Have you ever found a "body in white" paper in your car?

[C_stripes]

Hey everyone. I recently picked up a numbers matching 73 340 4spd Dart sport that I am pulling apart to restore. This is the highest vin number I have ever seen with a build date in Aug. of 73 (74 model year date). I have found a few odd things on this car prior to finding this cool piece such as there are no vin stampings on the body. I noticed that a wile ago. The car was special ordered by a dealer ship hear locally and has been local its whole life. I have a lot of faactory and dealer paperwork for this car that I will post later, but for now I will just post a few things. Let me know what you think.

thanks,
~ Jeremy

[Alaskan_TA]

Starting with 1972 models (at least at the Hamtramck plant) the model year went 13 months.

The highest 1973 Hamtramck model year VIN I have seen so far is above 611xxx.

Other examples of the inspection form you found at http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/photos-p.shtml

[Charger RT]

6th digit of vin says its a 73 not 74
Tim

[C_stripes]

Yes, I know that. Also the last year of the 73. BUT, in Aug. of 73 they would have been building the 74's that would have had a lot more saftey features and a 360.

[learical1]

Third picture from the bottom.  I get a different total, like $3463.90.  Where does the extra $358.20 come from?

[PA Dodger]

I'm probably staing the obvious but this is my understanding of Body-In-White program:

explaination from the C-C website


Re: E-Body "Body In White" Program

« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2011 - 01:01:27 AM »

Quote




Quote from: jvike on March 05, 2011 - 03:00:18 PM

I might be wrong, but I belive that even the AAR built Trans-Am racers had VIN numbers.




Yep, most racers got their cars from dealerships stripped of options and 440's or Hemi's in them. There were some teams (Sox & Martin, Motown Missle) sponsored by Mother but they were production cars because by this time (1970) they already had a Hemi option. The whole reason for the body in white A body was for homolegation  purposes because they were previously not equipped with the Hemi. This mad the Hemi A body a "production" car so the could run the table in SS during the latter 60's. E-body Hemi's were already production cars.
There was no need for such a program for E-bodies. If they weren't a factory team, racers were left to order from dealers. I'm sure that the established Privateers had a red phone to Mother and could get a car fast tracked to them but there wasn't a "body in white".

Sounds like an ineresting find you have there. Maybe not destined for a Hemi, but destined for something cool.

[Alaskan_TA]

All cars started as bodies in white.

The three race AARs did not have VIN numbers assigned to them.

[C_stripes]

I do have a question about the car that maybe you can help with. Why does it not have the sequence number stamped anywhere on the body? I can't find it on the trunk lip or the core support.

[Alaskan_TA]

Gee, I thought I was helping. 

Look on the rear speaker shelf for a body VIN, it is the normal location for Dusters / Dart Sports.

If there is not one on the radiator support (top or engine side) then it may have been missed or possibly replaced due to an accident back whan collision parts were available.

[C_stripes]

Sorry, you are helping. Just was curious about this too. Mine has the fold down rear seat, so no speaker tray. Not that I am worried. I bought it from the second owner who's wife just happenes to be the person that took the order for the car at the dealer ship when they owned it (the dealer) in 73.

[Alaskan_TA]

I meant nothing by it, just feeling goofy. 

I have not looked for them on one of with a fold down rear seat before. If no one here knows where it would be, try crackedback on FABO.

[Alaskan_TA]

Also, just curious. What does your fender tag show for the scheduled production date? I'll take a quick look again just in case I missed it.........

[C_stripes]

I have not got the fender tag yet. He has it with the build sheet, the order form sheet from the dealer and some other paperwork. He just hasn't dug it up yet. I can't wait to see it. I know that a few people have been giving me grief about wanting to build it how I want too. But it's ugly as sin how it was.