... I learned that Challenger JH27G0B100013 was supposedly the very first Challenger to come off the line at Hamtramck. I was like "100013 is the first?? How can that be??" But it would make sense if they rolled a dozen Barracuda's off the line first before the first Challenger came off the line right?
I will wager $1,000 that is was the first Challenger built. Aside that it is the lowest VIN for a Challenger.
Chrysler assigned JOB NUMBERS for specific cars that were to be built a certain way. That certain way, were internal orders. Mxxxxx VONs.
Example: BS27V0B100004 An executive decision was made to built this specific car (`cuda440-6 D21 EW1 PRX9 N96 P31 P37 R22 etc.) and was assigned JOB NUMBER 8.
There may have been 250 cars slated to be built by the factory for what ever purpose. JOB NUMBER 1 through JOB NUMBER 250 (We don't have an exact figure)
ALL makes and models.
BS23R0B100003 is JOB NUMBER 5
BS27V0B100004 is JOB NUMBER 8
JH27G0B100013 is JOB NUMBER 6
JS29R0B100015 is JOB NUMBER 12
JS27V0B100121 is JOB NUMBER 166
We think that the JOB NUMBER cars were suposed to be built at least in groups of same make and model. It has been proven that some cars were built prior to others (out of sequence) just like the actual assembly line.
I would still bet money that the early JOB NUMBER cars were built first. Just logical for the "new concept vehicles" to be built for their early purposes. Mock up, repair assembly hour determination, destructive testing, advertisment, or what ever the reason.
0B100010 and 0B100121 were the advertisment and testing cars for magazines (among others). I bet the "lowly plain Jane" EW1 JH27G0B car was built first to make sure the new body style worked out.
Intereting that we never saw BS23R0B100003, BS27V0B100004, JH27G0B100013 in the lime light back in the day. Oh yeah....they were all EW1 Alpine White cars.
My data base is limited to E-Bodies and these past 13 years - honed to just the 1970-71 model years.
There are many early cars that have a JOB NUMBER. Plymouth Road Runner. Dodge Polara. etc.