Came across a 71 Superbee...

[RD]

It had a production date of 3/71 yet it had a 72 style bulge hood... hmmmm??? the vents had a separator in them near the cowl.  Didnt have my camera at the time, but it was still wearing its original paint (sublime) and had its original stripe package.  Matter of fact, about everything was original except the aftermarket aluminum rims.  Found out from a friend the guy who owns it bought it brand new.   it was a 383 car, auto console, non-a/c, am radio, no tach, no shot gun tip dual exhaust, standard driver side mirror, no pass. mirror, standard taillights, and non-vinyl top car.  Black interior.

I was just really intrigued with the march production date and the fact that it had a 72 style hood.  when did they transition from 71 to 72 style hoods?  I always thought that these type of mixed year part swaps happened closer to the actual year change over, but not in march.

[MOPARHOUND!]

My 71 Charger R/T built in February, 1971 has the 72 style spacing.  Have to look close at the attached pic to see it, best one I had showing hood:

[72Rallye440]

RD,
I have a 72 Rallye with a 71- N96 (RamCharger) hood. I have the same questions asked at every show I go to and had several folks want to argue with me about it. But, the hood is the original and came on the car.

  Dewey

[Mr_fixit]

They seem to have both styles on 71 and 72's.

[RD]

I would love to figure out if this was a assembly plant thing or not.  Do you think it could be because of the different plants making the cars?

[2fast4u]

   
    I was looking at the 71 Superbee website.  Checking out all the cars and it's weird........some have the split vents on the hood and some don't.  No rime or reason as far as I can tell.

    Here's the website I was lookin' at for those who don't know it:   http://www.71superbee.com/images/

    Check it out for your self!

[WM23N1]

Mine has the split vents. It has a march '71 build date on it.

[JohnnyBee]

Different suppliers had different hoods. 

I have a St. Louis and LA both with full vents, but have seen a few with split.

[mustanghater]

What if it was the day they got built? like on tuesday they had a bulge hood and ythe rest they had airgrabbers.

[JohnnyBee]

That could be 4 different suppliers of hoods

(1) Buldge with insert (Super Bee and R/T)
(2) Buldge
(3) RamCharger
(4) Flat

[buttermilksloth]

RD, where?

[Brock Samson]

so some of those hoods have a rear lip where the cowl vents go all the way accoss and some have a gap in the middle,.. but that's not what your refering to is it?.. 

[RD]

RD, where?

Dwight, KS.   And in now way shape or form is this guy going to sell it!

[buttermilksloth]

that's alright, ill get the 68

[mikesbbody]

RD, basically what im saying has been said 71 rt's and super bee's came with iether 71 style (louvers all the way across the hood) or with the break in the middle (like moparhound's awesome white rt) however, i have never head of a 71 hood being on a 72 car (like 72rallye440's car) i asked the same question to a couple of third gen charger guru's and they told me that it didnt happen (71 hoods on 72 cars) but...never say never   mike.

[1972Rallye]

If it helps, both of my cars are Lynch Rd. cars and both have the '72 style hoods with spacing.  The '71 Bee was built in Oct, 1970.  The '72 was built in June, 1972.

I would assume that the hoods were supplied by nearby stamping plants (for Lynch Rd., that would have been Sterling Stamping).  Maybe St. Louis and LA used hoods from a different stamping plant?  We should be able to establish a pattern if everyone tells us their specifics.  I'm particularly interested in 72Rallye440's plant/build date...

[72Rallye440]

RD, basically what im saying has been said 71 rt's and super bee's came with iether 71 style (louvers all the way across the hood) or with the break in the middle (like moparhound's awesome white rt) however, i have never head of a 71 hood being on a 72 car (like 72rallye440's car) i asked the same question to a couple of third gen charger guru's and they told me that it didnt happen (71 hoods on 72 cars) but...never say never   mike.

Mike,
I would agree with what your saying and I've never been able to find any additional info on my car. But I guess the big issue is how many 72 Rallye's do you see with a factory N96 hood?

    Dewey

[Goldfinger71]

My R/T is a Lynch Rd car with a 11/70 build date with a 'split'in the vents as well.

[RD]

My R/T is a Lynch Rd car with a 11/70 build date with a 'split'in the vents as well.

awesome, thanks for the info gold!

[71 RT]

My 71 R/T has an early build date of August 18.  It is a Lynch Road car and has no split, vents all the way across.  Let the detective work continue!