VIN data and statistics.

[Jake70]

I didn't see my question posted anywhere, but will take correction if I'm wrong.

I'm interested in compiling a list of VIN numbers of cars that were actually built. (Not all of them - forever.) I'm interested in the first year roadrunner. 1968.

So the VIN started with RM, then had either 21 or 23 depending on post or not. Then J or H depending on which engine. Then 8 for 68. Then A-C-G depending on assembly plant. After that there was a sequential number of 6 digits, that I think started with 100001.

I can easily create a list of possible VIN numbers to cover all of those possibilities, but as we know, there were only 1109 hemi roadrunner made out of the 45k total, so the number of RM(21/23)J8(A/C/G)xxxxxx will not be all of the sequential numbers.

So here's my question: once I put together a list, I want to find a website that checks.VIN numbers - as if you wanted to do a carfax report. Is there such a website? Every time I search, I get a lot of.sponsored ones that want to give me all kinds of promises and then want my credit card. I just want to type in the number and have it say "yup - that was a car" or "nope - no car exists with that number."

 

[toolmanmike]

Where's my popcorn? Your idea is pretty far fetched. Justt sayin'

 

[R413]

Sounds like a dream that won't come true.

They didn't build them at plant C

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

I like the idea, but due to he original Chrysler corp. documents being damaged I do not think you will be able to find the information you are looking for, but I am happy to be proven wrong

 

[YY1]

There is at least one Roadrunner specific web site.

That's probably a good place to start.

AFAIK there is no resource to check pre-1981 VINs.

Tracking a single pre-1981 VIN is not easy, let alone tens of thousands of them.

 

[mvent]

I understand that pre 69-70 cars are hard to track so how does Galen Govier do it? What does he have for resources?

 

[The Rebel]

You can try reaching out to Chrysler Historical To see if they have anything, but the 68 records have been lost.

 

[YY1]

I understand that pre 69-70 cars are hard to track so how does Galen Govier do it? What does he have for resources?

He doesn't have individual car's VIN numbers.

He has detailed production info on models and major options including number produced.

WAY different.

 

[MWbirdLOVER70]

I understand that pre 69-70 cars are hard to track so how does Galen Govier do it? What does he have for resources?

I believe was walking shows and yards forever and compiled his this this way. He was in my town and came by out of the blue to take a pic of my car and VIN and fender tag. He docs all cars reguardless

 

[Chi Town Runner]

'68 Road Runners built at:
A - Lynch Road
E - Los Angeles
G - St. Louis

 

[Jake70]

Good help. Thanks. More comments welcomed. Especially those with ideas of who to contact.or where to look.

Isn't it always the most treasured items (and the rare ones) that have the "lost records?"

It's the same way with Irish genealogy; the records just when some of my people crossed the Atlantic have disappeared in a fire.

 

[YY1]

Chrysler records fire is a myth, debunked by the custodian of the records.

 

[YY1]

Road Runner Nest - Index page

 

[69Coronetrt]

I didn't see my question posted anywhere, but will take correction if I'm wrong.

I'm interested in compiling a list of VIN numbers of cars that were actually built. (Not all of them - forever.) I'm interested in the first year roadrunner. 1968.

So the VIN started with RM, then had either 21 or 23 depending on post or not. Then J or H depending on which engine. Then 8 for 68. Then A-C-G depending on assembly plant. After that there was a sequential number of 6 digits, that I think started with 100001.

I can easily create a list of possible VIN numbers to cover all of those possibilities, but as we know, there were only 1109 hemi roadrunner made out of the 45k total, so the number of RM(21/23)J8(A/C/G)xxxxxx will not be all of the sequential numbers.

So here's my question: once I put together a list, I want to find a website that checks.VIN numbers - as if you wanted to do a carfax report. Is there such a website? Every time I search, I get a lot of.sponsored ones that want to give me all kinds of promises and then want my credit card. I just want to type in the number and have it say "yup - that was a car" or "nope - no car exists with that number."

If you want to only search for Hemi cars, you can eliminate the E plant (Los Angeles) as they didn't build Hemi cars for 68.
That leaves RM21/23J8A and RM21/23J8G.
Each plant started with 100001. So start the year with RM21J8A100001 and RM21J8G100001. Substitute the E plant for Los Angeles and substitute the H for the J if you want 383 cars.
As the hard top was not introduced until around or after January 1st, you can eliminate RM23 cars from your search for about half of the production year.
Pre 69 cars are hard to document as you can find lots of pictures of fender tags, but the associated VIN tags are not usually posted with the tag. This leads to a lot more 'holes' in the databases for 68 and earlier. It's just harder to do those years. AMHIK......

I don't believe you will find any credible on line sources for the VINs of that era.

I've been tracking '69 B bodies for over 20 years and I have not reached 10,000 cars across four plants in a year that had over 82,000 Road Runners alone. Please be ready for your endeavor to take some time........

 

[WileE]

 

[The Rebel]

Chrysler records fire is a myth, debunked by the custodian of the records.

I'd like to see that article to better understand what happened. I really wish they could find them.

 

[MWbirdLOVER70]

I'd like to see that article to better understand what happened. I really wish they could find them.

I would to to debunk this myth or fact

 

[YY1]

It's right here on FBBO.

Someone VERY recently corresponded with the records custodian that handles the IBM card requests.

