The Big Fender Tag Question

[Johnko2012]

Okay, so you get a Chally or a Cuda, and there's not fender tag. You hold your breath, take out that back seat...
and.... nothing. Is it possible to find out its options just from the serial number? Is there a central Chrysler archive that will tell us the original paint, molding, stripes, that weird Mr Microphone radio, etc etc etc? I am under the impression that Mr Govier's service only recreates fender tags from existing build sheets and other such evidence, yes? Is a buildsheet bereft and fendertagless vehicle destined to forever remain an enigma, a white buffalo snorting through the fog and snow?
   Do tell oh wise ones!!! I know of too many 3,500 pound identity crises.
     

[Jamiez]

In order (from least descriptive to most):

VIN - Engine and Trans, model, and the top level package (Grand Coupe  etc).
Fender Tag - The majority of the options (Body/Roof/Interior color, Radio, Glass, stripes, sub packages like Light Group, Rallye package, mouldings etc)
Broadcast Sheet - All the options (Type of steering wheel, color of the horn pad, diff, gear ratio, alternator, etc).

They didn't keep detailed records back in the day (or they have been lost) so if all you have is the VIN you will never be able to verify all the options your car left the factory with.  If you were extremely lucky, it's possible a previous owner entered information about your car into the Hamtrack Registry or even that a broadcast sheet for your car was found in another vehicle.  I would contact Barry Washington and see if he knows anything about your VIN but it is a long shot to say the least.

[Jocigar]

     Barry Washington       some 20 plus years after one of my purchases; someone send him the broadcast sheet.   

Search this site with last digits if you have yet done so

If not, best to reverse doc what you can and have other tag manf create the closest thing and enjoy the ride   

[dutch]

did you check all other places where a BS might be?  under seat, behind seat back, on top of glove box etc.  there`s a list of finding places on Barry`s site as well.  If the car was built in LA, good chance there`s no BS since they had this "clean car"policy.

['Cuda Hunter]

Very hard to find the original options without that build sheet or fender tag.
Those cars are pretty much destined to be custom builds.

[Moparal]

E bodies from LA rarely came with a build sheet

[Johnko2012]

   Thanks for the replies folks, that's what i figured. i'll check out the Hamm's beer registry, but i think it's been reworked enough times to be a moot point.
    As a metalworker i thought it would be funny to grab my punch set and make a tag that had the bottom line with all the normal stuff, but just hammer a bunch of
                                               
                                            ??
                                            ??
where the good stuff is supposed to be. Maybe throw in some drip molding codes just for fun.
     cheers
       JCR

[Super Blue 72]

I think only Pontiac has the service (PHS-Pontiac Historical Service) where you can give them a VIN and they can tell you what the car came with.  There may be ohter makes that do this but PHS is the only one I know.

If you're going to make your own, have some fun with it.  Look below and see if you see anything weird...

[Johnko2012]

SuperDuperBlue, that is pretty dang funny. And i have wanted to comment on the hillarity of your big/little car imagery for a while. It always cracks me up when I see the little car with the giant snowbank. I do models too, check out some of my scupture on www.johnko.biz
    how funny would it be to start including text message abbreviations in fender tags...
       now THAT would be dating them

[dutch]

hey Phil, that`s a pretty funny tag    who makes them?

Johnko, good to see another blacksmith around here     got some more metalwork to show us?   

[Chryco Psycho]

Chrysler actually did keep records but they were lost in a fire years ago

[Super Blue 72]

I do models too, check out some of my scupture on www.johnko.biz
    how funny would it be to start including text message abbreviations in fender tags...
       now THAT would be dating them

Thanks for the comments!  You do some AWESOME work!! 

hey Phil, that`s a pretty funny tag    who makes them?

Johnko, good to see another blacksmith around here     got some more metalwork to show us?   

Sorry, dunno who made it, got it off the net.  Sorry, can't find others...   

From this moparts thread: http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=A12&Number=6606094&Searchpage=1&Main=6597567&Words=+Stewpar&topic=&Search=true

[Cuda440Mike]

Chrysler actually did keep records but they were lost in a fire years ago

Where was the fire?

[ChallengerHK]

Chrysler actually did keep records but they were lost in a fire years ago

Where was the fire?

I've heard about this fire from several different sources, but I've never been able to find any info on it.