When was 1st Challenger built?

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    Author Topic: When was 1st Challenger built?  (Read 27634 times)

    Offline TobiasM

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    When was 1st Challenger built?
    « on: January 10, 2010 - 05:20:50 AM »
    Hi guys!

    My Challenger R/T seems to be one early made, as it was built in Oct. 1969 (JS23U0B... + "A23" in Fendertag).

    Would like to know, when the first Challenger ever was built. Are there also Challengers with a 9 as sixth-digit in VIN ( eg. JS23U9B...)?

    Already tried this forum`s search and crawled internet...without success.

    Thanks!
    « Last Edit: January 10, 2010 - 01:53:51 PM by TobiasM »
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    Thanks + best regards,

    TobiasM
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    /--O---<ALPINA>---O--\  (`92 ALPINA B10 bi-turbo, BMW 5-series/E34 based)


    Offline CarelianCuda

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #1 on: January 10, 2010 - 07:14:26 AM »
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    Offline kissalien

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #2 on: January 10, 2010 - 10:01:38 AM »
    Quote from: TobiasM on January 10, 2010 - 05:20:50 AM
    Are there also Challengers with a 9 as fith-digit in VIN ( eg. JS23U9B...)?

    No, since it's the model year, not the calendar year.
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    Offline CarelianCuda

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #3 on: January 10, 2010 - 10:35:03 AM »
    Quote from: TobiasM on January 10, 2010 - 05:20:50 AM
    Are there also Challengers with a 9 as fith-digit in VIN ( eg. JS23U9B...)?
    6th digit on my count?  Yes, 2L29F9 = 1979 Challenger 2.6 liter :P :icon16:
    Not any '69.
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    Offline DMZ73

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #4 on: January 10, 2010 - 10:44:41 AM »
    October 69 is considered early since the cars started production August 1st 1969, with the first cars coming off the line August 2nd.
    The press embargo for the original Challenger was August 27th 1969, and the car actually debuted in September 1969, selling as a 1970 model year. Many cars should have shown up as early as September, early October.
    I know, it's always a little strange.

    My father purchased his FJ5 70 Challenger put of NY in October or November.
    Early cars had some details that were different than other 1970 models.
    They were changes that were made for cost, efficiency or supplier resource issues.
    The main visible differences in the car are found on the interior:
    -Early 70 models had a cluster bezel with a vertical linear texture that is not found on   later models.
    -Slapshift knob was later changed to the T-handle
    -Early cars had an option for a (soft) 3-spoke wheel with rimblow trim ring(my dad had one)

    there is ALWAYS exception to these rules. You never know.
    I hope this helps.
    Tell us about your car!

    Best,
    Dan
    « Last Edit: January 10, 2010 - 12:00:16 PM by DMZ73 »
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    Offline CarelianCuda

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #5 on: January 10, 2010 - 11:10:46 AM »
    Quote from: DMZ73 on January 10, 2010 - 10:44:41 AM
    -Slapshift knob was later changed to the T-handle

    T-handle is '71-74 thing, but like you said there is always exceptions, sometimes weird like that:
    "T-shaped slap-stik" in the '70 Barracuda Dealership Data Book:
    http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1970/70_Barracuda0019.jpg
    Knob in the Challenger:
     http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/dealerships/DealershipDataBook/1970/70_Challenger0017.jpg
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    Offline thedodgeboys

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #6 on: January 10, 2010 - 11:16:28 AM »
    the born-on date for my challenger is 9-11  :wavingflag:
     :swaying:


    Just thought I would chime in.  :bigsmile:
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    Offline Chryco Psycho

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #7 on: January 10, 2010 - 11:19:20 AM »
    mine was 9 / 02
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    Offline DMZ73

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #8 on: January 10, 2010 - 12:18:05 PM »
    9/2/69 and 9/11/69-
    Wow, that is unusual, and really cool.
    Much respect! Early cars are really special IMHO.
    I think the things that make them unique make them standouts.
    For example, the stitch on the dashpad:
    Chrysler only made the real stitch on the dashpads in 1970, but dropped it in 71?
    No restorer can duplicate it.  :worshippy if you have one of those, keep it.
    The Early 1970 rally gauges had fonts arranged in a semi-circular style, later gauges had horizontal type.
     

