How did yours begin?

[HerHotRod]

I always thought it was neat the history the old cars have, and wondered what mine started as and where it came from. Not too long ago I found a chart decoding my vin and just thought it was interesting to see what it was before the previous owners did who knows what to it.
This is some of what I found....

-Malibu, Custom El Camino, or, Concours, or Estate, V8 (mine was the Malibu)
-2 door sport coupe
-year 1971
-Asmembly plant was Arlington, TX

It gives me the break down of interior, and exterior colors, and interior style too but I'm still trying to read the #'s. I was hoping it would tell me options and what drivetrain but it doesn't. Suprisingly I also learned there is no way to tell that from 69-72 whether it was a true SS or not. It says it was an option in those yrs and no way to tell except that it was not a V6, the vin will not tell you. Thats helpful lol.

I also realized the insurance company messed up a # on my insurance card. They placed a letter where a # should be. Glad I checked.

Anyone else?

[Clint]

Back when I had the build sheet for my dart, I had it decoded by Galen Govier (sp?) some high falootin Mopar guy...

It came from the factory like this:
1973 Dodge Dart Sport "Convertriple"
318 2-bbl V8
Red paint with a black vinyl top and Parchment Interior (A non-standard color combination)
Factory Sunroof (manually retractable), Fold down rear seat with access panel to the trunk.

I can honestly say it was probably the only car made with those options and color combination.. of course, then I painted it 94 Viper Yellow, rebuilt the motor to over 300HP and promptly sold it for only $3000.. *kicks self*

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/500/9349dart1.jpg

Heres a pic of me getting ready to toss the motor in :)

http://www.tamparacing.com/photopost/data/500/engine02.jpg

[TampaMCS]

For my Pony

1968 Ford Mustang "Sprint" B
Built May 13th 1968 Dearborn Michigan
289 2V
3spd Auto
2.79 open
Meadowlark Yellow Paint eww!
Parchment Interior
Vinyl Top
Pop Open Gas Cap
Fog lights
Black "c" stripes
14" styled steel wheels

Originally delivered to Jacksonville DSO May 1968, sold at Walker Ford (when it was on the beach June 1968 )

Been with me since 1986...

[Shockwave]

1968 Chevelle "Super Sport" 2 door sports coupe
396ci/325hp
Muncie M-21 "close ratio" 4 speed trans
4:11 Rear end w/ optional Posi-traction
Light Blue w/ Light Blue Interior
Optional "4 Seasons" A/C
Etc, Etc.

[Strokd85]

Still awaiting for mine to arrive, when it get's here I'll post up...

[HerHotRod]

It seems like you guys are able to find out alot more than I was. I'm still trying to find the Data Plate somewhere on my car that should tell me more. I thought what I was looking for was just above the vin on the plate by my front window, but I don't think so since its under my dash cover :dunno:.

It did not have a vinyl top when I bought it but when I had the body work done you can see where it looked like it used to. The paint we found underneath was that light puke green color, I'm guessing orig. It has a factory column shifter still too. Mines obviosly nothing special, I think I have the grocery getter model. :lol:.

Clint-that was a nice car!

[BigBadBuick]

I think I have the grocery getter model. :lol:.

Still do, just with fancy wheels and racing stripes :stickpke:

[Billy]

That floor shifter sure is gonna look nice in there. Find any on E-bay yet?

[HerHotRod]

Actually I have! I found a complete new console kit from Orig. parts group, I think, thats $30 less than the catalog, and they have had quite a few of the shifters on there lately :D. Bill knows about them, I have a Birthday coming :wink:.

At least the grocery getter doesn't have the bench seat anymore! It could always be worse :).

[Dano Moparo]

1970 Dodge Challenger RT
built 12-69 Hamtramick Mich.
383 4BBL 335HP (509 lift cam,headers,750 cfm, blah blah blah)
4 spd w/pistol grip shifter
3.55 posi (prev 4.56, now has 3.23's)
Burnt Orange exterior and interior (int. now black)
Gator Grain vinyl top (fugly 70 only option hard to find replacemant)
Factory A/C
black side stripe

After many years of 1/4 mile passes at Sunshine the original owner parked my Chall in the late 70's. When I purchased it in 1999 it was just starting its restoration and the 2nd owner lost intrest so it was nothing more than a very nice paint job at that time. About 15k and 6 years later its prob 90-95% finished. I still need to aquire the under hood parts for the a/c and move the battery from the trunk. Cars like this are never finished so I consider it a hobby if nothing else. I worked with the previous two owners at Swanson Chry (now st pete jeep) years ago when the car was a basket case. I loved the look on their faces when I brought it by one day to show it off. I kept hearing "I never should have sold it". Funny to hear that from 2 different people at the same time.

[Frankie]

I did the VIN decode on mine. Apparently it was originally an L6 Camaro coupe built in Ohio. It's come a long way and passed through at least one junk yard since I bought it 2 years ago.

