Production Data
Option Code 718
Two 1994 NA 968s park next to each other at a PCA show. One has 944-style buckets. The other has 993-style “comfort” buckets. The factory brochure shows the 993 buckets. So why does yours have the older seats?
- 495 NA cabriolets with 718 — 24.7% of all NA cab production
- 360 NA coupes with 718 — 18.0% of all NA coupe production
- Zero true 1995 cabriolets — every NA 1995 cab was a re-VINned 1994
The Answer
Re-VIN to next model year
Sales were slow. Production inventory backed up. Porsche came up with an innovative way to clear stock: option code 718 let them re-VIN an already-produced 968 into the upcoming model year and sell it as such. The result is cars carrying the next year’s letter in the VIN but the prior year’s options and offerings.
Same trick was used on the 911 and 928 in the early 1990s — the 968 wasn’t alone in this.
A 1995 NA coupe Vehicle Information Sticker showing the 718 code. This car was actually produced in June 1994.
718 Production by VIN Range
718 cars are physically the prior model year, re-VINned with the next year’s letter (10th VIN position: N = 92, P = 93, R = 94, S = 95).
| Model Year | Body | VIN Range | Build Window | Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 (built as ’93) | Coupe | RS820061 – RS820221 | March 1993 – June 1993 | 161 |
| 1995 (built as ’94) | Coupe | SS820061 – SS820259 | February 1994 – June 1994 | 199 |
| Coupe 718 total | 360 18.0% | |||
| 1994 (built as ’93) | Cab | RS840061 – RS840249 | March 1993 – June 1993 | 189 |
| 1995 (built as ’94) | Cab | SS840061 – SS840366 | February 1994 – June 1994 | 306 |
| Cab 718 total | 495 24.7% | |||
| All NA 718 cars | 855 | |||
Not a single NA 1995 cabriolet was a true 1995 — they’re all 718 cars built in 1994. Only 60 of the NA 1995 coupes were true 1995s, built after June 1994.
718 cars reflect the prior model year’s options and offerings. A 1994 968 in F9 Amethyst Metallic is a giveaway — Amethyst was a 1992–93 standard metallic and isn’t on the 1994 palette. That car is a 718 originally built before July 1993; the only thing 1994 about it is the R in the VIN.
For this reason, you’ll see 1994 968s described as early (with 718) and late (without). At least one 718 968 has been registered as the wrong year because someone went off the door-jamb build date instead of the 10th VIN character.
If your 968 doesn’t have option code 718, it was truly manufactured in its model year. See the Model Year Differences page for a fuller list of what changes between 718 and non-718 cars.
Information provided by Jeff Coe, PCA 968 Registry. Please credit accordingly.