68 VIN does not match body/rad support stampings- Why?

[mopar_nut_440_6]

Hello,

I was looking at the stampings on the body of my 68 RT and the broadcast sheet. I was under the assumption that the the 6 digits of the VIN were stamped into the body but in my case the number, B8XA08557,  appears to be a mixture of several things and is stamped on the rad support and the LH trunk lip.

B = Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI (Plant)
8 = Year 69
X = 66-70 Charger
A08557 = Shipping Order (Confirmed on the broadcast sheet)

My dash is packaged and in storage so I cannot confirm the VIN on it but I assume that the broadcast sheet contains all of the info to determine the VIN. I am in the process of getting the registration from my buddy who the car is still registered too. (Good friend, no worries!) We were trying to determine the VIN so he could get a reprint of the registration made to complete the transfer.

Is the sequential number on the broadcast sheet the last 6 digits of the VIN on a 68 as when I read the row of number in front of it on the sheet it goes like this:

X
S
29
L
8
B
261XXX1

Any help would be greatly appreciated as for some reason I do not think the sequential number was correct for the VIN but it has been quite a few years since I originally decoded it. This was also a factory ordered for Canada car.

Here is how the fender tag reads:

Row 1    a b u w
         5 4 1 6

Row 2    a d h n r t x y
         1 9 1 8 0 7 1 6

Row 3    2 3 7 ax trm pnt ubs
         5 0 8 68 C6X SS1 B

Row 4    XS29 83 3 44 116 A08557


Cheers,

[Dans 68]

Look here for your answers. http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,38316.msg421782.html#msg421782.  

Dan

[mopar_nut_440_6]

Look here for your answers. http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,38316.msg421782.html#msg421782.  

Dan

Thanks Dan,

So can I assume that the A08557 off of the fender tag and broadcast sheet is poart of the serial number? If so then the A must be replaced with a numeric? Perhaps a 0 to be 008557?

This sucks. I may have to dig out my dash after all!

Thanks again,

[Dans 68]

The fender tag S.O. number (tag number) should have 6 numbers, and not a combination of letters and numbers. See http://www.jimshine.com/tag%20info/123456.htm as an example. That "A" in the S.O. number needs to be a number. If the broadcast sheet and fender tag both agree that it is a letter then it is a new one on me. Can you post a pic of both? Or email if you prefer. Thanks!  

Dan

[mopar_nut_440_6]

Thanks Dan, I will email you a copy of the broadcast sheet but I do not have a picture of the body stamps or fender tag but be assured that the info I provided in the first post is correct.

The body stampings are all:  B8XA08557
The fender tag is marked:    Row 4    XS29 83 3 44 116 A08557
The broadcast sheet says:   A08557

I was also expecting a number which makes this different. I am wondering if it has to do with being a factory ordered Canada car? Just a guess!

[Dans 68]

That is interesting! The car is a January 16th 1968 build, so it is right in the middle of production; I don't know why the S.O. would start with a letter. The bottom line is that your car body has the correct stampings in accordance with the fender tag. I look forward to your email.

Dan

[hemigeno]

In '69, the Canadian cars' S.O. numbers (or at least non-special production run cars) began with "B", so seeing an "A" on a 1968 car isn't so odd in my book.  If that's what the S.O. number is on the fender tag and Broadcast Sheet, that's what should be on the yoke/support.

[Dans 68]

In '69, the Canadian cars' S.O. numbers (or at least non-special production run cars) began with "B", so seeing an "A" on a 1968 car isn't so odd in my book.  If that's what the S.O. number is on the fender tag and Broadcast Sheet, that's what should be on the yoke/support.

Interesting fact! Is there any documentation that the '68's made for Canada had the letter "A" in the S.O.? I mean, except for James R/T?  this is the first I'd heard of it (sometimes it seems I don't know much at all...).

Dan

[mopar_nut_440_6]

In '69, the Canadian cars' S.O. numbers (or at least non-special production run cars) began with "B", so seeing an "A" on a 1968 car isn't so odd in my book.  If that's what the S.O. number is on the fender tag and Broadcast Sheet, that's what should be on the yoke/support.