She said the fire story is a myth and that post 1967 records were simply not kept by the dealerships.

I had also been guilty of perpetuating that myth as early as the 1990's.

 

[Jake70]

If you want to only search for Hemi cars, you can eliminate the E plant (Los Angeles) as they didn't build Hemi cars for 68.
That leaves RM21/23J8A and RM21/23J8G.
Each plant started with 100001. So start the year with RM21J8A100001 and RM21J8G100001. Substitute the E plant for Los Angeles and substitute the H for the J if you want 383 cars.
As the hard top was not introduced until around or after January 1st, you can eliminate RM23 cars from your search for about half of the production year.
Pre 69 cars are hard to document as you can find lots of pictures of fender tags, but the associated VIN tags are not usually posted with the tag. This leads to a lot more 'holes' in the databases for 68 and earlier. It's just harder to do those years. AMHIK......

I don't believe you will find any credible on line sources for the VINs of that era.

I've been tracking '69 B bodies for over 20 years and I have not reached 10,000 cars across four plants in a year that had over 82,000 Road Runners alone. Please be ready for your endeavor to take some time........

Thanks for this (and all others too.) I have now created a list in google sheets that range from RM21J8A100001 through RM21J8A200000. I did the same with G. If i could find a place to plug it in, I could design a program to automatically try each one.

But if what I have read is true (I cannot confirm this) there were only 1009 Hemi built in 1968 for roadrunners. So most of them will come back as "invalid" or "doesnt exist" etc. But maybe the 1009 will come back with actual information if the car actually existed. That's all I need for the first step.

Once again, if my research of articles from people who know more than me is correct, there were only 108 RM23J8, and about 460 RM21J8 that were 4 speeds. Chrysler Archives tells me they have nothing after 1967, and contributors here have said that nobody kept record of VIN numbers, but Galen (xxxxx) kept some records on build sheets, etc. Is any of that available? Is Galen still alive? Does he share anything?

Either way, the number of hemis was 1009, the number of 4 speeds was 568, how many could be blue? How many could be ordered on Long Island? How many sold by a dealer in Floral Park, NY? The number of cars must be very small. What seems like a needle in a haystack, is actually not so difficult. But if it is just shooting in the dark, then it is impossible. Some clues that could help (that people here might know, anecdotally.) :

1. What dealer was in Floral Park in 1967? Westphal Motors? Does anyone know anyone who worked there? Does anyone know the owners? Or where they moved their operations to when they closed down?
2. Did anyone on here used to race around at the connecting highway, or out at the Moriches? Anyone who lived in Floral Park at the time and hang out at the Village inn?


Anyway, maybe I can approach from that other angle, but it still seems like out of a possible 200k VIN numbers, only 1009 are valid. Once I know the 1009, I can eliminate the RM23 and then narrow it further from there.

Thanks in advance for any further thoughts.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Thanks for this (and all others too.) I have now created a list in google sheets that range from RM21J8A100001 through RM21J8A200000. I did the same with G. If i could find a place to plug it in, I could design a program to automatically try each one.

But if what I have read is true (I cannot confirm this) there were only 1009 Hemi built in 1968 for roadrunners. So most of them will come back as "invalid" or "doesnt exist" etc. But maybe the 1009 will come back with actual information if the car actually existed. That's all I need for the first step.

Once again, if my research of articles from people who know more than me is correct, there were only 108 RM23J8, and about 460 RM21J8 that were 4 speeds. Chrysler Archives tells me they have nothing after 1967, and contributors here have said that nobody kept record of VIN numbers, but Galen (xxxxx) kept some records on build sheets, etc. Is any of that available? Is Galen still alive? Does he share anything?

Either way, the number of hemis was 1009, the number of 4 speeds was 568, how many could be blue? How many could be ordered on Long Island? How many sold by a dealer in Floral Park, NY? The number of cars must be very small. What seems like a needle in a haystack, is actually not so difficult. But if it is just shooting in the dark, then it is impossible. Some clues that could help (that people here might know, anecdotally.) :

1. What dealer was in Floral Park in 1967? Westphal Motors? Does anyone know anyone who worked there? Does anyone know the owners? Or where they moved their operations to when they closed down?
2. Did anyone on here used to race around at the connecting highway, or out at the Moriches? Anyone who lived in Floral Park at the time and hang out at the Village inn?


Anyway, maybe I can approach from that other angle, but it still seems like out of a possible 200k VIN numbers, only 1009 are valid. Once I know the 1009, I can eliminate the RM23 and then narrow it further from there.

Thanks in advance for any further thoughts.

The 1,009 figure approximates the number of 68 Hemi Road Runners shipped for sale in the US.
There are about 26 cars built for sale in Canada.
Plus there could be cars built for Export.

Meaning there will be slightly more than 1,009 RM21/23J8 VINs.

The White book shows ~449 RM21J8 four speeds and ~391 Automatics for the US market and ~108 RM23J8 four speeds and ~61 automatics.

"how many could be blue?" colors were not tracked until 1970 so unless factory records show up, the answer is the total number of Rand Runners less the number of car for which we know the color. All of them could be blue except for the ones we know are not blue.

"How many could be ordered on Long Island?" Again, unless factory or dealer records surface, there is absolutely no way to know. We can only eliminate cars that we can document were not sold on Long Island.