71 airgrabber question???

[Hemidoug]

Anyone else have an original N96 car with the words "AIR GRABBER" in block letters spelled out on the top of the scoop? The graphis are the same as you would see on the Plymouth version. The reason I ask is because wayyyy back in 1980, when I purchased the car, the hood had those graphics. It is the only charger that I have seen with AIR GRABBER spelled out on the top of the scoop. The other weird thing about this car wad it didn't have any R/T or charger emblems on the original paint. No sign of emblems what so ever except the "Charger, Dodge Division" on the trunk.

I've started to turn the corner on the 71, she has entered the blocking/prep stage of the bodywork. I am starting to gather all the decals/emblems for the car and I am unsure if I should put the "AIR GRABBER" decals on the car. I know they were on her from the factory, but not sure if it was a factory mistake or what. She is early production, was built the end of Aug 70, even came with a 70 style gull wing.

I will try to post some pictures as I found her later after I get home.

[MOPARHOUND!]

Were the Plymouth and Dodge scoops interchangeable?

[Hemidoug]

No. the front edge of the scoop on Dodge was stright, the one on the Plymouth comes to a point in the middle. Keep in mind that I'm not talking about the decals on the side (IE Ramcharger or Air Grabber), I'm talking about the ones on the top, visible when the scoop is closed. Most of the 71 Plymouths I've seen have the decal but my Charger is the only one I've seen with them from Dodge.

[MOPARHOUND!]

Not seen a Dodge Charger with it.  Your's would say AIR GRABBER on top, and RAMCHARGER on the sides-visible when the scoop is open- is what I'm picturing.

Photo from Year One's site, Plymouth pic, $15 each, for what it's worth:

[Hemidoug]

Yep, exactly.... I've never seen it on another Dodge. I know they were there when I purchased the car back in '80, I just don't know if they were put on at the factory or someone else. They were worn out and wrinkled at the time I first saw them so I believe they were on it when delivered. I'd like to find out if anyone else has ever seen them on a Charger or not. I just know I'll take a lot of flack if I deside to put them back on. I can just hear it now....Only on Plymouth....wrong decals on hood...bla, bla, bla. It would be nice if I could come up with some other examples or documentation. I do have pictures of it the way I picked it up. But that doesn't prove they were installed from the factory....

[superblu72]

Plymouth's had that, but never saw a Dodge ramcharger hood w/them on it. I'd take'em off and let it the way the factory brochures intended it to be.

[Hemidoug]

OK, here is what I'm talking about. The following pics are of the car when I picked it up in '80. You can see the "AIR GRABBER" graphics on the top of the scoop in the first pic.



Here is the side view of the original paint fender. Notice no sign of the Charger or R/T emblem.



On the rear, no sign of the R/T emblem.



The car came from Grand Spaulding Dodge. Like I said, the graphis looked to be on the scoop from the start. They were weathered and cracked by the time 1980 rolled around. So what would you guys do? Go with the graphics, or do the conventional route. Keep in mind I'm trying to stay faithfull to originality.

[73rallye440magnum]

Wow, I didnt know that was a Mr. Norms car! Not sure on the decals, but I'm guessing if not done at the factory it was done at Grand Spaulding.

[superblu72]

Doesn't look like the hood has had any engine desination scripts either, or holes for that matter. Doesn't look like it might have been repainted within the first few months or year of its life, does it? How come the pass fender,drivers door and drivers 1/4 look the way they do? That air grabber decal definetly doesn't belong there.

[JohnnyBee]

I know two original owners of '71 Hemi Super Bees from Mr. Norms.
On the Super Bees, both of the owners said they had the "Plymouth's" Engine badgeing over the front fender side marker lights.

So maybe on the Bee's he did the fenders and the R/T's the hood's

Is yours a "G" code from St. Louis?

[Hemidoug]

Doesn't look like the hood has had any engine desination scripts either, or holes for that matter. Doesn't look like it might have been repainted within the first few months or year of its life, does it? How come the pass fender,drivers door and drivers 1/4 look the way they do? That air grabber decal definetly doesn't belong there.

The car was in some kind of accident in it's pryor life. The pass side fender, drivers side door and quarter panel were replaced with NOS some years before I bought it. I suspect it happened within the first few years of it's life and sat outside. I know the guy I bought it from wasn't the original owner, he bought it from a body shop. I suspect the original owner ran out of funds to pay for the repairs and abandoned it. I know the original block was frozen and trashed. Needless to say, she found a good home after all that. It only took 10 years after she was made for it to happen....

[Hemidoug]

I know two original owners of '71 Hemi Super Bees from Mr. Norms.
On the Super Bees, both of the owners said they had the "Plymouth's" Engine badgeing over the front fender side marker lights.

So maybe on the Bee's he did the fenders and the R/T's the hood's

Is yours a "G" code from St. Louis?

Yes...WS23V1G11xxxx. Ordered in the beginning of July, delivered to GSD in the beginning of Sept 70. I'm starting to think it may be a GSD thing. I'm going to have to talk to Mr. Norm at Carlisle and see if that was something they did.

[superblu72]

What about the scripts for engine desination on the hood? Any sign of holes that may have been plugged? Maybe it was in some sort of accident possibly while unloading and they replaced front fenders and hood? I used to work at a car dealership and new cars would come in w/smashed,dented hoods fenders and broken windshields and the manufacture w/just pay for the dealership to fix it w/new parts and repaint the car. Just a thought.

[Hemidoug]

What about the scripts for engine desination on the hood? Any sign of holes that may have been plugged? Maybe it was in some sort of accident possibly while unloading and they replaced front fenders and hood? I used to work at a car dealership and new cars would come in w/smashed,dented hoods fenders and broken windshields and the manufacture w/just pay for the dealership to fix it w/new parts and repaint the car. Just a thought.

I don't remember if the holes were filled or not...it was a looooog time ago. I can tell you that they are in the hood, I used them for the current badging. I think the accident happened a while after it left the dealership. There is no doubt the first years of life were very hard on this car. Luckly, there doesn't appear to be any sub frame damage, how ever I remember the K frame being tweeked. I've been thru her with a fine tooth comb and guaranty she will be brought back to her former glory.

[JohnnyBee]

So on the Vin # if the next two numberas are 26 PM me, I may have some infor for you.

[evil1]

I don't mean to change the subject, but wasn't that charger on one of the Cars in Barns pages?

[konigcharger]

I have seen other chargers with that lettering just assumed it was aftermarket

[Hemidoug]

I don't mean to change the subject, but wasn't that charger on one of the Cars in Barns pages?

Yep, I submitted it a couple of years ago...

[Hemidoug]

I have seen other chargers with that lettering just assumed it was aftermarket

How well do you know the cars\owners? Can you get more info? Do you know if the cars came out of Grand Spaulding Dodge? Some more info would be great!

[konigcharger]

a guy who lived down the street from me growing up had a '72? non rallye that had those callouts pretty sure the hood was not origional very i don't have any pics just remember it was a 400 car and  that he paid like $500 for it. sorry 

[Todd Wilson]