newbie here from Texas. Got a question on a 73 challenger 340 (RT?) UPDATED

[smash_beacham]

 


OK NOW I PUT DOWN WHAT I MEANT TO BEFORE. 340. WHOOPS

new guy here, Hoping that I could get a couple questions answered by some of you guys that will know way more about this than I do. here we go.

Im A 26 year old veteran, and I just got back to my home state of TX. I always knew that once I was gonna be in one place long enough to enjoy it, and work on it I would get an old Mopar. I recently came across a 73 challenger with the original 340 in it. The motor has low miles since being rebuilt, and the restoration is a little dated, but looks good. If everything goes according to plan, I will be buying the car ASAP.

so heres my question. this car Has the original 340 in it, and a pistol grip 4 speed tranny. It was restored as a father son project a few years ago, and they did a good job on it, but they guy flat out told me he has no idea if it was originally an RT or Rallye , because when he got it she was a total wreck, and had never cared or bothered to check all three VIN numbers. He has informed me that the # on the body and motor do match. What are the odds of this originally being an RT or Rallye with that year/motor/tranny package? Im gonna buy her any way cause the price is right for me, and she will need minimal updating(mostly interior) so i can start enjoying her. IF she was an RT/ Rallye originally, I would want to have her badged correctly etc. any help you can offer is appreciated ! thanks in advance!!

 

[polarbear123]

Did he say it was 440 or a 340. No 440 in 1973. Vin would be JS for a RT


http://www.oldride.com/library/1973_dodge_challenger.html

[rUNCHARGER]

The factory did not install 440's in Challengers or Cuda's after 1971.
If it is a 340, rallye Challenger the VIN should start out as JS23H3, Good luck.

Sheldon

[blown motor]

Also there were no 73s with RT badging.

[c4orce]

The factory did not install 440's in Challengers or Cuda's after 1971.

Yup '71 was the last year for big blocks

Sent from my LGL33L using Tapatalk

[RusTy/SE]

new guy here, Hoping that I could get a couple questions answered by some of you guys that will know way more about this than I do. here we go.

Im A 26 year old veteran, and I just got back to my home state of TX. I always knew that once I was gonna be in one place long enough to enjoy it, and work on it I would get an old Mopar. I recently came across a 73 challenger with the original 440 in it. The motor has low miles since being rebuilt, and the restoration is a little dated, but looks good. If everything goes according to plan, I will be buying the car ASAP.

so heres my question. this car Has the original 440 in it, and a pistol grip 4 speed tranny. It was restored as a father son project a few years ago, and they did a good job on it, but they guy flat out told me he has no idea if it was originally an RT or Rallye , because when he got it she was a total wreck, and had never cared or bothered to check all three VIN numbers. He has informed me that the # on the body and motor do match. What are the odds of this originally being an RT or Rallye with that year/motor/tranny package? Im gonna buy her any way cause the price is right for me, and she will need minimal updating(mostly interior) so i can start enjoying her. IF she was an RT/ Rallye originally, I would want to have her badged correctly etc. any help you can offer is appreciated ! thanks in advance!!

 

The least confusing way to answer your question is to look at the 1973 Challenger from model year rather than engine year. In the 1973 model year a Challenger could no longer be ordered with any big block, so the 440 is not original to the car you're about to purchase.

Your car's VIN (hope I'm not getting to far ahead here, but good luck with the purchase ) will start with JH23G if it was originally equipped with a 318 - or JH23H if originally equipped with a 340.

The last model year for JS in the VIN was 1972. Only for that year was JS carried over to designate the Rallye model; JS had been used in 1970 and 1971 to designate the R/T model.

 

[anlauto]

Wow I was just reminded of something I'd forgotten today.....I'd forgot there was no JS cars after 1972 , odd because there was still BS cars

So if your car is a 1973, there's no way to tell if it's a "rallye" unless you have the original fender tag or broadcast sheet....interesting...

[rUNCHARGER]

Oops!

Sheldon

[jimynick]

Welcome to the site! Mine is a 74 Rallye and I'm pretty sure, as mentioned, that there were no R/T's after 71. Who cares- enjoy the car and welcome to your home. 

[RusTy/SE]

Roger that smash_beachem Now we're talkin' - a correct 340 4sp - nice find.

Post some  when you can, start a thread in the Members Restoration Projects area and welcome aboard!

[challengermaniac]

Correct in that a 1973 with a numbers matching 340 would be a "Rallye" Challenger.