Challenger fender differences.

[peterro]

Hello,

I just found out today from the guy working on my Challenger body that the car has two different front fenders.    Hmm...  I've had the car for ~10 and never knew.  He did say that it wasn't that noticeable.

In any case, I've known that a 70 and 71 Challenger fender are different but I don't know how.  I don't really know what year of fenders are actually on the car but I'd like to know.

Can anyone post pictures (somewhere) that are fairly detailed of Challenger fenders?  I'd like to get an idea of the differences.  I've been looking in my E-body restoration guide and can't really tell any differences since I don't really know what to look for and the picture quality isn't the best.

I will be travelling to see my car and it's differences and will be taking some pictures.  I'll post them on my site when I get them so I can compare with what others have.

Thanks in advance.

Ron.

[wmiller]

Did your body guy tell you what the difference was? I am not aware of differences from '70 to '71 but I am aware that there were differences in the front fenders depending on if your build sheet called for 14" or 15" tires. I have 14" on my Challenger and have heard it said that 15" wheels/tires won't fit properly in the wheel well opening--don't know that to be a fact. Guess it was little larger wheel well opening in the fenders if your car came with 15" wheels. Have also heard it said that all TA's came with larger wheel well openings in their fenders for the stock 15" wheels that came on TA's.

[camjam]

I have been told that there is a notch in the the top mounting of the fender at the front. Where it is the widest. I can't remeber which year has it though.

[peterro]

Well, I have some more information on my fenders.  Appearantly, I have a correct 70 fender on the passenger side but the drivers side has a 72-4 fender.  Never noticed the difference until now that I have the fenders off and they are being worked on.

Here is a link to some comparison pictures:  http://peterro.com/~rpeters/pictures/Rons/Challenger/Fender%20and%20AC%20Reference/

Note the distinct line on the 70 model (picture 04210009) from the bumper indentation to sloping downward toward the wheel well.  This line is totally missing on the later fender.

So it looks like I need a 70-1 drivers side fender to make the car correct.  Anyone have one?

Also, my car came originally with 14" tires so I believe that the fenders are those.  I've had 15" rallye's for nearly a decade with 235-60-15 tires and have never had an issue with tire rub.

Comments?  Fenders?

For what it's worth, the 72-4 fender is nearly complete as far as body work goes so if anyone would like to trade for a solid 70/1 fender (drivers) I would be very interested.

Ron.

[Rev-It-Up]

Thanks for the lesson Peterro.  You learn something new everyday. Sorry don't have any fenders to help out.  Good luck!

[hemirnr]

8)the difference is 71 and up fenders had cutout for headlight adjusters(square section) noticeable only when hood is raised,if you can't find one graft a piece in to cover either from steel stock or off a rusty or damaged fender.

[peterro]

Yeah, I suppose that would be ok if I could only find a 71 fender.  The 72 and up fenders don't look the same as 70-71.  Check out the link from my above post.

Thanks,
Ron.

[camjam]

I was at a wreckers last summer in Alberta Canada. He had a 71 with fenders. I can't remember what condition they were in. If you are still looking maybe try him.
His wrecking yard is called Flatla Auto Wrecking and his number is 1 403 377 2484 or fax 1 403 377 2415. Good luck

[MoparMan]

I'm new to this board and maybe a little late responding to this but I thought I would add my two cents about the differences in Challanger fender sizes.
There are two different sizes. The T/A and any Challengers that had 15" wheels/tires from the factory had the large wheel opening in the fenders.
I had a six cylinder Challenger in the eary '80s which ended up getting wrecked. I was going to make a clone T/A and ordered brand new fenders from the local Dodge dealer. Believe it or not my local Dodge parts guy handed me a pair of brand new T/A fenders!!  He even told me when I ordered them that they were for the T/A which had the larger 15" rims. Actually at the time the T/A fenders were the only fender part# available for the Challenger. I was amazed even then that I was able to get brand new fenders over the counter!
MoparMan..
 

[peterro]

Hello again.

I've found some possible more differences in the Challenger fenders.

I took some pictures for a guy who was interested in buying my "wrong" fender (72-4).  He said that only 70-71 had the marker lights that had the angle on the leading edge and the rest were just rectangular.  So my fender has the early marker light but the later body line so I'm thinking this might be a 71 (could 70 and 71 be unique fenders of their own?).

This is what I'd like.  I'd like to see some detailed pictures of fenders from each year 70-74 where the fenders are known originals.  The details should include the marker light, the region near the front of where the bumper and leading edge of the wheel well are and the front of the fender that is hidden by the hood (where the hood bumper is).  This is to see the notch for headlight adjustment, if it exists.

Maybe we can get these details worked out and finalized.

Thanks in advance.

Ron.

[Grrreen]

Only 70 and 71 Challengers had the angled marker light.

All other years had the rectangular marker lights.... or what some people call the "lick 'em and stick 'em" style of marker lights.  

I would bet that your "wrong" fender is from a 71...  

There are quite a few difference in parts for all of the years of Challys... Most people assume that all the parts interchange, but quite a high number of them don't.  They may be able to get them to fit, but they never actually fit properly.  Especially major parts like body and interior parts.

Here's what I know...

1970 Challengers used three different sets of fenders:
1. Standard fenders.
2. Cars with F60x15 tires required special fenders for clearance.
3. And as someone said earlier, T/A's used their own fenders. (Fenders made for regular Challengers or Challengers with F60x15 tires will *not* fit a T/A because T/A's used a special radius in the wheel opening and never used chrome wheelwell moulding.)

1971 Challengers used two different types:
1. Standard fenders.
2. Cars with F60x15 tires required special fenders.
(if you believe there was a 71 T/A made, you can probably assume it had the same criteria as the T/A from the previous year)

1972-74 Challengers used one set of fenders. One size fit all.

Sorry I don't have any photos though...  

Aside from the obvious grille differences, later models of Challenger had all the extra collision stuff in the front end too.  The bumper sat at least 2-3 inches further forward than the earlier years, and also had a ton of crap inside it.  Supposedly it was supposed to protect you or something...  

Really, it all just added weight.

[dachtera]

If this thread is even still alive.. I hope someone can help - Working on restoring a 72 challenger that came to me in a mess.  I'm having to patch in the front drivers fender.  The styleline that wraps over the wheel well, and the styleline on the patch panel (from YearOne) is about 3/4" off.

Can anyone confirm if the 70-74 years had differences in the contours over the wheel arch, or if I just have a bad patch panel?

['Cuda Hunter]

bad patch panel. 
Not that type of difference between the years.

[dachtera]

bad patch panel. 
Not that type of difference between the years.

Thanks for the info.  Amazing to wake up a few hours later with a response.  I'll see about getting a replacement.

I tried to add a photo, but got an error from the site.  Maybe this works.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/Wr7rNH4xHQJZptqH9

[70chall440]

Yeah that looks like a Goodmark or Sherman panel, very soft lines and not well done at all. Look at AMD unless this is an AMD product in which case I would call them.