70/71 Challenger 340 VIN Question

[DaveBob]

I noticed that the 70 Challenger 340 VINs are JH23H, rather than JS23H. Did the 71s stay with JH or did they switch to JS at some point? I am looking at a 71 Challenger that was built on 11/17/70 and it has a JH VIN. Is this correct and were all 71 340s JH or did they switch to JS at some point?

 

[pschlosser]

The Challenger R/T has the S. The others had the H

 

[DetMatt1]

I’m thinking all of the ‘71 340 cars were R/T’s unless it is a convertible.

 

[floyd]

Not so, Dodge offered the 340 in a base/non-RT Challenger, hardtop and convert.

I have a 71 340 JH Challenger, 4-SPD, 3:91, N96, quick ratio p/s, 15X7 Rallyes, with rear sway bar.

The JH 340 was rumored to have been packaged that way to help keep insurance costs down. I don’t know how true that is, but it makes sense.

 

[JDMopar]

I Googled JS23H1B and several 71 Challenger R/T's equipped with 340's came up. That only applies to hardtop cars. There were no 71 Challenger R/T convertibles built in any engine combo. As @floyd stated above, 340 Challengers were offered and sold as JH23H1Bxxxxxx and also JH27H1Bxxxxxx. They also offered JH23N1Bxxxxxx 383 4 barrel cars, along with JH27N1Bxxxxxx 383 4 barrel convertibles. 383 4 barrel was the largest engine you could buy in a JH27 car. I have a JH27G1B that identifies as a 340 car, lol.