Production figure

[Rolling_Thunder]

So just picked up my first E-body.  Curious if it's a rare color or not.  JA5 from 1973.  It was repainted blue at some point but floors and firewall are still the original color.  Just wondering if it's rare enough to justify restoring it to stock or building a nice driver id prefer out of it.

A57 car. Black top and stripes. 

[dfrazz]

Post up some pics!  Do you have the fender tag and/or buildsheet?

An OEM restoration would cost double what the car would ever be worth, so I would just make a good driver out it and enjoy!

[TelisSE440]

Congratulations on purchasing your first E-Body ! If it's a 'cuda, the color would be silver frost metallic, if it's a Challenger the color is dark silver metallic. Anyway, it is a rare color IMHO, but that doesn't justify the spend of much money on an OEM restoration. Restore nicely if it's  project car and have fun with it ! We await your pics !

[roadman5312]

           Congrats, and now.           

[Rolling_Thunder]

picking it up on Friday hopefully.  You guys will get plenty of pics then.  I do have the fender tag info and will post that as well.  I'll also look for the build sheet when I get the car in my possession.  Car needs a trunk pan, extensions and quarter halfs.  A couple other patches here and there -

Was originally JA5 with black top. Black rally's strobes. Black interior. Console. 340. 727. 

Only thing I would change would be add A/C. 

JH23:
Dodge Challenger
High
2 Door Hardtop

H3B: 340 240HP(net) 1-4BBL 8 CYL
1973
Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA

430397:   Sequence number

E55:    340 cid 4 barrel V8 275hp
D34:    Light Duty Automatic Transmission
JA5:       Dark Silver Poly Exterior Color
A6X9:    Trim - Basic, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black
000:    Full Door Panels
409:    Build Date: April 09
341250:   Order number

V1X:    Full Vinyl Top, Black
U:            USA Specifications
A57:         Rallye Package
B41:    Front Disc Brakes w/Standard 10in RR Drum
C16:    Console w/Woodgrain Panel
C56:    Bucket Seats

J54:            Sport Hood
L25:    Trunk Lamp
L31:    Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
M08:    Simulated Louvers
M21:    Roof drip rail moldings
M25:    Wide sill moldings

N41:    Dual Exhaust
N42:    Chrome Exhaust Tips
N85:    Tachometer
R35:    AM/FM Stereo Radio  (10 Watts)
V6X:    Longitudinal Stripes, Black

EN2:    End of Sales Codes


So as you all can see it is nothing super special besides the A57 package - even that is just sway bars, HD shocks, and the Rallye cluster (pretty much) so its not a big deal to me to have some fun with the car. I also got in the deal a clean set of 1970 fenders and some odds and ends. I'm thinking of cloning a 1970 out of it since it needs fenders / quarters anyway -

The guy said he doesn't think the engine is # matching - so I assume it isnt but realistically any small block is fine with me. I am not building this one to go fast - just be a comfortable driver.

[blown motor]

Glad to see somebody younger than most of us getting an e-body. You're going to spend more on it than what it will be worth so build it the way you want it and have fun with it. It's a 73 so even restoring it to the fender tag won't make it a high value car.

[jimynick]

Glad to see somebody younger than most of us getting an e-body. You're going to spend more on it than what it will be worth so build it the way you want it and have fun with it. It's a 73 so even restoring it to the fender tag won't make it a high value car.

Can you believe that, coming from a guy who OWNS a 73? Eh, Murray?   

[EB3-GranCoupe]

I'm a big fan of the 72-74 Rallye Challengers.  I think the strobe stripe is my favorite after the T/A stripe!  and i love the color combo of silver & black.  What you have is no different than a 70 340 challenger A66 car mechanically, except for the somewhat detuned 340.  You are gonna have a lot of fun whatever you do!   

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well good points all around - I just looked and I registered on this site in 2002   

Time flies....     I have owned my 1968 Charger for that long - finally got the E-body though - which is nice. Should be my last one so I'll build it how I want.   

[7212Mopar]

I think there are at least four members here with a JA5 73 Challenger, including mine. It was a popular color choice in 73. I remember seeing quite a few when they were less than 10 years old. Well, may be not as many as Top Banana.

[blown motor]

Can you believe that, coming from a guy who OWNS a 73? Eh, Murray?   

Mine is a 74. Makes all the difference. 

[Mpdlawdog]

Dont be afraid to make it your own then....my car is a 72 340 ralley 4 speed...yellow with black interior....I didnt have the buildsheet...no matching numbers....no fender tag.....Im making a 70 t/a emax clone...just heads up...it isnt cheap switching it over the right way!!!!!

[anlauto]

Isn't that pretty close to Burdar's car ?

[ChallengerHK]

I think there are at least four members here with a JA5 73 Challenger, including mine. It was a popular color choice in 73. I remember seeing quite a few when they were less than 10 years old. Well, may be not as many as Top Banana.

Me and Burdar have cars that were originally JA5. I think Bullet's car was a JA5 car as well. IF you want to see what it would look like, look up Burdar's pics, and he has done an awesome restoration. I'm choosing to go with a different color, though.

[Rolling_Thunder]

Gotcha - I just prefer the 1970 grill / tail light arrangement over the 1972-1974 so I figure I may as well just go with it - also considering it needs 1/4s anyway and I'm getting rust free 70 fenders ----   there's most of the superficial battle at that point.