Interesting fact! Is there any documentation that the '68's made for Canada had the letter "A" in the S.O.? I mean, except for James R/T?  this is the first I'd heard of it (sometimes it seems I don't know much at all...).

Dan

I agree! I feel so dumb these days!

[UFO]

I have a b/cast sheet for a 68 charger(CDN order) that s.o. starts with a "A".
Build date is B21.

[Dans 68]

...that's two.... 

Dan

[UFO]

Three, Also have sheet for 68 coronet 4dr sedan "A" s.o. number.

[quapman]

It's a VIN (Vehicle ID #) -vs- VON (Vehicle order #) thing.

Prior to 1970 (or is it 69?) the VON was stamped on the body, later it was the VIN.

I'm not familiar with the additional X or A, but I'm certainly no expert on 68's.

[69CoronetRT]

Cars sold in Canada and export cars are identified by the letter at the begining of the 68 VON.

A= Canada

[hemi-hampton]

I've seen many cars that had a Letter first in it's VON. All the Exports cars seem to have a E I assume for Export if I remember right. I've seen many different letters & as far as I know nobody, not even Galen can explain what all these different Letters mean. LEON.

[A383Wing]

I have a b/cast sheet for a 68 charger(CDN order) that s.o. starts with a "A".
Build date is B21.

Is this the reason all the Canadians say "EH"?? (A)

[69bronzeT5]

I have a b/cast sheet for a 68 charger(CDN order) that s.o. starts with a "A".
Build date is B21.

Is this the reason all the Canadians say "EH"?? (A)

I don't know what you're talking about eh.

[Dans 68]

I have a b/cast sheet for a 68 charger(CDN order) that s.o. starts with a "A".
Build date is B21.

Is this the reason all the Canadians say "EH"?? (A)

I don't know what you're talking about eh.

Well, Vancouver Island is not really Canada....

jk, Cody. 


Dan

[mopar_nut_440_6]

Thanks everybody for the update! Eh!! 

I ended up digging out my dash and the sequence number on my broadcast sheet is in fact the last 6 digits of my VIN.

Cheers,

[A383Wing]

I have a b/cast sheet for a 68 charger(CDN order) that s.o. starts with a "A".
Build date is B21.

Is this the reason all the Canadians say "EH"?? (A)

I don't know what you're talking about eh.

Well, Vancouver Island is not really Canada....

jk, Cody. 


Dan

[69bronzeT5]

I have a b/cast sheet for a 68 charger(CDN order) that s.o. starts with a "A".
Build date is B21.

Is this the reason all the Canadians say "EH"?? (A)

I don't know what you're talking about eh.

Well, Vancouver Island is not really Canada....

jk, Cody. 


Dan

Guess that means I'm not a Canadian citizen until next week!

[quapman]

Wow, not even GayLen can figure it out. And he's an expert.
(Apply a HUGE dose of sarcasm to above statement)

[71_deputy]

reading along here I checked my 68 Coronet 550 Vert-  build 29 June/68
SO     A44850

figured it was a Canadian car all it's life!

[A383Wing]

Guess that means I'm not a Canadian citizen until next week!

Why? does the wall come down then? 

[mopar_nut_440_6]

I just checked my 70 V code Roadrunner and it is a C so also Canada car for 70.

So my Charger is 68 and A
There was a 69  which was B
70 which is C

Cool to figure these out!

[69bronzeT5]

On my Charger, in front of the order number is a B stating it's a Canadian car. On the Duster, there's a separate code on the fender tag. There's just a "C" stating it's a Canadian car. From what I've seen, US cars of that year and later had a "U".

[hemi-hampton]

I've seen the C before for Canadian cars & E for Exports. SO, Who in here or anywhere else knows what all the different Letters mean before the VON? Quapman maybe? LEON.

[quapman]

I've seen the C before for Canadian cars & E for Exports. SO, Who in here or anywhere else knows what all the different Letters mean before the VON? Quapman maybe? LEON.

