Wayne,
I'm no expert on this subject, but Kirk Evans at Amerisport had to conform to a myriad of regulations to make the 5-S Panteras legal in the U.S. I'm figuring that the additional digits in front of the original 11 digit vin are there to conform to one or more of these regulations. The factory's numbering system required only 11 digits, but some states DMV require 17, hence the additional digits.
I believe Amerisport was actually considered to be a car manufacturer by the U.S. government. Cars built and sold in the U.S. by then had 17 digit vin numbers.
My '86 5-S #9434 (imported in 1986 to Meadowlands Importers in NJ, ironically) is not an Amerisport Pantera and only has the one vin number with the original 11 digits. That is how I have it registered in NY with no problems.
I would say for for lineage purposes, and for identification within our Pantera community, the 11 digit vin is the one to use. It looks to me like the 17 digit vin is to be used for registration purposes. You may have to have the car inspected by the NJ DMV so they can verify this 17 digit vin number and let you title the car usung that vin.
Hope this helps.
Michael
By the way, congratulations on your purchase and good luck with it! Please post some pics when you get the chance. Is this your first Pantera?
