Looking to buy a 68 GTX project today Need fast help

[NGC414]

I went out this morning to look at a 68 GTX. The vin on the dash is RS 23 L8G which means a 440 car BUT
When I looked at it I snapped a pic of the fender tag. The engine code on the tag looks like a 41 which would mean its a 318 correct?
Im assuming maybe the dash was replaced or the fender was. Is there anywhere else I can find something to verify if this car is a GTX or just a 318 satellite? attached is a pic of the fender tag

 

[monaco66coupe]

41 is a 318. look at the bottom right of the fender tag, and compare that SON to that on the radiator support, and under the rubber seal , under the trunk lid drivers side about in the middle. To me that tag looks to have been there a long time. Likely someone changed the dash. It looks a bit nasty. wire brush it to see the first four digits also, it looks like WP23?

 

[NGC414]

41 is a 318. look at the bottom right of the fender tag, and compare that SON to that on the radiator support, and under the rubber seal , under the trunk lid drivers side about in the middle. To me that tag looks to have been there a long time. Likely someone changed the dash. It looks a bit nasty. wire brush it to see the first four digits also, it looks like WP23?

I went back and looked for the stamps. I could not find it in the core support, but did find it stamped on the trunk. It is:
R2I84b2
I'm not sure what that is supposed to correspond with. Also the number on the bottom right of the fender tag is RP23

 

[NGC414]

Does anyone know how to decode the number stamped on the trunk lip? It does not seem to match anything on the fender tag.

 

[bobtile]

RP23L8G I believe would be a Satellite with a 440?

 

[monaco66coupe]

I don't believe so, The fender tag doesn't have the whole vin on it. If that is a vin tag I would love to see it. RS23L, yes.

- - - Updated - - -

Really clean the vin plate and write down the numbers, then really brush the fender tag so we can see it all. RS23L8 yes, not RP23L8. Satellites didn't get a 440, I would love to see that plate if it says that.

 

[NGC414]

I don't believe so, The fender tag doesn't have the whole vin on it. If that is a vin tag I would love to see it. RS23L, yes.

- - - Updated - - -

Really clean the vin plate and write down the numbers, then really brush the fender tag so we can see it all. RS23L8 yes, not RP23L8. Satellites didn't get a 440, I would love to see that plate if it says that.

I'm certain the fender tag is not for this car. The trunk stamp does not match it and the color code on it is green. I could see on every panel that the original color of this car was blue. That particular fender had signs of green instead of blue. So I assume that fender was replaced and the tag never removed. It has say since the late 70s.
The title does match the vin tag on the dash. Which shows it as a 440 gtx. Is there any way to verify the vin number to the number stamped on the trunk lip? Or is there no way to be certain without the vin tag?

 

[monaco66coupe]

no way. in 68' the fender tag sequential order number was on the body in both places. if it isn't the car is bogus. Anyone can change a dash. that plate looks like it belongs on that car. I believe the data plate history is the car. In 68' the vin and SON have nothing to do with each other.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I'm going with Monaco on this.. Fender tag is also blue.

 

[NGC414]

I'm going with Monaco on this.. Fender tag is also blue.

I'm positive at this point tat it is not the fender tag for this car. When I went back I took a screwdriver to scrape the paint so I could see the front core support stamp as well.
The body stamping a do not match the fender tag. So it is not this cars tag, upon inspection it is also obvious the front fender was replaced at some point. So yes that tag is original to that fender but nothing else. The tag also decodes as green just like the fender. But when I checked all over the rest of the car it's apparent it was a blue car from the factory.
At this point I'm trying to figure out if there is any way to compare the body stamps to the vin or if they indicate in any way if the car was a gtx.
If not I would assume it's almost impossible to ever be sure on a car this year that is missing a fender tag.

 

[eagleone1983]

You could also try to find the broadcast sheet if the car hasn't been torn apart already.

 

[NGC414]

I will try to find a build sheet, but its not looking good. I wish they stamped the vin digits in the 68s like they did in 69. Sure would save alot of people alot of headaches lol
Thanks again for the help

 

[monaco66coupe]

Putting VIN numbers on everything was all about theft Issues, nothing else. Nobody thought anyone would care about these cars 10 years, or 40 years later. Numbers now are all about having something nobody else has. Like collecting an old piano. I consider it the downside of the hobby.Cars are just that, cars. and they should be driven, period. Enjoy them, but they are still just iron. I appreciate an original car for it's Historical value, and to me a correct four door with a six is just as cool as a rare model.With that said, I just fell off the soap box!

 

[robinsonwr]

I do not know about a 68' GTX but here is a 69 GTX for sale.
http://jackson.craigslist.org/cto/4386579463.html
[URL="http://jackson.craigslist.org/cto/4386579463.html"/URL]
The fender tag and VIN numbers are below:

VIN RS23L9G119362
Fender tag
R11v1xv21v6r26
H51j25L31m21m31m33
A01a04b51c16c55g33
A4a4p6rr6911103789
E86032rs23L9g119362

 

[Meep-Meep]

Well, if you suspect the dash tells the true story then it would be wise to see if it was removed from another car. Stick your head under there and look at all the brackets and bolts to see how they line up. A swapped out dash will likely not have every bracket and bolt with dirt and rust lines lined up. Check VIN rivets and signs of tampering. Even if rosette rivets are in place the tag can be glued down with the rivet heads in the holes.

 

[MoparBill]

The fender tag is attached to the INNER fender, not the fender. You keep mentioning the fender being replaced-the tag doesn't have to go with a fender swap.

 

[NGC414]

The fender tag is attached to the INNER fender, not the fender. You keep mentioning the fender being replaced-the tag doesn't have to go with a fender swap.

That's a good point bill, maybe the car was in a accident and the inner and outer were replaced? I guess it's hard to say for sure. I do know that that tag does not match either of the body stamps and has the green color code. When I went back out it was apparent there was green paint still on the tag as well when it got wet from the rain. But either way the tag is not for that car.