    1970 saw a sales success of approximately 77,000 Challengers sold.
    Pretty awesome.

    Dan
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    Offline ChallengerGary

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #9 on: January 10, 2010 - 12:34:33 PM »
    -Early cars had an option for a (soft) 3-spoke wheel with rimblow trim ring(my dad had one)

    My parent's 70 SE had one of those wheels!  I've only seen it on 1 other car since then...
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    Offline TobiasM

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #10 on: January 10, 2010 - 01:53:20 PM »
    Quote from: CarelianCuda on January 10, 2010 - 10:35:03 AM
    6th digit on my count?  Yes, 2L29F9 = 1979 Challenger 2.6 liter :P :icon16:
    Not any '69.

    Yes, your right of course: 6th instead of 5th digit, my mistake, edited my initial post.

    @all: thanks for the information, so mine is within 2nd production-month, thats really quite early.

    But if "thedodgebrothers`" & "chrycopsycho`s" cars were made in September 69, how does it read in their fender tag, please? As far as my investigations lead me, a modelyear (6th digit in VIN, e.g. zero for 1970) is followed by "A", "B", or "C" + two numbers in the fender tag (meaning October, November, December of the year before that cars modelyear, e.g. my A23 is October 23rd 1969, though my car is modellyear 1970).
    And 1970 fendertag-code "123" is for "January 23rd", "223" = Feb. 23rd., ... "923" = Sept. 23rd.
    But October 23rd of 1970 would be also "A23", but then the VIN`s 6th digit would be a "1" (for modellyear 1971) intead of my "0" (=modellyear 1970).
    « Last Edit: January 10, 2010 - 02:00:18 PM by TobiasM »
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    Thanks + best regards,

    TobiasM
    _______________________
    DODGE Challenger R/T "Chick DeNinno Pro105" (`70, 440-4, Sublime, TrackPack)

    /--O---<ALPINA>---O--\  (`92 ALPINA B10 bi-turbo, BMW 5-series/E34 based)

    Offline DAYTONA

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #11 on: January 10, 2010 - 01:54:34 PM »
    ...I once owned the oldest Challenger known to exist...it was JS29R0B100015...it had a production date of 8-01...it was not only the oldest Challenger known, it was the very 1st HEMI Challenger ever built, a pilot car and had a fender tag stating, "JOB NUMBER 12"...the car still exists and is as perfect as it was 20 years ago when I purchased it

    photo by Nickey Wright, approx 1990
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    Alaskan_TA

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #12 on: January 10, 2010 - 02:00:18 PM »
    The 1970 model year ran from 8-1-1969 to 7-31-1970, so there were a lot of 1970 model year cars made in '69.

    As far as the VINs go, the cars were not actually built in VIN sequence, & the dates are the dates they HOPED to build the car when the order first entered the system. While it may be the actual build date, chances are better that it is not.  ;)

    As one example, my T/A with a scheduled production date of April 17 has the original engine. The final assembly date stamped on the block is April 22, so obviously my car was built later than first intended.

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    Offline DAYTONA

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #13 on: January 10, 2010 - 02:07:41 PM »
    Barry,
    ...it's been 20 years, but I only knew of mine, #15, a Yellow 6 PACK with a VIN# of 19 and the Diamante I think was #33...any other low VIN#s turn up during the last few years...#13 was supposed to exist, but I never saw actual proof or heard of the car except for meeting a guy at the MOPAR Nats once that claimed he owned it...it was supposed to be a white 318 cv used in the dealer brochure...but, as I said, after 20 years, I have never heard of the car again...the pix he showed to me was of a rusted hulk that probably couldn't have been saved
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    Alaskan_TA

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    Re: When was 1st Challenger built?
    « Reply #14 on: January 10, 2010 - 02:15:34 PM »
    Diamante is 100022. It's fender tag was removed during the customization process, so it's JOB # is not known.

    It had an 801 SPD, but the car was not invoiced until Oct. 29. It was shipped (New car drive away) from the plant to the Hamtramck Exectutive Garage, which was on site.

    If it had been built on 801, it would have been invoiced MUCH earlier. ;-)

    Did you have a broadcast sheet for yours Larry? I have not seen one yet for a 1970 car with a JOB # on the tag. There is someting I want to check on it if you have a scan or copy?
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