Porsche's internal chassis codes (Typ numbers) are what separate people who know what they're buying from people who are guessing. Every used 911 listing, every parts catalog, every forum thread assumes you know the difference between a 996 and a 997 the way you know the difference between a Camry and a Corolla.
This is the full Porsche chassis code map for the modern era, organized by model family. Bookmark it. Reference it before every parts order or used-car listing.
The 911 — air-cooled era
| Chassis | Years | Engine | Transmission | Defining trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 964 | 1989-1994 | 3.6L M64 flat-six (air-cooled) | G50 5-speed manual / Tiptronic 4-speed | First 911 with ABS and power steering. First factory Tiptronic. |
| 993 | 1994-1998 | 3.6L M64 variants (air-cooled) | 6-speed manual / Tiptronic S | Last air-cooled 911. Multi-link rear suspension. 993 Turbo = first twin-turbo 911. |
The one thing every buyer asks about 964/993: values. Air-cooled cars went from cheap to insane between 2012-2022 and have settled into "always expensive." 993s outprice 964s on condition parity. Mechanical failure modes are age-related (hoses, seals, chain tensioners) rather than design-related.
The 911 — water-cooled era
| Chassis | Years | Engine | Transmission | Defining trait |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 996 | 1998-2005 | M96 flat-six (3.4L / 3.6L) — Mezger on Turbo/GT | 6-speed manual / Tiptronic 5-speed | First water-cooled 911. Shared headlights with Boxster (the "fried egg" years). IMS bearing applies. |
| 996 Turbo / GT2 / GT3 | 2001-2005 | Mezger 3.6L flat-six (dry-sump) | 6-speed manual | Different engine family — no IMS bearing. |
| 997.1 | 2005-2008 | M96/M97 flat-six (3.6L / 3.8L) | 6-speed manual / Tiptronic | Restyled exterior, better interior. Still M96-family engine, IMS bearing applies. |
| 997.1 Turbo / GT2 / GT3 | 2007-2009 | Mezger 3.6L flat-six | 6-speed manual | Mezger engine, no IMS bearing concern. |
| 997.2 | 2009-2012 | 9A1 flat-six (3.6L / 3.8L) DFI | 6-speed manual / 7-speed PDK (new) | New direct-injected engine, no IMS bearing. First 911 with PDK. |
| 997.2 Turbo / GT3 | 2010-2013 | GT3 = Mezger 3.8L; Turbo = 9A1 derivative | 6-speed manual / PDK | Last Mezger GT3 (991 GT3 moved to DFI). |
| 991.1 | 2012-2015 | 9A1 flat-six (3.4L / 3.8L) NA | 7-speed manual / 7-speed PDK | Longer wheelbase, aluminum-steel chassis, larger overall. Last naturally-aspirated Carrera. |
| 991.1 GT3 / GT3 RS | 2014-2016 | 9A1 3.8L / 4.0L NA | PDK only (no manual) | 2014 GT3 recalled for connecting rod bolt failure. |
| 991.2 | 2016-2019 | 9A2 3.0L twin-turbo (Carrera/S) | 7-speed manual / 7-speed PDK | Turbocharging comes to the Carrera line. GT3 and GT3 Touring kept NA 4.0L. |
| 992 | 2020-present | 9A3 3.0L / 3.7L / 3.8L flat-six (all turbo except GT3) | 7-speed manual (GT3/T) / 8-speed PDK (new) | Wider body standardized, electromechanical power steering refined, 8-speed dual-clutch. |
| 992 GT3 | 2022-present | 4.0L NA flat-six (9,000 rpm redline) | 7-speed manual / 8-speed PDK | The last NA 911 — almost certainly. |
The one thing every buyer asks:
- 996: IMS bearing. See the complete IMS guide.
- 997.1: IMS bearing, but lower failure rate than 996 on 2006-2008 cars.
- 997.2: no IMS, no worry.
- 991.1: naturally aspirated — buy this if you want the "old" 911 feel.
- 991.2: turbocharged Carrera. Purists either love the mid-range torque or miss the revvy NA.
- 992: newest, most refined, heaviest. 8-speed PDK is smoother than the 7-speed.
