Missing fender tag - what should I do?

[dpm68]

Okay, I have a small problem here; a few years ago, I bought a 68 R/T and I am just now getting around to working on it. When I originally bought the car, I really didn't know much about Chargers, so I didn't look around to good. The VIN does begin with an XS and so forth, I checked that. What I didn't notice is that the fender tag is missing. Why is that? Do people take them so they can pop them on another car and call it something else? Is that illegal? Where do I get another tag? I don't really want to contact the lying schmuck that sold me the car, as he snuck some parts off it (like the tic-toc) before he hauled it to me. Any suggestions? And is there anywhere else on the car that would verify thar it's an R/T?     Thanks, Dave

[Blown70]

The xs tells you it is an R/T,  However all the options color trim are listed on that little plate. 

I would contact to see if he know where it is....

he really could not have used it on another car as the info on the bottom line is what is on your dash.

Tom

[MichaelRW]

There may be a build sheet in the car and they are typically found under the rear seat, although they have been found in other spots in the interior too. If you find the build sheet and the vin on the sheet matches the car's vin you could have a fender tag made.

[hemigeno]

Did the car have its original engine in it?

If so, you can check the SO stamping on the radiator yoke & trunk lip, and compare that to the stamping on the bellhousing flange of your engine (440 since it's an R/T)   or transmission.   If those match, then it is almost certain (but still not guaranteed) that the car is an R/T.   *edit*The VIN corresponds to the fender tag only in '68 - so if you don't have that tag, the build sheet, or don't have the numbers-matching engine, you're out of luck when it comes to "proving" that the chassis you have was originally an R/T.

If you have the VIN though, it's hard to prove that it WASN'T an R/T, as the VIN is a harder thing to fake than anything.

Unless your car is nearly all original, don't expect to get an authentic-looking replacement fender tag for a 1968+ car.   The guys who sell those are supposedly verifying that the tags they are stamping out represent cars that had those options originally.   That's to keep guys from "losing" their tag and spec'ing out a new tag with the options they really wish their car had.   Galen wants to see TONS of information before agreeing to reproduce a Fender Tag, including talking with two previous owners to verify options, and he has to see the car in person (read:   big $$$).


*edit*   DOH!!! 

[hemigeno]

Almost forgot...

There are a couple of other tell-tale signs, such as checking the fuel lines to see if the supply line is a 3/8", checking the diameter of the torsion bars (could have been changed, I suppose), checking the leaf springs to see if they have the asymmetrical arrangement, and checking to see if it has the chrome tip exhaust hangars (as long as it wasn't a California car).

None of these signs are irrefutable proof one way or another, but it might give you a little more confidence.

[Troy]

he really could not have used it on another car as the info on the bottom line is what is on your dash.

Tom

In 68 the number at the bottom of the tag is NOT the VIN.

You can get a tag made if you have the buildsheet. Michael pretty much covered that. I have no idea why people are compelled to remove those tags when they aren't restoring/painting the car but they do. Many of them seem to be lost. If you don't have it or the build sheet then you really have no way of knowing which paint and options were original to your car.

Troy

[dpm68]

Troy,
There is a sheet (hand written) with all of the de-coded "tag" info - like someone at least at one time had the tag. I was a stripe delete, buddy seat, med. dark turq. metallic, ect. That is, I know for the most part what I have - and I do have the title. I think I'll go downstairs and count the leafs, etc. Where do I get another tag? or should I just shut up...-Thanks, -dm

[Troy]

Check Hemigeno's post. Galen Govier can make you one but he needs a whole lot more information than it sounds like you have. The build sheet is a printed document that was passed down the line while the car was being manufactured. It will have all of the information about your car and the fender tag lists just a small bit of this information. This is why a fender tag can be made from a build sheet but a build sheet cannot be made from a fender tag. Neither can be made from the VIN alone. If someone had the tag at one time then see if you can track down previous owners to get it back. Sounds like a cool car though. Was it a blue interior?

Troy

[Blown70]

he really could not have used it on another car as the info on the bottom line is what is on your dash.

Tom

In 68 the number at the bottom of the tag is NOT the VIN.

You can get a tag made if you have the buildsheet. Michael pretty much covered that. I have no idea why people are compelled to remove those tags when they aren't restoring/painting the car but they do. Many of them seem to be lost. If you don't have it or the build sheet then you really have no way of knowing which paint and options were original to your car.

Troy

OOOPS I thought it was a 69 we were speaking of...... I'll read it correctly next time boss.

[JimShine]

If you have the info, you can buy the tags direct from Tags Backeast and skip GG. I contacted them about making me a replacement for my '68 as that one is rotted, but readable (for now anyway). It was going to be $50 for them to clone my tag. Not sure how much it is to have one made from codes.

[hotrod98]

I know exactly where most of the data plates ended up. I owned an automotive paint store years ago and the bodyman/painter would take the data plates off of the car so that we could decode them for the paint code. Most of my customers were just a couple of IQ points above "vegetable" so you know that tag never made it back on the car.
Heck, many of them never left my store. I remember tossing a box of them in the dumpster since I had no clue who had brought them in or what they belonged to. We started taping them to the can of paint but I'm sure they were just thrown away at that point.

[bull]

I know exactly where most of the data plates ended up. Heck, many of them never left my store. I remember tossing a box of them in the dumpster since I had no clue who had brought them in or what they belonged to. We started taping them to the can of paint but I'm sure they were just thrown away at that point.

Oh the humanity! 