[BigBadBuick]

That floor shifter sure is gonna look nice in there. Find any on E-bay yet?

Die.

[Billy]

Die.
:lol: I figured you'd like that.

[Clint]

1970 Dodge Challenger RT
built 12-69 Hamtramick Mich.
383 4BBL 335HP (509 lift cam,headers,750 cfm, blah blah blah)
4 spd w/pistol grip shifter
3.55 posi (prev 4.56, now has 3.23's)
Burnt Orange exterior and interior (int. now black)
Gator Grain vinyl top (fugly 70 only option hard to find replacemant)
Factory A/C
black side stripe.

Wow, sounds gorgeous, got any pics? (i know u dooo)

[Clint]

It seems like you guys are able to find out alot more than I was.

Clint-that was a nice car!


Thanks!! I really miss it, oh well :(

With Mopar's its pretty easy, the data plate is mounted right on the inside fenderwell, and the build sheet is under the rear seat cushion (if you are lucky)

[flubyux2]

1979 Trans Am
Built in Norwood Ohio
Metallic brown, camel tan interior
M38 TH350 auto
Oldsmobile 403
WS-4 handling package with 15x8" snowflakes
3.23 Posi
stripper model, no AC, power accessories, t-tops or 8-track

[Shockwave]

Die.
Im ass-u-me-ing you dont want her to have a floor shifter? :tard:

[HerHotRod]

It's my husband, and he knows he will be helping me put it in :lol:. He'll hopefully be buying it too since I have a Birthday coming up :D.

[74javelin]

74 javelin- this car was all stock when i got it except for the rims and carb and air cleaner and missing the ac compresser.
360 4BBL duel exhaust soon to be a 401
auto floor shift
ac, tilt steering, front disk breaks ac is gone from under the hood
3.15 open rearend now is a ford 9 in 3.70 posi
dark metallic green- it's still the same color.
soon to have a javelin amx cowl hood and rear spoiler

71 javelin sst
304 2bbl now has a 360 soon to be a 401
manual 3 speed now has a t10 4 speed
3.54 open rear soon to be a 3.54 posi
ac
black now is california orange

has a javelin amx spoiler on the back. i might put the amx cowl hood on it too.

[JavAllan]

1971 AMC JAvelin/AMX 1 of 2054 AMX's
360 2 barell
3 speed auto floor
metalic limelight
black Vinyl t top style inserts
a/c
dual mirrors.

I got the car as a basket case. Missing the correct mesh grill and missing the cowl induction. Front fenders cut and rolled with about a pound of bondo.
I replaced the fenders and got a new grill, but will probably never get a working cowl induction. I also had to replace the rear spoiler becsue the previous bozo decided to cut it and bondo it to the trunk and quarters:mad:
Its aslo still missing the front chin spoiler. But at least I can get that aftermarket.
Oh yeah no a/c anymore either po took that to.
Car still has a long way to go.

[Flastangs]

I always thought it was neat the history the old cars have, and wondered what mine started as and where it came from. Not too long ago I found a chart decoding my vin and just thought it was interesting to see what it was before the previous owners did who knows what to it.
This is some of what I found....

-Malibu, Custom El Camino, or, Concours, or Estate, V8 (mine was the Malibu)
-2 door sport coupe
-year 1971
-Asmembly plant was Arlington, TX

It gives me the break down of interior, and exterior colors, and interior style too but I'm still trying to read the #'s. I was hoping it would tell me options and what drivetrain but it doesn't. Suprisingly I also learned there is no way to tell that from 69-72 whether it was a true SS or not. It says it was an option in those yrs and no way to tell except that it was not a V6, the vin will not tell you. Thats helpful lol.

I also realized the insurance company messed up a # on my insurance card. They placed a letter where a # should be. Glad I checked.

Anyone else?

There should be a data plate riveted to the cowl on the drives side and some cars had data plates in the glove box. The build sheet also should be in the car under the back seat or some were found under the gas tank. Chevy didnt make it easy to verify a true SS car with a code but all the SS cars I had were easy to identify by the options on the car. All my cars had F41 suspensions..front disc brakes..12 bolt rears...round cluster dash...ect

[HerHotRod]

There should be a data plate riveted to the cowl on the drives side and some cars had data plates in the glove box. The build sheet also should be in the car under the back seat or some were found under the gas tank. Chevy didnt make it easy to verify a true SS car with a code but all the SS cars I had were easy to identify by the options on the car. All my cars had F41 suspensions..front disc brakes..12 bolt rears...round cluster dash...ect

Thanks. I know mine is not an SS because it had nothing you mentioned. I've since put a 12 bolt in, and plan on doing disc brakes. I've had the back seat out many times and never saw a build sheet. And under the gas tank? Excuse my ignorance, but am I actually looking for a piece of paper?

