Color to Sample

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.

COLOR TO SAMPLE STICKER

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
L999 #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
C2S venetian #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
C2S PS820317 Tahoe #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
L999 #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
L999 #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
L999 #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)
RS820692 C2S #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
L999 #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
Color to Sample - Summer Yellow&nsbp #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
code 98 cab #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
C2S 359 2&nsbp&nsbp #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 
L999 #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
L999 #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
C2S RS840599 #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)
L999 #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
L999 #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