The Complete Guide to Porsche Engine and Body Stamps — 356, 911, 912, 914, and 930

Porsche is one of the most stamp-intensive vehicles to restore correctly. From the engine case stampings to the body panel codes, the chassis numbers, and the data tags, a thorough restoration of a numbers-matching Porsche requires attention to detail that generic letter sets simply cannot provide. This guide covers every major stamping location across the 356, 911, 912, 914, and 930 — what's stamped where, what the codes mean, and which stamps you need.

Why Porsche Stamping Accuracy Matters

Porsche restorations are judged at PCA (Porsche Club of America) Concours events to an extremely high standard. Judges examine stamping locations, font accuracy, character size, and impression quality. A car with generic stamp impressions rather than factory-correct font will lose points — and in a competitive class, those points matter.

Beyond judging, a numbers-matching Porsche commands significantly higher market value than a non-matching car. Correctly documented and correctly stamped restorations are the difference between a solid used car and an investment-grade collector vehicle.

Every stamp in our Porsche restoration range is CNC-machined to match the original factory font and character specifications.

Porsche 356 (1948–1965) — Stamping Guide

The 356 uses a three-piece case engine, with stamps appearing on the engine, transmission, and chassis. Stamping practice evolved across the production run:

• Pre-A (before 1955): Early chassis stamps use a distinctive font — our Porsche 356 chassis stamp set covers this period.
• 356A, B, C (1955–1965): Engine and transmission stamps, body stamps, and chassis markings. Reutter-bodied cars also have Reutter data plate information.
• Third piece stamps: The third piece of the 356 case carries its own stamping. Our 356 engine transmission third piece stamp set is machined specifically for this location.

For 356 restorations, we also supply reproduction Reutter chassis ID plates for cars where the original plate is missing or damaged.

Porsche 911 (1963–Present) — Stamping Guide

The 911 is the most commonly restored Porsche and has the most stamp variations across its long production run. Key stamping locations and periods:

Engine stamps: The engine case carries the engine number, typically stamped at the factory before installation. Engines that have been rebuilt frequently had the case decked or machined, removing original stamps. Restoring these requires matching the correct font for the production year.

Body stamps: Body panels carry production codes stamped at the Zuffenhausen factory. These are critical for PCA judging on early cars.

Star stamps: The asterisk or star stamp appears before and after certain number sequences on both engine and body locations. Size varies by location — the trunk number star is different from the engine star. Our Porsche star stamp set includes both sizes.

Porsche 912 (1965–1969) — Stamping Guide

The 912 shares bodywork with the early 911 but uses the 356's four-cylinder engine. Stamp locations follow 911 body conventions but engine stamps are specific to the 912 powerplant.

Our Porsche 912 engine transmission stamp set covers the third piece stampings specific to this model. The 912 is increasingly recognised as a serious collector car — correct stamping is becoming more important as values rise.

Porsche 914 (1969–1976) — Stamping Guide

The mid-engine 914 is a trickier restoration for stamping because the car was a VW-Porsche joint venture, and production documentation is less complete than pure Porsche models. Engine stamps and chassis stamps both need attention on 914 restorations.

Our 914 fender stamps and 914 star stamps (fender and engine sizes) are machined to the factory specification for this model.

Porsche 930 Turbo (1975–1989) — Stamping Guide

The 930 is one of the most desirable air-cooled Porsches and its values reflect that. For 930 restorations, body stamps and engine stamps both apply. Our 911/930 body number and letter stamp set covers the body stamp requirements for this model across the production run.

Porsche Data Tags and Plates

Beyond stamps, several Porsche models require period-correct data tags and plates for a complete restoration:

• Porsche Reutter paint and chassis number badge — 1965–1969 911/912
• Porsche Kunstharzlack paint number tag — 356/911/912
• Porsche 356c Reutter chassis ID plate

Not Sure Which Stamp Set You Need?

Porsche stampings can be tricky to identify, especially on cars with mixed-year components or incomplete documentation. We've helped hundreds of Porsche restorers identify the correct stamp specifications for their cars.

Contact us with your car's VIN, build date, and engine number and we will identify the exact stamps you need. Or browse our complete Porsche stamp collection to find your set.