Vin and Fender Tag. Help!

[MeMikieJr]

Help you coding pro’s out here, can I get help decoding my vehicle? Something not adding up!

 

[69Coronetrt]

What’s not “adding up” is continuing proof that the scheduled production date is unrelated to actual production. Your door sticker tells us when the car was actually made; one month after the scheduled date.

For many reasons, cars were built before and after the scheduled date.

 

[YY1]

All three VIN # are the same.

What's the problem?

 

[MeMikieJr]

If I read a decode correctly it said it’s a Hard Top but quarter door jam doesn’t have a slot for roll down window. Just learning about these and little confused.

 

[69Coronetrt]

It's an SE (WP29) which means the standard vinyl top (V1W) comes with the louvered windows meaning the car had fixed rear window. It looks like someone took off the top and louvers.

https://www.hamtramck-historical.co...lershipDataBook/1973/73_Charger_total0009.jpg

 

[DeltaV]

I can help make the pictures easier to read.

 

[MeMikieJr]

I can help make the pictures easier to read.

View attachment 1730421View attachment 1730422View attachment 1730423

 

[Don67Satellite]

WP29:
Dodge Coronet,Charger
Premium
2 Door Sports Hardtop

M3G: 400 175HP(net) OR 185HP(net) 1-2BBL 8 CYL
1973
St. Louis, MO, USA

158118: Sequence number

E63: 400 cid 2 barrel V8 190hp
D34: Light Duty Automatic Transmission
FE5: Bright Red (Dodge) Exterior Color
E6XW: Trim - Unknown, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black/White (F6XW would be "Luxury")
EW1: Eggshell White (Dodge) Int. Door Frames
C06: Build Date: December 06
186942: Order number

G37: OS Dual Racing Mirrors
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
J25: 3 Speed Wipers
J52: Inside Hood Release
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
M21: Roof drip rail moldings

M25: Wide sill moldings
M26: Wheel Lip Moldings
M31: Belt Moldings
M36: Rear Bumper Periphery
N95: Emissions Control

P31: Power Windows
R35: AM/FM Stereo Radio (10 Watts)
V7W: Accent Stripes, White
28: Unknown (28" Radiator?)
END: End of Sales Codes

 

[MeMikieJr]

Appreciate it!

 

[69Coronetrt]

WP29:
Dodge Coronet,Charger
Premium
2 Door Sports Hardtop

M3G: 400 175HP(net) OR 185HP(net) 1-2BBL 8 CYL
1973
St. Louis, MO, USA

158118: Sequence number

E63: 400 cid 2 barrel V8 190hp
D34: Light Duty Automatic Transmission
FE5: Bright Red (Dodge) Exterior Color
E6XW: Trim - Unknown, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black/White (F6XW would be "Luxury")
EW1: Eggshell White (Dodge) Int. Door Frames
C06: Build Date: December 06
186942: Order number

G37: OS Dual Racing Mirrors
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
J25: 3 Speed Wipers
J52: Inside Hood Release
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
M21: Roof drip rail moldings

M25: Wide sill moldings
M26: Wheel Lip Moldings
M31: Belt Moldings
M36: Rear Bumper Periphery
N95: Emissions Control

P31: Power Windows
R35: AM/FM Stereo Radio (10 Watts)
V7W: Accent Stripes, White
28: Unknown (28" Radiator?)
END: End of Sales Codes

The door sticker proves the scheduled date is NOT the build date. This is one of several reasons online decoders, generally, suck.

 

[Don67Satellite]

Has nothing to do with the online decoders. Those dates can be a mere guess in those days IMO.

My build date, from my fender tag, by the decoder, is Sept 13th.

My Chrysler Historical IBM card also says that the Scheduled Month is 9, and the Scheduled day is 13.

The IBM card also claims the Scheduled Ship Date for my car was Sept 8th. So did it get built earlier, and shipped before the scheduled build date on both?

His scheduled date is Dec 6th, Tag says 1-73. So could they have been backed up during Xmas.

The point is here, you really can't say. "Scheduled" is not always exact. The decoder just reads the tags. Cheer up.

 

[YY1]

We already went over this in another thread.

"29" is "fast top" and is used a bit differently on 72-74 Chargers than on previous B body cars and A and C body cars.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Has nothing to do with the online decoders. Those dates can be a mere guess in those days IMO.

My build date, from my fender tag, by the decoder, is Sept 13th.

My Chrysler Historical IBM card also says that the Scheduled Month is 9, and the Scheduled day is 13.

