The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Well nearly after two years she is almost finished. A complete restoration of a south western US car that somehow made it's to a barn in Ontario Canada where it was stored for the past 10 years.

Thanks to all on the site who have been a great help.

Picture file to large am attempting to reduce.

File has to be less than 50kb Tom. Use IrfanView to resize your images as it is free and works well. It is always worth trying a test in the test area first as you have found!

This should work.

Success at last Thanks Dave. Used Iranview

Looks very nice Tom! Like the color... Are you planning on installing 'fender wings' or how everyone names them with the striping? If you're doubting; they look good. (can check out my photos to see how it looks) At least from my opinion.

Well done Tom!

Hans, Color, Plum Crazy like yours. That was the biggest decision. Fender wings? Not sure. I don't think so. I have a good pair of fender wings or louvers as they are called. I'm the guy who asked you to measure the correct mounting for them. I originally had every intention on installing them.

I decided however to build the car as a basic Challenger as you could have ordered it.
I picked up 72 Challenger dealer brochure at a car show. The specifications states you could have ordered a basic Challenger (non Rallye) exactly as I have built it. Basic dash, black not woodgrain, no louvres or side stripes. However If you ordered the optional 340 which I have, you would also get the performance hood with scoops.

What is interesting is the brochure says the basic 72 Challenger came standard with "dual body paint stripes" The picture shows a thin stripe running along the top of the fender and doors. I have never seen this type of stripe at any car show. This car was originally Gold Metalic and had no evidence of stripes.

In any case if I decide to put them on I have them.

So you also decide to not repaint it into the original color, good choice; I did the same as I didn't like the honeydew color. I never saw that striping you describe, not even in a book or on the net.

I only have to repaint the grill/hood molding, right now the hood molding is a '70 and the grill is painted chrome-a-like to match the hood molding. I have the original hood molding so I will repaint them this winter. But not the whole grill, the area around the headlights will be black as they are right now. That makes it look like the grill is 'deeper' under the hood which results in a more angry look. That's what I like 'bout the 70/71 challengers.

BTW, nice a 340... don't you think.

I too like the 70/71s since I used to have one. Bought a 71 Challenger in about 1974. Drove it for 4-5 years. Basic 318 auto. Used it for everything including towing my boat. Did not really know what I had then. Sold it to my younger brother and kicked myself for the next 25 years. Another brother liked the car so much he bought a 74 Challenger in 1989. Had a 69 340, with Xheads totally rebuilt in 1990. Drove it for the next year and parked it till 2000 when I bought it. Started restoring this car only to find the frame was gone. However had great drive train, interior etc. Found the 72 as a solid rust free southern US rolling body. Between the two cars I built this one. Become somewhat of an expert on the differences between 72 and 73/74.

Hey Tom,

I have a basic 72 also with the original side stripes above the body line. They are just pin stripping (sp?). When I get a chance, I'll scan and post some pics.

Great Clint. The picture is the brochure is really small but they are clearly there. How wide are they?

Like I said, they are pinstriping, two lines seperated, no more than a 1/4" individually 5/8" in total. There is a code on the fender tag for this option. When I get home I'll look all this up.

Here is a photo of the left front quarter, I think it shows the stripes

If they are factory stripes I have not seen those before. They look owner or dealer applied to me.

Clint, looks like a good project car. looks original.
Dave Here's a pic of the dealer brochure under exterior features "Dual body paint stripe(Challenger only)I too have never seen them before.Probably a Chrysler goof and those customers who wanted them were put on by dealer.
image/{72 Brochure}

Try again,

On the fender tag, there is a code V7W, that I decode as white stripe accent

Factory to me. In any case hre's a better picture of my car.

Nice Tom,

eventually mine will be Top Banana(or a newer yellow, haven't decided) with a black vinyl top and black ducktail spoiler. No side stripes

Clint; Do the stipes on your car end on the same place as on the red car in the brochure
(below the rear corner of the rear side window)?

no, here is a pic

Thanks! Maybe they changed their mind after they had printed the brochure?
Anyway, I think they are factory stripes (but I am not sure).

71s also supposedly had these stripes. I am not at home right now and can't look at my brochure but if my memory serves me the literature says painted pin stripes like the ones Christer describes above were standard on non R/T, non Deputy cars. Optional Ralley stripes or side moldings deleted these stripes. There is at least one photo in the brochure. My car does not have them because it originally had side moldings.

Dave, That makes a lot of sense. My car originally have side mouldings. Thus no stripes.

Clarification: Ok I have the brochure in front of me now. Most of the above is correct except that the stripes were optional on coupes also. It doesn't say whether they were painted on. They just appear to be in the photo. There is no reference to a "Deputy" model in the brochure or any of the other '71 literature I have. The cheapie is referred to as the "coupe". (Quarter windows were fixed as opposed to the hardtop on which they opened.) Perhaps the term Deputy was no longer used after '70.

I think it is refered to as a coupe in the 1971 TV ad.