Fender or Data Tag Decoding question

[77comet]

I'm looking for some confirmation on fender tag decoding from the experts.
The car is a 1968 Monaco 500 which my dad had purchased new.

The few online decoders I used list it as a Polara, perhaps because it is a Canadian 318 car?

The other question I have is the dealer stock code. I remember another thread indicated a code as customer or dealer ordered. I know he stated he bought it off the lot, I can't seem to find the thread, I just think it would be neat to confirm.
Thanks in advance.

 

[mdh157]

the tag says it is a monaco 500 2 door hardtop..........DP23 (which should be the first 4 digits of the VIN) tells us that. a polara would start with DL (dodge low trim level), Monaco with DM (dodge mid level trim). The DP stands for Dodge Premium trim level.

the online decoders are convenient but are often lacking the full info one needs. Your VIN should be DP23G8xxxxxx, or something like that.

 

[77comet]

Thanks for the info mdh157,
The Vin is DP23F8Rxxxxxx
I didn't know the premium code of P 2nd digit indicated Monaco 500, M Monaco, and L Polara. Engine code 5th digit is actually F, Lower level LA 318, and assembled in Windsor, code R.

 

[detmatt]

Nice bare bones car, how about a cupple pics?

 

[77comet]

Okay Detmatt, I'll post a couple pictures taken just a couple days ago. Very similar to pictures I posted when I joined though, I think you were one to welcome me to the board. Car is a survivor, not restored. Mostly original paint, but the pictures make the paint appear better than it actually is. Our climate is sort of harsh on cars, probably similar to Detroit. My dad purchased it off the lot new.

 

[detmatt]

I don't think any of us would get tired of looking at that beauty!

 

[live4theking]

Nice, but I'm no helping in the decoding department.

 

[Dobalovr]

For an unrestored car it sure is in great shape. You have a beauty there my friend. You Dad obviously took great care of it!

 

[69CoronetRT]

68 Windsor plant tags are, obviously, pretty sparse when it comes to options.

If you are referencing the code A25559, that is the shipping order number. All It tells us, by the A, is that the car was built for sale in Canada. It doesn't tell us who, the dealer or a customer, ordered the car.

 

[77comet]

Thanks for the nice comments folks. The car was used as a regular driver for about 10 years but had grease and graphite undercoating annually. That and garage kept is what probably saved it. To say it is unrestored may be a bit of an exaggeration, About 20 years ago the engine was pulled, overhauled and overall compartment cleaned up. Very little use since then. Still all original panels, although the thick Monaco 500 trim may be hiding some surprises. I would hate to disturb them though. For a premium car it has very few options, power steering and brakes and that's about it. Not even a console.
I was sort of hoping someone here had an ongoing thread of converting a similar car from a 318 to big block but I haven't come across it yet.Would like to see exactly what is involved.
I guess code A25559 is as close as we can come for determining if dealer or customer ordered?

 

[Dobalovr]

Based on experience I would "guess" it was just a regular Dealer Order and not a custom sold order by a customer. Dealers tend to order basics that appeal to the majority. Customer's tend to pick options important to them like SG or power options or Radios.

 

[Furyman]

I'm looking for some confirmation on fender tag decoding from the experts.
The car is a 1968 Monaco 500 which my dad had purchased new.

The few online decoders I used list it as a Polara, perhaps because it is a Canadian 318 car?

The other question I have is the dealer stock code. I remember another thread indicated a code as customer or dealer ordered. I know he stated he bought it off the lot, I can't seem to find the thread, I just think it would be neat to confirm.
Thanks in advance.

View attachment 96430

Canadian 1968 Fender tags are weird. Some tags are stamped with all the options on the ABC lines , others like yours are never stamped. Canadian VIN's start at 8R300001 and run to the 8R365000 range maybe higher. Your car having a scheduled production date of 105 (Jan 5 1968) should be DP23F8R328... OR 329... VIN. What you can tell from the fender tag- 68 Monaco 500 Fastop in QQ1 bright blue with a P6B blue bucket seat interior and a white upper body pinstripe (S-W). Tire code of 5 53 is five 8.25 x 14 2 ply whitewalls on 14 x 5.5 rims. A-1 stands for a 2.76 gear open 8.75 diff .The 1-4 and 3-0 are mouldings, Belt line and ? I'd have to look the codes up.

 

[Ripinator]

Okay Detmatt, I'll post a couple pictures taken just a couple days ago. Very similar to pictures I posted when I joined though, I think you were one to welcome me to the board. . .

If it had Power Vents, Matt would have remembered it better. . .

 

[77comet]

Furyman, you nailed down the VIN correctly, it is actually DP23F8R329252. What significance does 328 or 329 have to the production date at the start of the year though? I know my dad purchased the car in July of 68. The rear ratio sounds correct, I know he bragged about 20 mpg on the highway, although he probably used imperial gallons for the conversion. Before I had done the data tag decoding I had thought the pinstripe had been dealer installed. The pinstripe paint always looked thin in places.

 

[Snotty]

Nice car! Keep the 318 and be rare!!!