My First E-Body Project

[1969VADart]

After being over on FABO for awhile, I thought I would come over to FEBO and say hello. I went and picked up my next project today--a 1972 Challenger. Haven't decoded the fender tag yet to see what all it actually was, but it will not be going back stock anyway. Body needs a fair amount of work, particularly in the rear section where the previous owner tore the quarter panel, inner fender and tail section up pretty good. But the doors are like new, the trunk lid is like new, and it came with a ton of parts off of the car. Considering I got the car for next to nothing, I'm happy! Don't know a heckuva lot about E-bodies, so I will be leaning on you guys a lot for advice, recommendations, and parts. Looking forward to this project. Oh, and don't hold my username against me, it's a carryover from FABO (easier to remember that way).

 

[1969VADart]

And here is what the decoder tells me about the car:

E44: 318-2 Barrel
D34: TorqueFlite Automatic Transmission
JH2:

G2B
146135: Sequence Number '146135'
GY: Paint Code: Dark Gold Metallic
B6Y3
000 Upper Door Frame: Full Door Panel
901
V1F: Roof Type OR Color: Full Vinyl Top - Green
U: Built to Specifications for USA Order
B51: Power Assisted Brakes
C16: Console w/ Buckets
C56: Bucket Seats 1972 up
C11: Unknown At This Time
H51: Single Air /w Heater
M21: Roof Drip Rail Moldings
M25: Wide Sill Molding
M42: Front End Molding
R11: Music Master Radio AM
VC3: Unknown At This Time
V5X: Black - Mouldings - Protective Insert Body Side
26: 26 in. Radiator
EN2: End of Codes Assembly Line 2

 

[DetMatt1]

B6Y3=light gold vinyl interior.
901=sept 1st.
G2B=318/'72/Hamtramck plant.
I'm guessing your C11 is actually G11 which is tinted glass.
VC3 isn't right either, I think V0? Maybe V08 which is a waiver for that crazy color combo with the green vinyl roof over dark gold over tan. I think when you went outside suggested color combos when you ordered they needed to code that so the line knew they weren't assembling a mistake.

Looks like a great project, congrats!
I'm usually into the odd 1 off cars but I dont think I could put a green vinyl top on a dark gold car.

 

[1969VADart]

B6Y3=light gold vinyl interior.
901=sept 1st.
G2B=318/'72/Hamtramck plant.
I'm guessing your C11 is actually G11 which is tinted glass.
VC3 isn't right either, I think V0? Maybe V08 which is a waiver for that crazy color combo with the green vinyl roof over dark gold over tan. I think when you went outside suggested color combos when you ordered they needed to code that so the line knew they weren't assembling a mistake.

Looks like a great project, congrats!
I'm usually into the odd 1 off cars but I dont think I could put a green vinyl top on a dark gold car.

Thanks for clarifying on a couple of those other codes. Probably right on that VO code. Hard to read. When I looked up that color on the internet, I almost threw up. Clearly a ghastly combination with the vinyl. It won't be going back under vinyl. Probably a two-tone dark cherry red and black.

 

[mpdlawdog]

Welcome! Make her how you want her!! Mine is a 72 as well....my 16 year old son has a 68 dart as well!

 

[1969VADart]

Welcome! Make her how you want her!! Mine is a 72 as well....my 16 year old son has a 68 dart as well!

Not very many E-bodies in my area. May be reaching out to you with questions as I start working on my own.

 

[Prostreet73]

New member as well. Welcome from Wyoming. Looks to be a solid project car. Look at it this way, part of the works been started.

 

[mpdlawdog]

Anytime....you are in the right spot for help! This is my 2nd restore (68 charger but not to the extent of my challenger). I learn as I go and ask questions along the way!

 

[1969VADart]

Anytime....you are in the right spot for help! This is my 2nd restore (68 charger but not to the extent of my challenger). I learn as I go and ask questions along the way!

Thanks. I put in a lot of work on my Dart, but a good bit of the heavy lifting on the body work was done by professionals. I am going to dive into some of the body work this time with the Challenger and see what happens.

 

[mpdlawdog]

I looked at the pic of the dart....love it! I've always liked 68-70 darts...I'd like to find a dart convertible as "retirement" project....you car is interesting...it looks like they started to paint it red and wrecked it during the process or did they just acquire red parts? I love the challengers in red...my car was a yellow 340 rally 4 speed car...it's going back to yellow but that's the only thing original about the car..I could never afford a real ta so I'm making a clone....which is why I said make it your own and enjoy it! Your probably like me...I'll try it once or twice and if I screw it up I'll take it to a professional!

 

[1969VADart]

They were on their way to painting the car red. Then the dumbass that owned it turned the back of the car into a tree and as you can see tore up the tail panel section. All of the other damage is replaceable parts. Working on getting a replacement tail panel with one of the members on FEBO now. Once I have that part, I can get on with some of the body work.