[dpm68]

Troy,
It's a 440/727 black interior,was column shift, but now has console, black vinyl, no ps, no pb, hood signals, etc. I can't really tell you the rear ratio, but it sure aint a suregrip. It's a real neat car, but it sure needs a lot of sheet metal and tlc. At least the trunk is sound; can't say much for the rest of it. I'll post some pics when I start working on it. Don't you have a similar hemi 68?
                                                                                 -dm

[bull]

Troy,
It's a 440/727 black interior,was column shift, but now has console, black vinyl, no ps, no pb, hood signals, etc. I can't really tell you the rear ratio, but it sure aint a suregrip. It's a real neat car, but it sure needs a lot of sheet metal and tlc. At least the trunk is sound; can't say much for the rest of it. I'll post some pics when I start working on it. Don't you have a similar hemi 68?
                                                                                                                         -dm

Dude, let me tell you, you've been given a tremendous blessing. You don't have to feel obligated to restore the car as dictated by the fender tag. Just forget about it and do what you want with it while the rest of us fret over how far we sway from originality.

[dpm68]

I'm keeping it the LL-1 color and black vinyl top/interior, etc. but as far as what you said, can do. It'd just be nice to have the tag though. -Dave

[Troy]

Uh no, I have three 68s but none of them are Turquoise with funny looking valve covers. You're thinking of the other Troy (hemi68charger) in Texas. I'd say get to working on the car and see if you can dig up the fender tag along the way. Either way, you still have a pretty cool Charger R/T but you can make it almost any way you want. The fender tag would help with resale value but you'd probably have to keep it optioned according to the tag (which you already deviated from with the console).

Oh, and post some pics!

Troy

[hemi68charger]

68 LL1 Chargers... 

A LL1 Charger I found on the net and a picture of mine before it went to the shop...
The other Troy...

[69_500]

If i'm not mistaken GG uses a company to make the fender tags he sells. I believe they come from the same place as www.datatags.com.

[Shakey]

I know exactly where most of the data plates ended up. I owned an automotive paint store years ago and the bodyman/painter would take the data plates off of the car so that we could decode them for the paint code. Most of my customers were just a couple of IQ points above "vegetable" so you know that tag never made it back on the car.
Heck, many of them never left my store. I remember tossing a box of them in the dumpster since I had no clue who had brought them in or what they belonged to. We started taping them to the can of paint but I'm sure they were just thrown away at that point.

Why would the bodyman / painter have to remove the tag to read it?  You say that most of your customers we a couple of IQ points above vegetable - what about the bodyman / painter that first of all had to remove the tag to read it and then fail to put it back on the car?   

[dpm68]

I stare off into space, thinking about these things from time to time (my girlfriend thinks I've lost it) but wouldn't the average schmo just paint over the tag? I know that back in the 70s it was customary to rattlecan the engine bay flat black (and get slotted rims) but when that mess is removed and there's no tag to be seen , it makes me wonder.  -Dave

[Old Moparz]

There's been discussions on Moparts.com where at least one or two people have mentioned that they collect fender tags. Someone gets many from the junkyard, & one guy on ebay had a collection of 400 or so up for sale. People do strange things, but tags removed for painting, cleaning & restorations make sense. Don't forget, these were just used cars & not collector vehicles years ago & nobody cared. I took mine off my Scamp when I sent it to the body shop for some work & paint. It's a 318-2V car, but I didn't want the tag damaged or lost & stuck it with the paperwork for the car. It's been off the car 10 years & doesn't matter to me, but I saved it in case I sell the car & it matters to the next person.

[MoparMotel]

Good to find another one-

[jgbailey57]

I'm in pretty much the same situation, but mine's a '69 R/T.  Fender tag is missing and haven't found the build sheet yet.  I believe mines B5 blue, black top, blue interior.  Engine matches, trans doesn't.

[JimShine]

If i'm not mistaken GG uses a company to make the fender tags he sells. I believe they come from the same place as www.datatags.com.

Thanks for the link. Thats the place I mentioned called Tags Backeast. I just got nice pics for them and once I get the new tag in, if you guys want I can take some good pics of the original next to the new tag so they can be compared. I am willing to take a shot for $50.

[hotrod98]

I owned my paint store in the 90's, so the data plates brought into my store and subsequently thrown away were from mid 80's to early 90's cars.

[69_500]

Let us know how their tags turn out. I know a few other people who used them to get a fender tag but none of them had an origional to compare it to. And i'm no pro at seeing which is a new tag, and which is an old tag.

I tried to purchase that collection of 400 fender tags and buildsheets on ebay a few years back but got out bid on it. I had talked to the guy selling it and it had 2 fender tags to Daytona's in there so that is all I wanted the batch for. To get info on the Daytona's and then give it to the clubs. But I wasn't willing to pay the $1,500 it brought, i dropped out of the bidding at $600

[Nupe]

For what it's woth I pulled the tag from my car so it doesn't get taken.  Hard to trust anyone these days especially with a car away in storage.

I'm surprised my tag was there since the car is repainted red and was originally gold.  There was still gold on the tag.  All the tag really told me was stuff I could see myself like the four speed.  Just wish I could find my broadcast sheet. 

[JimShine]

I remember you telling me that at the show. I too took my tag off the '69 to keep it from being stolen. I had an idea though. If you go up to Vince's you will see a few of the tags left on the cars are actually held on with rivets. I may do something like that on my tag to keep it from getting ripped off. Not correct, but if done right not glaringly obvious either.

[C500]

At A.G. Backeast, to get a new tag made it is still $50 without having an original tag to compare it to. You have to provide them a grid sheet showing line by line and space by space how you want the tag to appear. I am about to go down that road.
Anybody here done this and still got a copy of their grid sheet?