Probably not...he's just a smartass. I really am not up on my pre-70 number crunching except for the VON on the body thing. I do know that starting in 1971, export cars (other than to Canada) got an "I" on the fender tag and b-cast sheet. As previously stated, stateside cars got the "U", Great White North cars got a "C". The "Y" codes tell tales of destination also.

Are the other letters assembly plant and car line? Did someone else have this figured out earlier in the thread?

(What others have provided in this thread has been an additional wealth of knowledge to my mental database!)

[Dodge Don]

For 1970 (at least for St. Louis Assembly Plant)

C= Canadian Car

E= Export Car

K= Special Order (Y39)

M00= Show Car

M90= Show Car with Factory Sunroof

M99= Car Came With Factory Sunroof (M51)

Q= Executive Lease (Y22) or Public Relations (Y28)

T= CLC Lease Car (Y24)

It is possible that when a car qualifies for multiple designations, one will trump the others. An example of this would be a Y28 Public Relations car that also came equipped with a factory sunroof (M51) and the car could have been designated with an M or Q, in this case M was used, thereby trumping the use of Q.

[69CoronetRT]

Q can also mean dealer demo in '70.

Sometimes, there is also a significance to the third digit in the VON. It may have a reference to a sales region. Research continues on this one...

[Alaskan_TA]

D - Driver training car.

W - Dealership rental car.

R - replaced Q for 1971.

G -Sunroof for 1971

J - Special order paint or;

J - Special order, Superbird.

[hemi-hampton]

Where is/was this information found? I could never find any info on that? LEON.

[Alaskan_TA]

Some of it you just figure out as you go. It took me about ten years to figure out the W, I used to own a 1970 Valiant waith a W VON.

A dealership invoice for one appeared in my mail box one day, it ended a long search.   

[mopar_nut_440_6]

Ok I have an update on the body stampings which appeared odd on my 68 and this is what I was told.

'68 & earlier the "shipping order number" plus body, year & plant were stamped in the core support and trunk lip (or appropriate locations).  In your case: "B" - Hamtramck plant, "8" - 1968, "X" - Charger, "A08557" - shipping order number.

Cheers,

[0X01B8]

A little late to the convo, and FWIW, my car was built at Hamtramack on 1/16/68 too.  My VIN is pretty close too.  My rad stamping doesn't have an "A" but it's B8X068654.  This doesn't answer any questions, but I thought it's cool that another member's car went down the line a few hours before mine.   

[DC_1]

Old thread but........ I seem to remember someone stating the dealer order forms used at dealerships were pre-printed with a sequential number at the top. The ones used in Canada had a "A" followed by a sequential number. These numbers were used to track the order until it was assigned a VIN during assembly at the factory. At least that is my understanding. Anyone shed any light on this?

Btw, my 68 RT is a Canadian car and has the "A13161" stamped on the body and fender tag.

[68X426]

Interesting that this subject resurfaced. Today a 68 Road Runner came up for sale on ebay, located in Alberta. The fender tag has what appears to be both an "A" and a "C" in the SO.

[DC_1]

Yep, that looks just like my SO number. The SO number has no sequential meaning in the build order or date. My build date is 2 days after that car yet my SO number is miles apart.

[69CoronetRT]

Interesting that this subject resurfaced. Today a 68 Road Runner came up for sale on ebay, located in Alberta. The fender tag has what appears to be both an "A" and a "C" in the SO.

I think if you look carefully, the last number is a "0". A reflection is blocking the right hand portion of the number making it look like a "C".

[69CoronetRT]

Old thread but........ I seem to remember someone stating the dealer order forms used at dealerships were pre-printed with a sequential number at the top. The ones used in Canada had a "A" followed by a sequential number. These numbers were used to track the order until it was assigned a VIN during assembly at the factory. At least that is my understanding. Anyone shed any light on this?

That's a good description of how things typically went for standard production cars. If there was something 'special' about the car (built for sale outside of the US, dealer demos, special paint, cop car, etc) , it could recieve one of several other SO designations.