Cupcar

Thanks Guys. Interesting, it seems one cannot tell from a VIN if a car was originally a Nismo version or not, the serial number is the only clue.

Porsche uses the VIN to code whether the car is a Turbo, Targa, RS or whatever - see below.

Also note the 2010 car does not seem to follow the decoding scheme shown in the picture exactly.

Note for JN1AZ4EH3AM50

JN1= Japan is the same

A= VQ37HR is the same

Z= Z car which is the same

4= Model change which is the same (0-9)

E= Should be 4 for coupe, but isn't

H = Should be "A" or "E" for restraint system type, but isn't

3 = Check digit being a random 0-9 or "X" is the same

A= Model year was "9" in 2009, now a letter

M= Tochigi manufacture plant which is the same

5 = The beginning of the serial number series. Porsche uses this position to code for the type of car. A Nismo would probably have a unique digit here if Nissan did the same, but my Base car and the Nismo both share a "5" here.