Imagine yourself in the Porsche dealer back in 1994 looking at the new cars on the showroom floor and listening to the following conversation taking place nearby between a salesmen and his customer:
Customer: “So, I’ve decided, I want a new 968 cabriolet and I know just the color I want!”
Salesman: “That’s great, we’ll get that ordered up for you. So, what is the color you are looking for?”
Customer: “My wife has friend at work with a 911 and she just loves the color of the car so that’s the color we want. It is called Amazon Green!”
Salesman: “ Umm, well, there’s a small problem. That color was offered last year but it is not on the list of available colors for this year, sorry.
Customer: ”What!!!! I’ve promised my wife! There must be something you can do. You know what they say, happy wife, happy life.
Salesman: “Well, there is one thing we could do. Porsche offers a program. It is called “Color to Sample” paint ordering and for a mere $2,500 I can order your 968 in Amazon Green. What do you say?
Customer: ”Let’s do it!”
And of the 4,242 North American 968s produced between 1992 and 1995 the color to sample option was selected 18 times. For C2S metallic, it was paint code 99 (16 times). For C2S solid it was paint code 98 (2 times). Of the 18 C2S 968s, I have located 7 of them and all 7 of those have been painted colors that were used by Porsche during previous model years, so I’m guessing the scenario above could have actually played out a number of times. Another interesting fact, the only way you can tell what color a C2S 968 is painted is to read the little silver paint code sticker next to the fuse box. The paint code and name (in German) is listed there.
So, what do the Color-to-Sample NA 968s look like? See the detailed configuration list below along with a partial VIN and photos for the few C2S 968s we’ve seen. These are very cool and unique 968s because someone was willing to spend that extra $2,500 for the paint and wait the extra weeks while Porsche built this special car for them. Porsche still offers Color to Sample today but the cost is over $5,000 now.
I’ve heard of a couple of the other C2S 968s but nothing confirmed yet. If you spot one be sure to let me know so we can remove a “?” from the list below.
Coupes
• 10 Color-to-Sample coupes were built for the North American market
• 6 were 6 speeds
• 4 were Tiptronics
• 3 1993s (2 were sent to Canada)
• 5 1994s (1 718 cars, 4 true 94s)
• 2 1995s (1 718 car, 1 true 95)
Details:
| Photo (click to see additional images) | Number / VIN / Year / Location | Paint Code / Exterior Color | Option Codes |
 |
#1 – PS820221/1993 Unknown |
Unknown | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LT black partial leather interior C36 Canadian emissions (part of Canadian package) 139/340 Dual heated seats/driver/passenger (part of Canadian package) 249 Tiptronic automatic transmission 288 Headlight washers (part of Canadian package) 437 8-way full power seat – driver 490 Hi-fi sound speakers 586 Lumbar seat adjustment – driver |
 |
#2 – PS820250/1993 South Carolina |
51 Venetian Blue Note: Venetian Blue was a special metallic exterior color offered on the 968 during the 1992 model year only |
99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LT black partial leather interior 403 17” Cup1 wheels |
 |
#3 – PS820317/1993 Florida |
58 Tahoe Blue Note: Tahoe Blue was a special metallic exterior color offered on the 968 in the 1992 model year only |
99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic TU Classic gray/Light gray partial leather interior 139/340 Dual heated seats/driver/passenger 220 Limited slip 288 Headlight washers 403 17” Cup1 wheels 437 8-way full power seat – driver 490 Hi-fi sound speakers 586 Lumbar seat adjustment – driver XC9 Rootwood 6spd shifter knob – dark |
|
#4 – RS820214/1994 Unknown |
Unknown | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LC Cashmere/Black partial leather interior C36 Canadian emissions (part of Canadian package) 490 Hi-fi sound speakers 586 Lumbar seat adjustment – driver 595 Painted Rear spoiler 692 CD Changer 718 Previous Year Re-VIN |
 |
#5 – RS820376/1994 British Columbia |
57 Violet Blue Metallic Note: Violet blue metallic was an exterior color offered on the 968 in 1992 and 1993 model years |
99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic TT Classic Grey partial leather interior C36 Canadian emissions (part of Canadian package) 139/340 Dual heated seats/driver/passenger (part of Canadian package) 249 Tiptronic automatic transmission 288 Headlight washers (part of Canadian package) 595 Painted Rear spoiler |
|
