R65916

[831 HQT]

Dear all,
I just signed up today to your site and so this is my first post. And as you can see, my love for E-Bodies goes back quit some time. So to make a long story short:

The Time: Summer 1981
The Place: Hollywood and Vine
The Car: A bright blue 1972 Challenger Convertible (a ’72 Challenger convertible??)

Some 35 years later, I still got the car and I will add some more information about it later.
But before: Are there any 'Vanishing Point' aficionados in here? Because my first 'real' post will be dedicated to all Kowalski fans out there.

Yours truly,

831 HQT

Btw: Anyone guesses the license number the car came with?

 

[js29]

Welcome aboard! (interesting)

 

[moparleo]

Welcome aboard. The only 72 Challenger convertible that I am aware of was a modified 70 -71 Challenger for the TV show " Mannix "

 

[DetMatt1]

Welcome to the site from the Motor City! Why not post some pics of your vert along with some details?

 

[js29]

Mod squad also had A 72 conversion and the brady bunch was A barracuda conversion.

 

[831 HQT]

Dear js29, moparleo, DeMatt1

thanks a lot for the warm welcome! And yes, I will open a new thread with more info about the car in a few weeks or so.
So far the only '72 blue Challenger Convertible I'm aware of is from the 1972 blaxploitation film 'Hammer'.
Here a picture from IMCDB (Internet Movie Cars Data Base):
Dodge Challenger in "Hammer"

TV-series like Mannix, Brady Bunch, Mod Squad & others from the late 60's / early 70's are fun to watch; if only for the great varietiy of
Mopars used in these shows.

 

[challenger6pak]

Welcome. Post some pics of your car and fender tag.

 

[831 HQT]

Hello challenger6pak,
which fender tag: the first or the continuation?

 

[DetMatt1]

Both dammit!

 

[moparleo]

Looks like a 72 grill transplanted into a 70-71. But hey, everybody already knows they were all conversions, none factory.

 

[DetMatt1]

The real question is why?
Beautiful car by the way, we need to see more.

 

[340challconvert]

Just the shot of the converted 71 Challenger convertible Mod Squad car
They retained the 71 style rallye wheel cap.
It was a factory 340 car

 

[340challconvert]

Looking at the tag, the Mod Squad car had some interesting options;
The car was coded for hood pins on a flat hood, as the flat hooded pace cars would have been equipped and had the 6 way seat!

1971 DODGE CHALLENGER 340 CONVERTIBLE Mod Car OPTIONS:

M44 N41 N42 N85 P31 CTD + J25 J45 L25 M31 M42 +
B51 C55 C62 G31 G33 H51 V3X U A01 A04 A45 A62
GY8 H6Y3 000 828 R65933 E55 D32 JH27 H1B 150399
++
P37 R11 V6X 26 EN2
JH27 H1B 150399

E55, D32, JH 27, H, 1, B
150399

E55 – 340 1-4BBL 275 HP V8 Engine 340 FOUR BARREL
D32 – Torqueflite Automatic Transmission – Heavy Duty
JH – DODGE Challenger
27 – Convertible
H – 340 1-4 BBL 275 V8 Engine 340 FOUR BARREL
1 – 1971 Model Year
B – Hamtramck, MI Assembly Plant
150399 – Assembly Plant Sequential Number
GY8 – Gold Metallic Body Paint
H – High Grade Trim
6 – Vinyl Bucket Seats HIGH BACK
Y3 – Light Gold Interior
000 – Full door Panels
826 – Friday August 280 1970 Scheduled Production
R65933 – Vehicle Order Number – Special Meaning
V3X – Black Convertible Top
U – Build to Specifications for: U.S.A. Order
A01 – Plight Package
A04 – Basic Group
A46 – Moulding Group
A62 – Rallye Instrument Cluster
B51 – Power Brakes
C55 – Bucket Seats
C62 – LH 6-Way MAN Bucket Seat Adjuster
G31 – Outside RH MAN CHR RAC Mirror
H51 – Air Conditioning w/ FT Heater
J25 – Variable Speed Wipers w/ Electric Washers
J45 – Hood Pins
L25 – Trunk Light
M31 – Body Belt Mouldings
M42 – FT Stone Shield Moulding
M44 – Hood Rear & Fender Mouldings
N41 – Dual Exhaust
N42 – Chrome Exhaust Tips Quad
N85 – Tachometer
P31 – Power Windows
CTD – Continued on 2nd Tag
P37 – Power Convertible Top
R11 – Music Master AM Radio w/ Front Speaker – 2 Watt
V6X – Black Longitudinal Sport (Tape) Stripe
26 – 26” Radiator Diameter
EN2 – End of Fender Tag Codes

 

[DetMatt1]

Ok, new guys turn...

 

[challenger6pak]

I've been wondering if this was a game from the beginning.

 

[831 HQT]

Ok, new guys turn...

First I want to apologize if this post has the impression of being some sort of a set-up; sorry then. If I had my data in the cloud, I would post the fender-tags and some recent pics instantly. But sitting away from my 'personal' PC at the moment, you have to wait until tomorrow then (how come you all are so impacient?).

@moparleo
Of course none of these '72 E-bodies converts are factory made. These are all VERY early '71 models, sent over to the West Coast / LA branch in early September 1970, hoping these new models would get extensive TV / Movie appearances troughout the coming year. Come September 1971 and to please the studio bosses with new model year ('72) convertibles, Chrysler simply decided to change the model characteristics of the existing cars. Would you send these cars back to Detroit for having the front/backend changed? Of course not. At least in the case of mine this was a quick and dirty job (the name is BONDO).
That's why I decided to change my car back to the authentic '71 model as soon as I could get hold of the necessary original parts.

@paharamia
Thanks for the details of one of the Mod Squad Challengers (JH27 H1B 150399).
Here's its twin (JH27 H1B 150400): 1971 Dodge Challenger | #130674 Premium Auction Database
And mine has 'JH27 H1B 150398' (Vehicle Order Number 'R65916'). So I think this makes them quite an unique triplet.

So in order to post the tags tomorrow, I seriously hope now not getting struck by lightning...

But: No Vanishing Point fans around here?

 

[MOPARMITCH]

Welcome to the Madness !!

 

[831 HQT]

Ok, new guys turn again,

and it's yours to judge...

Still got the original flat hood and the deck lid with the luggage rack; will add war stripe later this year. One would/could assume that a car not even 10 years old would be in good condition: not at all! When I bought it in 1981, the interior was rough, the wiring a mess, the original dash replaced with one from 1970 (standard cluster), and the back seat-bench had additional hooks in order move it forward a few inches . I few months later I replaced the outworn blue interior with a black one from a 1970. On the sunny side the body was straight, completely rustfree and numbers matching (obviously with exception of the dash). Btw. 'Date First Sold' on the title says 09/30/72).

August 14th. (but door-tag says 'September 70')

Don't know exactly what this is...

Got me a set of new Goodyears...

 

[831 HQT]

Welcome to the Madness !!

Is it really that bad?

 

[DetMatt1]

Beautiful, love the color combo! I'll study the tags later.
August 14th is very early built car and I know the R in front of the order number denotes something but I can't remember what. The car was loaded and I do love the luggage rack option. The tag with 2525 on it was attached under the fender tag and was usually punched with inspectors markings as they signed off on the car down the line but I haven't seen that particular series of numbers.