The IBM card also claims the Scheduled Ship Date for my car was Sept 8th. So did it get built earlier, and shipped before the scheduled build date on both?

His scheduled date is Dec 6th, Tag says 1-73. So could they have been backed up during Xmas.

The point is here, you really can't say. "Scheduled" is not always exact. The decoder just reads the tags. Cheer up.

Yes, your IBM card documents that your car was built earlier than the SPD. It happened. It's why the SPD is generally useless in determining an actual build date.

Cars were built well before and after the SPD. Tag SPDs are totally irrelevant for cars with one or two SPDs like package cars (M code A bodies, A12 cars, Superbirds, Hurst 300s, etc) or cars with block scheduling.

His door sticker documents his car was built almost a month after the SPD making the SPD highly inaccurate in determining the actual date.

Given the documentation we have, it's not impossible a car was built on its SPD, but it is highly unlikely. If a car was actually built on its SPD, it's likely more coincidental than purposeful. There is no logical reason to intentionally build a car on its SPD. Plants are supposed to build cars, they do not care in what order or when the car was built.

There are other ways to more accurately determine a likely build date than the SPD. The '72 and up MDH door sticker is by far one of the best ways.

It's fascinating to build data bases and learn how some plants purposely scheduled cars 'out of order'. One learns a lot that is not published in other works and it gives you insight to how things were actually done.

Cheer up. There are those willing to do the work, get it right and not repeat erroneous or out of context information or opinions. We will help provide accurate information to the new folks and those that are interested in the really mundane stuff.

 

[Don67Satellite]

Cheer up. There are those willing to do the work, get it right and not repeat erroneous or out of context information or opinions. We will help provide accurate information to the new folks and those that are interested in the really mundane stuff.

Exactly, that's why I actually answered the OP's original request.

However @MeMikieJr missed an entire line on his paper transcription that of course I used.

Let's do this again @MeMikieJr ....

WP29:
Dodge Coronet,Charger
Premium
2 Door Sports Hardtop

M3G: 400 175HP(net) OR 185HP(net) 1-2BBL 8 CYL
1973
St. Louis, MO, USA

158118: Sequence number

E63: 400 cid 2 barrel V8 190hp
D34: Light Duty Automatic Transmission
FE5: Bright Red (Dodge) Exterior Color
E6XW: Trim - Unknown, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black/White (F6XW is Luxury Trim)
EW1: Eggshell White (Dodge) Int. Door Frames
C06: Build Date: December 06 (Clearly only a suggestion by your door tag)
186942: Order number

V1W: Full Vinyl Top, White
U: USA Specifications
B41: Front Disc Brakes w/Standard 10in RR Drum
C21: Center Front Seat Cushion
C56: Bucket Seats
G11: Tinted Glass (all)

G37: OS Dual Racing Mirrors
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
J25: 3 Speed Wipers
J52: Inside Hood Release
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
M21: Roof drip rail moldings

M25: Wide sill moldings
M26: Wheel Lip Moldings
M31: Belt Moldings
M36: Rear Bumper Periphery
N95: Emissions Control

P31: Power Windows
R35: AM/FM Stereo Radio (10 Watts)
V7W: Accent Stripes, White
28: Unknown
END: End of Sales Codes

 

[#41]

28 is the radiator width. Pretty common on 73-74 big block Chargers with AC such as this one.

 

[MeMikieJr]

Appreciate the info, my bad on the skipped line! I really do appreciate the help!

 

[Don67Satellite]

Yes, your IBM card documents that your car was built earlier than the SPD. It happened. It's why the SPD is generally useless in determining an actual build date.

Actually, my IBM card "scheduled" build date, or SPD, matches the fender tag. There is no documentation that it was built earlier. Not sure why you thought this.

The "scheduled" shipping date, is earlier than the "scheduled" build date. But there's no way to know 100% what date it actually shipped on, except with that actual shipping invoice.

That's a mystery that will possibly remain a mystery. I'm still trying to find out the dealer codes for my area.

@MeMikieJr you're welcome.

 

[YY1]

I bet that was a pretty car when new.

...and I actually LOVE the 73/74 SE top treatment.
One of the few vinyl tops I actually like (despite the propensity to trap moisture and rot the metal underneath)

AC
PW
Buckets
Arm rest.

Likely pretty comfy, too.

Just needs a bulge hood and hidden headlights

 

[MeMikieJr]

Anyone have the measurements on how big of slot to cut for quarter window on a SE