I am looking for a list of things I can check to identify the various versions of the 944 series, particularly the turbo and turbo S models.

I am planning to buy one soon but I see a lot of ads where the cars are described a little ambiguously, such as "turbo running gear", "198x 944 Turbo S" where x is a year that there was no Turbo S etc.

I have often heard of people trying to put turbo engines into NA models, putting turbos on NA engines, putting other turbo parts on NA models but not touching the engine etc.

What is the best way to know for sure that you're looking at a car that left the factory as a turbo, turbo s etc. ?

Thanks!

 

By the vin number and the engine number!

 

Thanks - I checked the VIN number of a car I'm interested in and this did not reveal the details I'm looking for. It's listed a classified add as a 1989 944 Turbo S, but from searching the various history report sites, including carfax, which I purchased, all I get is:

1989 PORSCHE 944
VIN: WP0AA2957KN151080
COUPE
2.5L L4 FI SOHC

No mention of turbo, although some of the sites did list it as a 944 S.

Is that normal or should it show up in the VIN check if it's a turbo?

 

From that Vin # it is a 1989 944 Turbo S