72 Production when did it start?

[1970challenger]

Hello, so for some reason I had assumed for the last 5 years that my car was built 11/28/71. But out messing around in the garage this evening I took a picture of the door data tag, and it was 8-71. That concerned me as thinking it should be 11-71, turns out I messed up the info from the fender tag. And my car was actually built on 8/28/71 a Saturday.
So my question is this when did they start production of the 72’s, and Saturday production? Were they running 6 days a week back then, or was it a Friday night shift production?

 

[1970challenger]

Hello, so for some reason I had assumed for the last 5 years that my car was built 11/28/71. But out messing around in the garage this evening I took a picture of the door data tag, and it was 8-71. That concerned me as thinking it should be 11-71, turns out I messed up the info from the fender tag. And my car was actually built on 8/28/71 a Saturday.
So my question is this when did they start production of the 72’s, and Saturday production? Were they running 6 days a week back then, or was it a Friday night shift production?

Well I did just find on the internet that on 9/28/71 the 1972 models went on display.. That’s kinda cool, so it was built a month prior.
https://www.allpar.com/d3/history/plymouth/plymouth-1928-2001.html

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Usually the 3rd week of Aug is when production starts for the next year , Sat is unlikely tho

 

[Xcudame]

The only thing I can think of if it was built on a Saturday is that it was early production and the engineers built it as they were writing assembly instructions. This would be supported by a very early sequence number. Do you have more info for us regarding fender tag or build sheet?

 

[1970challenger]

The only thing I can think of if it was built on a Saturday is that it was early production and the engineers built it as they were writing assembly instructions. This would be supported by a very early sequence number. Do you have more info for us regarding fender tag or build sheet?

The sequence number doesn’t really seem that low for an early build.

 

[Xcudame]

Definitely an original fender tag! And 8/28/1971 was a Saturday. I wonder since it was the Hamtramck (Dodge Main) plant with two assembly lines if they worked on a Saturday? If memory serves me, they closed the Los Angeles Plant in 1971 and all production was moved to the Hamtramck plant. Maybe they were behind and trying to catch up? Would be interesting to find someone who worked at the Hamtramck plant in 71-72.

Other possibility is mistake in stamping the fender tag.

 

[71ChallRT]

It’s possible that production on 72s started a little earlier in August 71. There was a recession in that time period - part of the reason 1972 sales were generally lower. Also possibly because there were really no huge changes in the body styles between 1971 and 72 like had been from 69 to 70, and 70 to 71, so model changeover was minimal and quick. I don’t know when the first day was but for the sequence number to already be at 43K+ (as far as I know, production VIN’s started at 100000 every year back then) that could possibly be 3-4 weeks production?

 

[Chryco Psycho]

MIne is 112xxx & scheduled for Sept 2 69

 

[mayhem]

When I was growing up, I was aware of the new model year cars beginning to hit the showrooms in late August. I got a great deal on my left over '73 Challenger in September 1974. I can't speak to the Saturday build date.