Do I have a Car that really doesn't exist?

[Leonidas Rex]

My father and I were at a swap meet in last month and spied a 68 Plymouth Satellite in gray primer so we approached the owner. We looked at the car fairly well and come to find the body was very solid with new floor pans, a straight body ready for paint and what looked to be the original drive train. The guy wanted to sell quick and left us with the impression that he would deal. The turn-off about the car was that it was a small block and the trunk pans needed to be replaced. My dad figured it would be a good investment, something he could easily sell and get a little over what he paid for it. We did not check the VIN because we didn't really think seriously about it until after we left.

My father did end up buying it a week later for about $500 less than asking price. Upon reciept of the title, my father noticed that the VIN said this:

RH23P80XXXXXX

This is what has us confused. The VIN decoded as follows:

Plymouth Belvidere/Satellite
High
2 Door Hardtop
340 275HP 1-4BBL 8 cyl
1968
Unknown (Assembly Plant)
XXXXXX (Sequence Number)

The "P" DESIGNATES A 340 ENGINE. This car has a 340 4 BBL engine in it but 340s were not available as an option in B Bodies in 1968 NOR WERE THEY STANDARD. According to the Plymouth Manual, it was not available in a B Body in 1968. The 340 was only available in 1968 valiants and barracudas. The VIN and title show the same numbers.

Can anyone shed any light on exactly what we may have here. How can a title and VIN show an "unknown" assembly plant?

My father is looking to sell this car but does not know how to price it. Any help would be appreciated.

[Troy]

You sure it's not RH23F8D?

Troy

[Orange_Crush]

Take another look at your VIN.  a really GOOD look.  I'm willing to be that you are looking at an F and not a P.  You could not get a 340 in a B-body in...heck...I don't think you could EVER get a 340 in a B body.  The 318 (F) was the only LA engine you could get in a B-Body in 68. 

340s were only used in A bodies until 1970.

[69bronzeT5]

Does the car have a fender tag?

[The70RT]

You could get a 340 in a B body after 70. Brock Sampson has a 71 Road Runner all original with one in it.

[Leonidas Rex]

The title and the VIN say "P". I will ask him to check the fender tag.

[69bronzeT5]

Post the fender tag codes if you can.

[Leonidas Rex]

I will do so as soon as he can get them to me. My father is not too computer saavy. At worst, I may have to do it when I get to his house this weekend for Easter.

Thank you for the responses.

[Orange_Crush]

You could get a 340 in a B body after 70. Brock Sampson has a 71 Road Runner all original with one in it.

Sorry, forgot about '71.  I was focusing on '68 to '70.  I should've said "you couldn't get a 340 in any of the B-bodies THAT MATTER "

[Death1970Proof]

You could get a 340 in a B body after 70. Brock Sampson has a 71 Road Runner all original with one in it.

Correct!! A bodies were available with the 340 from 1968 -1973 . B bodies got the 340 from 71-73 , E bodies from 1970-1973 

[Brock Samson]

Yes, from what I've read the 340 into into the Bs was to combat raising Insurance rates on the big blocks,.. but not intill, 71...
  I'd be willing to bet you got an F cause sometimes those numbers were not punched too hard and aren't all that distinct...

[69CoronetRT]

Take another look at your VIN.  a really GOOD look.  I'm willing to be that you are looking at an F and not a P.  You could not get a 340 in a B-body in...heck...I don't think you could EVER get a 340 in a B body.  The 318 (F) was the only LA engine you could get in a B-Body in 68. 

340s were only used in A bodies until 1970.

I think (not home to check) you could still get the 273 in a 68 Plymouth B body too....
Also, the 340 was not available in the Valiant; Barracuda only.
I'll also bet it is a "G" plant car. (It could only be A, E or G)

What's the actual VIN on the car? If it says "P" it's a plant typo. The tag won't tell you the VIN but it would confirm the engine size.

[rav440]

check the block to see if the vin Sequence Number is stamed on it either in the back top of the motor or above on the rail of the oil pan on the passenger side of the block

[rav440]

 

[charger_mike75]

This is just my  but I have been a subscriber of mopar muscle for alot of years and have seen some odd stuff grace the pages of that mag. Cars equipped with options that they should not have been. One car comes to mind of a superbird that had the wrong paint code stamped on the fender tag and was painted as such, got too far down the assembly line before it was caught so they had to put extra paint in the trunk before it went to creative industries. Another was a 71 super bee that was a pilot car, that was slated to be destroyed but somehow slipped through the doors with oddball options it was red with blue interior, had the top hi-po engine for that year with column shift auto. There are others, this could be something of the same nature. With Chrysler back then there were some odd stuff that came out from time to time. 

[Ghoste]

I think I'd still need more proof than the vin before getting too excited with this one though.

[bull]

Either way, 340s rock! I rode in a '69 Charger with a beefed up transplant 340 and it was scary fast.

[Charger_Fan]

Hey, it's after Easter...I wonder what happened?

[charger_mike75]

 some pics would be nice. 

[The70RT]

Maybe he is working on the stang 

[bordin34]

Or his mod-top daytona or six-pack 71 charger.

[cpthowdy1369]

 

[68 RT]

Could be a factory mistake. Typed wrong letter on tag.