1969 Dodge Charger 383 4BBL, 4 Speed, w/ AC? Storytime

[Claire440-6pack]

I stand corrected! Or rather, what I feared would be the answer is the answer. But that's ok! Wishful thinking anyway. So let's just focus on the story. Besides, who doesn't value a good story?



This is my handsome grandfather, circa 1970. My grandpa and grandma ordered in early/mid '69 and received in August of '69, a 1969 Dodge Charger.

My grandma and grandpa were married in March of 1969. Almost immediately after, they ordered this car exactly how they wanted it. Their first car as a married couple. Thus started a tradition. Every 5-7 years, they ordered a new car. While that may seem excessive and unnecessary, that was really their only "luxurious necessity". They didn't need/want a big, fancy house or expensive name-brand clothes, they just valued having a nice car. So they bought a new car and treated it well! Then they'd trade it back in to the dealer or privately sell it and order/buy a new vehicle. Both being teachers, they lived simple/frugally and saved to accomplish this. That's just how they are.

SO back to the car. I don't know all THAT much about this car, seeing as it was sold long before my time. But here's what I do know.

- 383 4-BBL
- 4-Speed Manual
- AC
- T5 Copper Poly
- White Vinyl Top
- Saddle Tan Interior

Not an R/T, not an SE. Nothing super spectacular or exceptionally desirable in the sense that it wasn't a 440 or Hemi as it wasn't the aforementioned R/T or an R/T SE. But it certainly isn't your typical run-of-the-mill Charger!

Unfortunately, this car, at the hands of its young, third owner (I believe it was the 3rd...) was wrecked.

Thanks for any input you can provide!

A fellow Mopar enthusiast,
Claire

[duckmanreno]

I have one.
Don't have any info on numbers . But it was tough to find a 4 speed car back in the early 80's when I bought mine.

[AKcharger]

Great story...like duck man don't have the numbers but I'd guess less than 100. '69 was largest run of the 2nd generation body but that is rare.
Welcome to the site!

[Claire440-6pack]

Welcome to the site!

Thank you! I'm glad to be here!:)

[RallyeMike]

Can't help with production numbers, but thanks for the story and photo 

[1970Moparmann]

Welcome!   Cool story. 

[Claire440-6pack]

Welcome!   Cool story. 

Thanks! I'm glad to be here.😁

[69CoronetRT]

Hello everyone!

I was wondering about production numbers for a 1969 Dodge Charger 383 4-barrel, 4 Speed Manual, with Air Conditioning? I know it's not probable to find a clear-cut, exact number. There are too many factors, such as 4-Speed Manual and also AC, for that. But could someone come close or give me a range? I mean, if it's not feasible, it's not feasible. I've done plenty of research like this myself. I know how it can be. This one's just stumping me. I DO know that it's a rare combo. Most cars that had AC were an automatic. Furthermore, most every 383 car to have AC was a 2-BBL. So the fact that this car was a 383 4-barrel, 4-speed manual, AC car is noteworthy.

The only consistent info I've found (meaning I've seen it in at least a couple places) is that for 1969 (out of 17,308 total 383 4-BBL Chargers), 383 4-BBLs w/ 4-speed manuals generated sales of approximately 3,579 units, which was less than 5% of the total production of '69 Chargers. But that doesn't give me any sort of picture of what those numbers would look like when you throw in the AC, and how many 383 4-BBL, 4-Speed '69 Chargers were outfitted with that option.


A fellow Mopar enthusiast,
Claire

Hey. How have you been?

Human nature what it is, many people are curious about the same question. Regrettably, it is not possible to determine an answer to the question of combining two options as there is necessary information missing. If you are familiar with Venn diagrams, use one of them to illustrate the problem.

One circle represents the universe of the four speed cars. One is all of the A/C cars. The overlap area is the universe of cars that have both. The problem is no one knows how far to push the circles together to find out how the circles overlap. If you try to add additional options, (say four speed, A/C and red interior) you have to add additional circles compounding the problem even further.

People come up with voodoo math to try and determine and answer, but they are guessing.

There is no way to combine options and try and come up with a new number because you don't know how far to push the circles together. The possible range or overlap can be from one (your car) to the largest number of the population in either circle. Surviving cars tell us there is more than one and not all of the cars in either circle had both options so it would be less than that. We simply do not know.

[67440chrg]

Cool story thanks for posting it.