Boxster and Cayman
| Chassis | Years | Engine | Defining trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 986 | 1997-2004 | M96 flat-six (2.5L, 2.7L, 3.2L S) | Original Boxster. IMS bearing applies (dual-row early, single-row later). |
| 987.1 | 2005-2008 | M96 flat-six (2.7L, 3.4L S) | First Cayman (2006+). IMS bearing applies. |
| 987.2 | 2009-2012 | 9A1 DFI flat-six (2.9L, 3.4L S) | No IMS bearing (like 997.2). |
| 981 | 2013-2016 (Boxster) / 2014-2016 (Cayman) | 9A1 DFI flat-six (2.7L, 3.4L S, 3.8L GT4 / Spyder) | Last flat-six Boxster/Cayman. GT4 debuts. |
| 982 (718) | 2017-present | 4-cylinder turbo (2.0L, 2.5L) + 4.0L NA flat-six on GTS 4.0 / GT4 / Spyder | Controversial 4-cylinder base engines; flat-six returned in GTS 4.0 / GT4 |
The one thing every buyer asks:
- 986 / 987.1: IMS bearing (same analysis as 996 / 997.1 of the same era).
- 987.2 / 981: no IMS, no worry. Arguably the sweet spot of the mid-engine lineup.
- 982 (718): noisy 4-cylinder turbo vs. the flat-six 4.0 in GTS / GT4 — the flat-six cars command a significant premium.
Cayenne
| Chassis | Years | Engine Options | Defining trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 955 | 2003-2006 | 3.2L VR6 (250 hp), 4.5L V8 NA (340 hp S), 4.5L V8 twin-turbo (Turbo, 450 hp) | First Porsche SUV. VW Touareg platform cousin. |
| 957 | 2008-2010 | 3.6L V6 (290 hp), 4.8L V8 NA DFI (385 hp S), 4.8L V8 TT (Turbo, 500 hp) | Facelift of 955, new DFI V8. First hybrid prototype era. |
| 958.1 | 2011-2014 | 3.6L V6, 4.8L V8 NA S, 4.8L V8 TT Turbo, 3.0L supercharged V6 hybrid, 3.0L V6 diesel | New platform (92A chassis). Lighter, roomier. |
| 958.2 | 2015-2018 | Same family, some retuning + added GTS with TT V6 | Mid-cycle refresh. |
| 9Y0 (E3) | 2019-2023 | 3.0L TT V6, 2.9L TT V6, 4.0L TT V8 (GTS/Turbo), E-Hybrid | Current MLB Evo platform, shared with Audi Q7/Q8. |
| 9Y3 (Coupe) | 2020-present | Same engines as 9Y0 | Cayenne Coupe body style. |
The one thing every buyer asks: cardan shaft / transfer case issues on 955/957, plastic coolant pipe failures on 958s, and timing chain tensioner failures on the 4.8 V8s across 955/957/958. Cayenne V8s are Alusil and can score bores like other Porsche water-cooled V8s — uncommon but documented.
Panamera
| Chassis | Years | Engine Options | Defining trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 970.1 (pre-refresh) | 2010-2013 | M46.20 3.6L V6 (300 hp), M48.20 4.8L V8 NA (400 hp S/4S), M48.70 4.8L V8 TT (500-550 hp Turbo/Turbo S), 3.0L SC V6 Hybrid | First Porsche sedan. 7-speed PDK (hybrid uses ZF 8HP). |
| 970.2 (refresh) | 2014-2016 | Same 3.6L V6 (310 hp), new 3.0L TT V6 S/4S (420 hp), 4.8L TT V8 Turbo (520 hp), 4.8L TT V8 Turbo S (570 hp), 4.8L NA V8 GTS (440 hp), 3.0L SC V6 Plug-in Hybrid (E-Hybrid, 416 hp) | Mid-cycle refresh. V8 replaced by TT V6 in S. Plug-in Hybrid debuts. |
| 971 | 2017-2023 | 2.9L TT V6, 4.0L TT V8, 2.0L I4 hybrid, 2.9L TT V6 Turbo S E-Hybrid (680 hp) | New MSB platform. Second generation. |
| 971.2 (refresh) | 2021-2023 | Refreshed styling, added Turbo S V8 (620 hp) | Mid-cycle refresh. |
| 972 | 2024-present | Current generation | Current Panamera. |
The one thing every buyer asks about a 970: air suspension reliability, hybrid battery health on E-Hybrids, and whether the particular car is pre-refresh or post-refresh. See the 970 Panamera buyer's guide for the detail.