I did find the data plate riveted to the cowl like you said. But because I painted the eng. compartment, now it has a few coats of paint built up, so I have to see if I can still read it. Maybe by brail :lol:. I'll have to look.

[Flastangs]

Thanks. I know mine is not an SS because it had nothing you mentioned. I've since put a 12 bolt in, and plan on doing disc brakes. I've had the back seat out many times and never saw a build sheet. And under the gas tank? Excuse my ignorance, but am I actually looking for a piece of paper?

I did find the data plate riveted to the cowl like you said. But because I painted the eng. compartment, now it has a few coats of paint built up, so I have to see if I can still read it. Maybe by brail :lol:. I'll have to look.

Yes it is a piece of paper with all the factory codes on it. Most Chevelles had the build sheet in the webbing under the back seat either the top or bottom part of the seat. Have you removed the back seat that your back rests on? The build sheets under the gas tank seem to be mostly on Corvettes buthave been found in some other Chevys.

[HerHotRod]

Yes it is a piece of paper with all the factory codes on it. Most Chevelles had the build sheet in the webbing under the back seat either the top or bottom part of the seat. Have you removed the back seat that your back rests on? The build sheets under the gas tank seem to be mostly on Corvettes buthave been found in some other Chevys.

I've removed the back seat, top and bottom, many times. But unfortunately I do not have the orig. seats anymore. A friend was gutting his and gave me his entire back seat and rear deck lid. They had been re-done and have grey velour inserts that match the stripes on the car. It could have been there the whole time I guess and I never new.

[Clint]

but am I actually looking for a piece of paper?

yes :)

I did find the data plate riveted to the cowl like you said. But because I painted the eng. compartment, now it has a few coats of paint built up, so I have to see if I can still read it. Maybe by brail :lol:. I'll have to look.


might have to try the old charcoal rub trick, with a piece of paper...

[figment]

i have the factory build sheet for ours and the data plate so were lucky.

we bought the car from the orginal owners wife. he bought in new in coral gables fl. he had it for 20 years and died then his son took the car to ohio and dropped it off at the some restorer up their and wrote a check for 40k. he died before it was finished and the car returned to coral gables it was never retitled or registerd until the wife took it back. it then sat in the garage for 5 years and driven once a month around the block and put back in the garage. she dicied to sell it and gave it to her friend Dave Rupp of Kruse auctions. he took it to the auction at the fair gournds in 1993. we didnt plan on buying the car, we were just looking and dave rupp walked up to us becouse i had an a mopar shirt with GTX on it and asked if we wanted to buy it for reserve becouse he wanted it to go to someone that was a real fan. so we bought the car for a 1/4 of what it was worth and its been in the family since.

[Flastangs]

i have the factory build sheet for ours and the data plate so were lucky.

we bought the car from the orginal owners wife. he bought in new in coral gables fl. he had it for 20 years and died then his son took the car to ohio and dropped it off at the some restorer up their and wrote a check for 40k. he died before it was finished and the car returned to coral gables it was never retitled or registerd until the wife took it back. it then sat in the garage for 5 years and driven once a month around the block and put back in the garage. she dicied to sell it and gave it to her friend Dave Rupp of Kruse auctions. he took it to the auction at the fair gournds in 1993. we didnt plan on buying the car, we were just looking and dave rupp walked up to us becouse i had an a mopar shirt with GTX on it and asked if we wanted to buy it for reserve becouse he wanted it to go to someone that was a real fan. so we bought the car for a 1/4 of what it was worth and its been in the family since.


sweet...some people have all the luck. I'm jealous but happy for you too.

[HerHotRod]

sweet...some people have all the luck. I'm jealous but happy for you too.

+1 And to think it was because of a t-shirt.

Clint - thanks for that charcoal rub idea. I may end up doing that :)

[Just Dave]

i have the factory build sheet for ours and the data plate so were lucky.

we bought the car from the orginal owners wife. he bought in new in coral gables fl. he had it for 20 years and died then his son took the car to ohio and dropped it off at the some restorer up their and wrote a check for 40k. he died before it was finished and the car returned to coral gables it was never retitled or registerd until the wife took it back. it then sat in the garage for 5 years and driven once a month around the block and put back in the garage. she dicied to sell it and gave it to her friend Dave Rupp of Kruse auctions. he took it to the auction at the fair gournds in 1993. we didnt plan on buying the car, we were just looking and dave rupp walked up to us becouse i had an a mopar shirt with GTX on it and asked if we wanted to buy it for reserve becouse he wanted it to go to someone that was a real fan. so we bought the car for a 1/4 of what it was worth and its been in the family since.

That's neat man. Good story. Bring it to one of the meets one time, I LOVE GTX's!

[plymouthpower]

i like your intrest in the checkin up on the ole cars its a good idea i say and interesting too------------plymouthpower----------------