"Reconstructing" a Data Tag based on options for a 68? Who is the expert?

[Corellian Corvette]

I'm in the process of having a data tag made for my car as it was missing when I purchased it.

If anyone recalls the story, this car was a complete basket case and was sold to me as "restored" even though the repairs included tin cans, bondo, and duct tape (I am NOT kidding about that)

It's taken me two years and way too much money, but I'm at a point where I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

What I need to find is someone who can help me take the options I know about, and 'Reconstruct" an exact tag so I can have it reproduced. I've spoken with someone who makes the tags and we have an agreement on how to verify these things, but he needs the exact layout for reproduction

Other than the VIN, through my restoration of the car, I have been unable to find any broadcast sheet or other information.

The car is not particularly rare and I'm not interested in faking anything, I just want to have a correct tag made even though it won't match how the car is now (e.g. it was a Gold car w. Green interior and I'm painting black w/black interior, I'd keep the fender tag for gold/green, etc.).

I can deduce much about the car given the parts that were on it (given the "dressed to sell" nature of the way I got the car, I know that no effort was made to change out parts)

This is everything I know about the car – I've seen some of the online Tag decoders and included all the information I know about it.

I know my car based on the VIN was a factory 383 4bbl car with HP manifolds
I know it's a factory AC car (pretty hard to fake that)
It's an auto car with a console (will still be an auto car)
It was originally gold with a vinyl top (will now be black)
Green interior
Bucket Seats (no headrests)
Power Steering/Power Brakes (Drums)
Tinted Windows
AM Radio
Rear speaker with Fader
26in Radiator
Tinted Glass
Hood Turn Signals
3 Speed Wiper
Rallye Guages
Trunk Light
Front Sway Bar
2.94 open diff

Can anyone help? PM or email me at albert@albertpenello.com

Thanks!

[Dans 68]

Albert,

What exactly don't you know? The 1968's were pretty simple, in that there were only so many options that would go on the fender tag. I'm assuming that you saw Jim Shine's decoder http://www.jimshine.com/tag%20info/68tagdecode.htm so you should be most , if not all, of the way there. Mark up a fender tag, post it here, and we will be happy to nitpik it. I attached the tag from Jim Shine's site. I know Troy is one of the "Guru's" here regarding '68's...I'm just a wannabe. 

Dan

P.S. PM me and I'll get you my best "educated" guess.

[69CoronetRT]

Without a broadcast sheet, it will be impossible to make a 'correct' tag regardless of what is or is not evident on the car.

You may also want to consider there were variations between plants. Hamtramck and St. Louis may not have coded tags the same way. What may be correct for one plant may be wrong for another.

[472 R/T SE]

You could always contact the '68 Charger Registry to help get an idea.  Ahh, never mind. 

[Corellian Corvette]

There is a 68 registry? Link?

[472 R/T SE]

There is a 68 registry? Link?

Sorry, just my attempt at sarcasm. >>>

[Corellian Corvette]

Gotcha. I never heard of one so I was worried or I would have joined!

Ok looking at Jim's site and based on what I know about the car, here is what I can appoximate based on what I know. I have the VIN and so perhaps someone could help me deduce the build date from that. Things I have questions on are below:

abcdefghjkmnpqrstuwy
64       7              ?                  

ABCDEFGHJKLMNPQRSTVWXYZ
1           1         6  11        1?

12345678  AX  TRM  PNT  UBS
  5?     8    1     C6F   JJ1   89      

XP29  61 5  ??    094425


FIRST ROW
u = should every car have a 1 under u? (Car sold when built)

SECOND ROW
Y = Vinyl top color. I know my car had a vinyl top. The outide was gold and the interior was green. Without finding any of the original material inside the car, can I deduce what color the top would have been? I would assume green b/c of the interior, unless there were no gold cars with green tops.

THIRD ROW
3 =  Body belt mouldings. What are those? My car did not have rocker moldings but did have the trim on top of the doors, as well as wheel well molding.

FOURTH ROW
?? for Tires. I know my car came with the nicer 5-spoke rims. Would that be a hint? What were common for this car?

for build date. I have the correct number listed that was stamped on the front of the radiator core and the VIN number.

Using and online VIN decoder the car was built in Hamtrack and was the 132353th Vehicle built. 

Any help filling in the blanks! Thanks!

[Dans 68]

Gotcha. I never heard of one so I was worried or I would have joined!

It is coming...just later than sooner! 

Dan

P.S. As your engine is a 383 4-bbl, the vin should read "XP29 62 5...I will help with the rest once my "real" (read "office") work is done! 

[Corellian Corvette]

Thanks Dan!

As it turns out, after decoding the VIN, it turns out it was originally a 2bbl

[Dans 68]

Thanks Dan!

As it turns out, after decoding the VIN, it turns out it was originally a 2bbl

Well, then, "61" it is! Nothing wrong with a 2-bbl. We'll get it figured out, and get it close to what is was. 

Dan

[Corellian Corvette]

Thanks Dan! I really apprecaite the help!

[JimShine]

Vinyl top material is not really standardized. My 69 as an example was F3 green body, green interior, and black vinyl top. With a gold paint job I would assume that just about any color top was possible.

[69_500]

Your correct in that vinyl wasn't set as to what was definitely going to be on what color exterior, however there were colors that were not recommended together even in the DATA books. Which doesn't mean that one couldn't have went ahead and ordered one, but that it wouldn't have been a recommendation.

[69CoronetRT]

I don't know if this helps or not but here are the recommended combinations:

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/colorAndTrim/1969/69_Dodge_Vinyl_tops.jpg

[JimShine]

1968 is different than 1969 for color options. According to the 68 dealer manual, Green, black and white would have been available for gold painted cars.

[Corellian Corvette]

So I'm going to have to totally guess on the Vinyl top color

I'm going to guess green. I have no evidence to back it up since I couldn't find any evidence on the car. It had all be stripped away prior to me getting it. Somehow it feels like this car would have been optioned this way, given the green interior and gold color it feels like they would have went that way. Ah well.