Macan
| Chassis | Years | Engine Options | Defining trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95B.1 | 2015-2018 | 2.0L TFSI I4 (base), 3.0L V6 TT (S), 3.6L V6 TT (Turbo), 3.0L V6 TDI diesel | First Macan. Audi Q5 platform cousin. |
| 95B.2 | 2019-2021 | 2.0L I4, 3.0L V6 TT, 2.9L V6 TT (GTS/Turbo) | Mid-cycle refresh. |
| 95B.3 | 2022-2024 | 2.0L I4, 2.9L V6 TT (S and GTS) | Final ICE Macan generation. |
| 95C (electric Macan) | 2024-present | Dual-motor electric | All-new PPE platform. Coexists with ICE 95B.3 briefly. |
The one thing every buyer asks: oil pump chain failures on some early 95B GTS / 3.0 TT cars, timing chain guide wear on 2.0 TFSI, and whether the infotainment has been flashed. Macan suspension is robust compared to Cayenne/Panamera — no air-spring nightmares unless optioned that way.
The GT car chassis codes
GT-model-specific chassis designations that trip people up:
- 996 GT3 (MkI 1999-2001 European, 2004-2005 US MkII) — Mezger 3.6L flat-six.
- 996 GT2 (2002-2005) — Mezger 3.6L twin-turbo flat-six.
- 997.1 GT3 (2007-2008) — Mezger 3.6L.
- 997.1 GT3 RS (2007-2009) — Mezger 3.6L / 3.8L.
- 997.2 GT3 (2010-2012) — Mezger 3.8L (last Mezger GT3).
- 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 (2011) — Mezger 4.0L, 600 built.
- 991.1 GT3 (2014-2016) — 9A1-derived 3.8L DFI, 2014 recalled for rod bolt issue.
- 991.2 GT3 (2017-2019) — 9A1-derived 4.0L DFI, kept manual option.
- 991.2 GT3 Touring (2018-2019) — no wing version of GT3.
- 991 GT2 RS (2018-2019) — 3.8L TT, 700 hp.
- 992 GT3 (2022-present) — 4.0L NA, 9,000 rpm redline.
- 992 GT3 RS (2023-present) — 4.0L NA with active aero.
How to identify a chassis code from a VIN
Porsche VINs encode the chassis in positions 1-3 (WP0 for Porsche AG cars) and a model indicator in later positions. For definitive identification:
- Porsche VIN decoder on porsche.com/owners — enter VIN, get chassis and build date.
- PET (Porsche Electronic Technical) — dealer parts software. Authoritative for which parts fit a given VIN.
- RennTech.org or Rennlist forum threads for specific chassis — community wisdom on identification.
Why the chassis code matters when buying parts
A "911 headlight" means nothing. A 964 headlight, 993 headlight, 996 headlight, 997 headlight, 991 headlight, and 992 headlight are all different parts. A "Cayenne wheel bearing" means nothing — 955, 957, 958, and 9Y0 all use different hubs.
Examples where buyers get burned:
- "911 clutch kit" — pick the correct Typ (996 vs 997.1 vs 997.2 vs 991 vs 992) and the transmission (manual vs PDK). Dozens of valid options, most don't fit your car.
- "Cayenne brake rotor" — 955, 957, 958, and 9Y0 share almost nothing. Even the V8 vs V6 within a single chassis can require different rotors.
- "Panamera air strut" — 970 and 971 are incompatible.
Always identify the chassis code first, then the engine, then the transmission, then the specific part. Skipping steps burns money and time.
The bottom line
Porsche chassis codes aren't optional knowledge — they're the entry-level vocabulary for the entire ecosystem. Once you can read a listing and know instantly that "2008 Carrera S" means 997.1 with IMS bearing concern, or that "2017 Panamera 4S" means the 3.0 TT V6 and not the old 4.8 V8, your buying decisions get dramatically better.
Bookmark this page. Reference it before every parts order. And when you see an ad that just says "Porsche 911 parts, fits 2005-2020" — close the tab.
Looking for parts for a specific Porsche chassis? Our parts catalog filters by chassis code, engine, and model year — find what fits your exact car.