'I' for international order on the fender tag?

[Tonker1]

As most old/classic cars owns do, I'd like to trace the History of my car and learn about its general up bringing. The most direct approach of coarse is to just trace the owners back as far as possible. The issue with this is the person I bought my 73 Challenger off, no longer has the details of the person he bought the car off. So, on my fender tag (attachment) there is an 'I' for international order where most have a 'U' for USA or a 'C' for Canada, assuming this is a fairly rare option, can anybody think of a way this might help me trace my car?
Out of interest does anybody know the production numbers on international order Challengers?
If people know of other options for tracing the history of the cars it would help?

If it helps, the car car came with its original US license plate when I bought it (attachment). Although why a car would be marked for international order and brought back to Oklahoma I don't know? I contacted the Oklahoma car registry about two months ago and heard no reply.

[kissalien]

Most "I" cars were ordered by military personnel and were delivered to their local dealer when they got home. Most never left the US. There are no known numbers for "I" cars.

[Super Blue 72]

Sorry, I don't have any info on the "I" but not to be critical or anything, I read the title and thought the "I" was in the VIN, but it's actually on the fender tag.  Might want to fix the title or else people might think your VIN was played with as there is usually no "I" in the VIN plate.

BTW, from the fender tag, our cars actually were very similar, both Rallye cars, in Super Blue (Petty Blue), 340ci , black vinyl top.  Mine is a early '72.  Yours is an early '73 and has the A57 Rallye option code.

Is yours a 3 speed manual transmission?  I see a D13 code, not many 3 spped manuals around, cool! 

[Tonker1]

Kissalien: that makes a lot of sense, as it seems strange that an export car would than be imported back into the states.

Superblue72: yes, it still has the original 3spd manual. Although the color of the car was changed to plum crazy at some stage by a previous owner, you can still see the super blue in obscure places, like the roof of the boot surrounding the boot lid, some patches of the wheel wells. Nothing that you'd see on a day to day basis, but when you've put tons of hours into the car, you find lots of small things like that! That's kinda cool and probably relatively rare that the fender tags match so well.

[wally426ci]

I think most International cars had the "Made in USA" tag. Mine does. Its silver and oval-ish shaped.

[Tonker1]

Were there any other suggestions for tracing the history?
Or have I hit a road block!

The concept of the car order being made internationally by troops as opposed to a car for export makes a lot of sense.

[Super Blue 72]

Hmmm...not necessarily a road block, but tough. 

Some say you might be able to ask your state Registry of Motor Vehicles and ask for a VIN search to see who had it registered in the state.  If the original owner was not from the state, then it makes it much tougher.  When you go through the car, look for receipts, etc. that may give you a clue as to where this car may have been owned.

I met the original owner of my car from paperwork given to me at the sale of my car and with some phone calls.  Even know which dealer sold my car even though it's a Ford dealer now.

FYI:  Your car origianlly looked like this, not sure what wheels though and probably not from the factory with a Go-Wing, but I could imagine that a Go-Wing could be dealer installed.  No flip top gas lid either.  Also your car would have the front and rear bunperettes, for 5mph crashes, from the factory.  The car below I think is a '72.

[Tonker1]

I appreciate the image!!

Once my front and rear Wilwood discs have been installed my stock 14" Rallyes won't provide adequate clearance. I've been looking at various companies designs for the 15"x8" Magnum 500s. Out of interest who manufactures your wheels and what sort are they?

Just re-tried making contact with 'Oklahoma Vehicle Registration and Titling'. Hopefully something eventuates!

This is my '73 Challenger, freshly cut, polished and shined right after it arrived on my front lawn in Australia!

[burdar]

Your SPD(scheduled production date) is 830 or August 30th.  Is there still a VIN sticker on the door?  IF there is, look in the lower left hand corner.  There should be a MDH(month/day/hour) code.  Cars weren't necessarily built on the SPD.  They could have been built early or late.  The MDH code will give you a more accuarate time frame when the car was built.

[Super Blue 72]

Out of interest who manufactures your wheels and what sort are they?

You're in Australia? 

My rims I think are 14"x6", factory Road Wheels/Magunum 500 style.  They are originally from a 1970 Plymouth Satellite/Road Runner, I think the car was cloned into a Road Runner or something.  They are the same style as in the above pic(that isn't my car, not that nice!) 

Yes, these rims won't fit over aftermarket brakes.  There's a couple manufacturers of the 17" style.  Wheel Vintiques makes them, here's an idea of what they go for.  They are not cheap.  This link may not be the right backspace for your set up, plus they have the little Mustang pony on them but you get the idea.

http://www.shopvintagewheels.com/17X7-POLISHED-MAGNUM-500-BILLET-SERIES-94-WHEEL-W--5X45%22-PATTERN---55%22-BS/p/WV94010/



Another option is Ford Mustangs had the Mach 1 rims around 2003 and 2004.  The center hub has to be widened if you have the stock front disc set up but with your aftermarket set up you might be ok but you would have to do some measuring.  I have seen these go for as cheap as $300 for a set of 4 with tires, average is like $400-$500.  Also, you may need spacers, some might not like spacers, as they have I think 5.5" backspace.

[shoooter]

it could be for international as this 71 grand coupe has a C and it was built for canada