The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Of course Tore :

V09 = special order paint
V6X = black longitudinal stripe 1970
Y39 = special order 69-71
EN2 = end of sales codes
M21 = roof drip rail moldings
N41 = dual exhaust
N42 = chrome exhaust tips
N85 = tachometer
R11 = am music master radio
G37 = dual chrome race mirrors
J52 = inside hood release
L25 = trunk compartiment light
L31 = fender mounted turn signals
M08 = sim door louvers
V1W = white full vinyl roof
U = US specifications
A57 = challenger rallye 72-74
B41 = front disc brakes
C16 = console
C56 = bucket seats
999 = ....
A6XW = .... (interior)
000 = full door panels
C08 = .... (build date)
K45009 = ....
E55 = 340cid 4bbl engine
D34 = torque flite trans


JH23H3B257206 is the VIN #

J : model = challenger
H : type = normal (non r/t)
23 : body = 2dr hardtop
H : engine = 340 4-bbl
3 : year = 1973
B : assambly = Hamtramck, MI


Hope this helps Tore. Maybe someone else can decode the couple of things I didn't know.

Hi.
Here´s some more information that might be useful for you:

999 = special order wheels
A6XW =
I checked my 73 Challenger´s Broadcastsheet and I found a similar code there: A6X9. It´s the Trim Code, to be found in line 2 "Basic Car Build Codes"...

Maybe this can help you...

Stefan

AMATEURS!!!

Let me enlighten you....

OK first things first. Hans. The codes are read from the bottom of the tag up-over. So you Start with E55.

E55 D34 JH23 H3B 257206
The first two codes on the bottom line are ALWAYS the engine and trans. Then you have the VIN. That is all you ever get on that line.

Now lets move on to the next line up.
999 A6XW 000 C08 K45009

The first code on this line is ALWAYS the main body paint. Normally you would have one of the codes found listed on my web site. When a non-standard paint was ordered you always got this 999 code instead. The paint could be another Chrysler color that was not normally available on a Challenger OR it could even be a F**d or Ch**y color!!!

The second code on this line is always the interior trim code.
The first letter of this code tells you the grade of material. It is normally (on Challengers) one of the following.
A = all class
P = premium
D = deluxe
X = extra low
H = high

Next to that you have a number that tells you what type of seat cover it is.
1 = cloth and vinyl bench seat
4 = all vinyl bench
5 = cloth and vinyl buckets
6 = all vinyl buckets
R = all leather

The next two letters are a color code. In this case white so you have white vinyl buckets in this car.

After this code you will see the code '000'. That is always in the same place as well. On other models the interior door frame metal had to be painted to match the interior color. This paint code would appear here. Challengers had a door panel that covered the whole door so no paint was needed hence the 000 code.

After that you have the date code (1-9 = Jan-Sept, A-C = Oct-Dec) which in this case is Dec 8th 1972. Last of all on this line you have a dealer order number.

Lets move on to the next line.
V1W U A57 B41 C16 C56

The first code is the roof code. In this case it is a code for a white vinyl roof but it could also be a paint code in either the same color as the main body or (very rare) a different color such as black or white. In this case they used the trim from the vinyl tops to cover the join in the paint.

The lines and the codes I have covered here ARE ALWAYS IN THESE PLACES ON THE TAG. After 1972 you would also always get a built spec code after that (in this case 'U' for US spec).

After that you get all the option codes in alphabetical order.

At the very end of the tag codes you will get 'END' if the Challenger was built in the Los Angeles plant or 'EN1' or 'EN2' in Hamtramck depending on which production line it came down.

I hope this helps.

So I will never know what the orginal color was???

Maybe if you have the build sheet Tore (DAVE ??)
Thanks Dave, now I've learned another thing about Mopars.

Yep. You need the build sheet but there will be original paint all over the car to match. It may well be buried under other paint but there will be places where they did not rub down the original paint before the re-spray i.e. on the chassis rails and in corners and awkward places like in the doors and behind the lights. Areas like this you can often chip layers of paint off and reveal the original paint underneath.

Hans I will give you 8/10 for a good try!
Stefan has to stand in the corner for the rest of the class for saying 999 was the wheels!

One thing to watch out for Hans when de-coding these tags is to always be aware of the model year of the car you are de-coding. V6X may well = black longitudinal stripe in 1970 but this is a 1973 car!

Ok ok, I think I´ll never forget where the main body paint can be found on the tag...
A Challenger available in a non-Chrysler color?? It´s hardly to believe...

Well, Dave you said that A6XW is the interior trim code. Unfortunately I´vo got no tag for my Challenger but I found A6X9 on my build sheet. So I guess X9 is the color code for black/dark-grey(?) buckets? Is that possible? Have you got all the color codes?
Stefan

Where can I find the build sheet?

Stefan.
The colour codes changed a bit from year to year but in general if it has an X in it it is black, W=white, T=tan, E=red, F=green, B=blue, Y=gold, and K=burnt orange.

Tore.
The build sheet was not always left in the car and there is a good chance someone has removed it over the years too but if you are lucky it might be in the car. Look in these places in this order.

Under the rear seat in the springs.
Under the carpet in particular in the front
Under one of the bucket seat backs
Behind or on top of the glove box liner
Under the dash.

I have been following this thread and finally can't stay out. V6X does mean sport stripe, longitudinal tape, in 1973, but in 1972-1974 those were the multiple strobe stripes, not the single stripe of 1970 and 1971.

Tore, I found the original color of my 999 coded Challenger under the weatherstripping and it turned out to be a Chrysler Imperial color, EA9 aka Charcoal Iridescent. Usually the special order paint was a C-body only color not available on Challengers or Petty Blue. Since you will probably be replacing your trunk seal, you'll find the original color then. Of course once you see it the real fun of identifying it begins.

Stefan, X9 is a black - no gray - interior color.

Dave, congrats on being so cool while teaching school.

Missed my vocation in life eh jack?

I've learned the order for the fender tag decodings some of the code positions from you. Check out the "Can I have some advice?" thread and grade my work, oh learned mentor. I know you work for a university..... what's your field?

I sweep the floor.

Well OK not quite but I look after the lecture theatres and audio visual equipment.