tank or front trunk latch on the earliest (1965) cars. It's a 6, 8, or 9-digit number — not the 17-digit VIN format used from 1981 on.
How do I read a 1965–1967 912 chassis number?
No year digit is built in, but the number range itself tells you both the body/builder and the year — Porsche-built Coupes ran in the 350000s, Karmann-built Coupes in the 450000-463000s, and Targas (from 1967) in the 550000s.
How do I read a 1968 912 chassis number?
Format is 128 + a body-code digit + a 4-digit sequence. 0 = Karmann coupe, 2 = Porsche coupe, 7 = Porsche Targa. For example, 12803871 decodes cleanly on its own.
How do I read a 1969 912 chassis number?
Format is 129 + a 2-digit body code + a 4-digit sequence. 00 = Porsche coupe, 01 = Porsche Targa, 02 = Karmann coupe. Also fully self-decoding.
How reliable is this 912 chassis number data?
This table is sourced from the 912 Registry's chassis-number research, cross-checked against 1968 and 1969 cars discussed and photographed by owners in the 912 community. The one range flagged “est.” — early 1965 Karmann-built Coupes — is called an estimate by the Registry itself, and we carry that caveat through honestly rather than presenting it as certain.
Know your 912. Get the right parts.
Once you know your year and body, our vehicle pages have everything that fits — German OE, quality repro, and the parts we make in-house.