#6 – RS820658/1994 Unknown |
Unknown | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LC Cashmere/Black partial leather interior XD4 Painted crest center caps (09991 exclusive pkg) 139/340 Dual heated seats/driver/passenger (part of Canadian package) 249 Tiptronic automatic transmission 288 Headlight washers (part of Canadian package) 437 8-way full power seat – driver XJ8 Tiptronic Shift knob, covered in leather to sample |
|
#7 – RS820670/1994 Indiana |
Registration color noted as “Blue” | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic TT Classic Grey partial leather interior 030 Sport chassis (includes 17” wheels) 220 Limited slip 398 17” Cup2 wheels (part of 030 Sport chassis) |
 |
#8 – RS820692/1994 South Carolina |
F9 Amethyst Metallic | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LT Black partial leather interior XD4 Painted crest center caps (09991 exclusive pkg) 249 Tiptronic automatic transmission 437/438 Dual 8-way full power seats/driver/passenger 595 Painted rear spoiler |
|
#9 – SS820260/1995 New Jersey |
Registration color noted as “Blue” | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic TT Classic Grey partial leather interior 398 17” Cup2 wheels |
 |
#10 – SS820318/1995 North Carolina |
B3 Sun Yellow Note: This 968 is the second to the last North American 968 coupe and the last NA 968 coupe produced with US emissions |
98 Color to Sample exterior paint – solid LC Cashmere/Black partial leather interior 220 Limited slip 437 8-way full power seat – driver 694 AM/FM CD Radio – in-dash Console door/Cassette holder delete |
Cabriolets
• 8 Color-to-Sample cabriolets were built for the North American market
• 6 were 6 speeds
• 2 were Tiptronics
• 1 1993
• 6 1994s (6 true 94s, no 718 cars)
• 1 1995 (1 718 car)
Details:
| Photo (click for additional images) | Number / VIN / Year / Location | Paint Code / Exterior Color | Option Codes |
 |
#1 – PS840414/1993 Porsche Museum, Germany |
Unknown (Note: This car is actually on display at the Porsche Museum. The color appears to be similar to Riviera Blue but it is unconfirmed. If you visit the museum and can get them to open the hood please get the exterior color information from the paint code sticker for the registry. |
98 Color to Sample exterior paint – solid TT Classic Grey partial leather interior V1 Classic Grey cabriolet top 139/340 Dual heated seats/driver/passenger 249 Tiptronic automatic transmission 337 Removal of transportation equipment 437 8-way full power seat – driver |
 |
#2 – RS840359/1994 Maryland |
N7 Amazon Green Note: Amazon Green was a popular metallic exterior color offered on the 968 during the 1992 and 1993 model years |
99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LT Black partial leather interior V9 Black cabriolet top 398 17” Cup2 wheels 437 8-way full power seat – driver |
|
#3 – RS840370/1994 South Carolina? |
Unknown Note: Seen, thought to be purple |
99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic MX Classic Grey full leather seat interior V1 Classic Grey cabriolet top 398 17” Cup2 wheels 437/438 Dual 8-way full power seats/driver/passenger 490 Hi-fi sound speakers 498 Rear emblem delete |
|
#4 – RS840460/1994 Unknown |
Unknown | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LC Cashmere/Black partial leather interior V9 Black cabriolet top XD4 Painted crest center caps (09991 exclusive pkg) 249 Tiptronic automatic transmission |
 |
#5 – RS840511/1994 California |
F9 Amethyst Metallic | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic TT Classic Grey partial leather interior V9 Black cabriolet top XD4 Painted crest center caps (09991 exclusive pkg) 220 Limited slip 398 17” Cup2 wheels 437 8-way full power seat – driver |
 |
#6 – RS840599/1994 Michigan |
B5 Wimbledon Green Note: Wimbledon Green was a metallic exterior color offered on the 968 during the 1993 model year only |
99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic TT Classic Grey partial leather interior V1 Classic Grey cabriolet top XC8 Rootwood 6spd shifter knob – light (09991 exclusive pkg) XN8 Leather Sunvisors (09991 exclusive pkg) |
|
#7 – RS840664/1994 Unknown |
Unknown | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic TT Classic Grey partial leather interior V1 Classic Grey cabriolet top XD4 Painted crest center caps (09991 exclusive pkg) 418 Protective side moldings 437 8-way full power seat – driver 490 Hi-fi sound speakers |
|
#8 – SS840276/1995 California |
Unknown | 99 Color to Sample exterior paint – metallic LC Cashmere/Black partial leather interior V9 Black cabriolet top 490 Hi-fi sound speakers 692 CD Changer |
