Author Topic: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?  (Read 1595 times)

Offline 70GranCoupe

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History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« on: March 22, 2006 - 05:47:10 PM »
A buddy of mine is restoring a '65 Mustang Fastback (I know but at least it ain't a Cheby) and he told me there was an ad by Ford that said 'make your car a GT get the parts from your local Ford Dealer' or sumthin' like that. Does anybody know if MOPAR did a similiar thing or if there were non-factory installed options being ordered and put on by dealerships after the car was received by the owner?? Examples would be decals, hoods, etc...




Offline pink panther

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2006 - 06:07:53 PM »
I'm not sure of the exact parts, but dealers back in the day would add parts to cars  to make them more desireable.  pretty much had free range on what they would do.  Perfect example, gran spaulding dodge in chicago, adjusted the timing and tweaked the carbs to get high performance out of the factory settings.  add performance parts as well.

someone with more knowledge can expand futher.
Scott   -  Member since 9/18/2005

Offline pink panther

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2006 - 06:15:45 PM »
I'm not sure of the exact parts, but dealers back in the day would add parts to cars  to make them more desireable.  pretty much had free range on what they would do.  Perfect example, gran spaulding dodge in chicago, adjusted the timing and tweaked the carbs to get high performance out of the factory settings.  add performance parts as well.

I also heard of adding wings and cosmetic body parts as well.

someone with more knowledge can expand futher.
Scott   -  Member since 9/18/2005

Offline DAYTONA

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2006 - 08:51:13 PM »
basically a dealer could alter anything he or the customer wanted....the real trick is having paperwork/receipts to back it up as a dealer installed item...

some dealers did complete paint jobs, speed equip was common, trim/stripes were very common, vinyl tops, etc etc....I owned a 69 Daytona once that was one of 3 documented dealer installed SIX PAKs known to exist.....the carbs were installed when the car had 17 miles on the odometer(the car is on EBAY right now)....wheels were another fairly common item installed by dealers.....

....bottom line, no dealer mods are considered correct in the restoration, UNLESS, you have documents proving it was installed on day 1....then they are still considered a gray area for judging......

Offline Andrew

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2006 - 10:45:20 PM »
There was a member who said he once had a (JH23) '70 340 R/T, which I assume was dealer installed.

Offline Topcat

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2006 - 10:56:40 PM »
In the early days, before Direct Connection, they called it "Hustle stuff." If there were any promotions then, they probably would've used that term.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2006 - 11:00:05 PM by topcatcuda »
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline lumpy

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2006 - 07:48:29 AM »
In the early days, before Direct Connection, they called it "Hustle stuff." If there were any promotions then, they probably would've used that term.

And they still do it today. You can get all kinds of added Mopar accessories dealer installed on your new car or truck. :thumbsup:

Offline Topcat

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2006 - 06:12:56 PM »
Here's a pic of the catalog they used back in the "Old School" days.
Mike, Fremont, CA.


Offline lumpy

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #8 on: March 31, 2006 - 11:08:20 AM »
Example of  The have It Your Way Policy  :thumbsup:

Offline JS27N0B

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Re: History Lesson - Dealer Installed Options?
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2006 - 10:08:30 AM »
There was a member who said he once had a (JH23) '70 340 R/T, which I assume was dealer installed.

The board pretty much agreed it was an early clone!  The poster never did agree though.
1970 Challenger R/T Convertible 383/auto 1 of 516 *now sold after owning for 18yrs
2007 Chrysler Aspen Limited AWD
2013 Tige' RZR 343hp
2016 PCP Challenger SRT Hellcat