kyle340
Well-Known Member
You guys are welcome, anytime I can help I'll look through the paperwork. I have everything from this dealership from the time they opened in 1965-80. Dodge all years, they got Chrysler-plymouth in 68.
A74 code on 1970 senior Dodges (and A71 A75 A76 too!)
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
Your post shows many things.
A71 is on the Invoice but not the Advance Dealer Shipping Notice. That's interesting.
The car was built as a V02 two tone car. Rare.
It was also built at a Y07 Built to Canada Specs but shipped to a dealer in Indiana. Why?
Thanks again!
kyle340
Well-Known Member
Yeah that is weird, especially cause it was a ordered car, for a single lady. I believe all of them were ordered, if not by customer's but at least by the dealership for inventory.
All cars had to be ordered by the dealer, whether for stock or "special" for a customer. Unless the car was procured from the Sales Bank.
On the page from Galen's book . . . it seems that several of the A-codes relate to what might be termed "regional sales packages", which were unique to particular parts of the USA rather than available "everywhere". As others were most probably "Spring Special" promotional option packages, it seems. The Monaco 500 and Monaco Brougham packages would be notable exceptions, though.
As I recall, the 1971 Newport Roya was a "sub-Newport" of sorts, which probably generated the "CE" designation rather than the prior and later "CL" model designation. But in '72, the NR was its own model in the "CL" range of things.
Remember, too, that the Dealer Order Guide/Dealer Data Books were usually printed in about August before the new models were all the way into production, which might explain why some things were not listed there, but were available later. Which is where "Dealer Letters" in the Hamtramck Historical website can come in.
Just some thoughts and observations,
CBODY67
On the page from Galen's book . . . it seems that several of the A-codes relate to what might be termed "regional sales packages", which were unique to particular parts of the USA rather than available "everywhere". As others were most probably "Spring Special" promotional option packages, it seems. The Monaco 500 and Monaco Brougham packages would be notable exceptions, though.
As I recall, the 1971 Newport Roya was a "sub-Newport" of sorts, which probably generated the "CE" designation rather than the prior and later "CL" model designation. But in '72, the NR was its own model in the "CL" range of things.
Remember, too, that the Dealer Order Guide/Dealer Data Books were usually printed in about August before the new models were all the way into production, which might explain why some things were not listed there, but were available later. Which is where "Dealer Letters" in the Hamtramck Historical website can come in.
Just some thoughts and observations,
CBODY67
@CBODY67 captured exactly why I mentioned the Newport Royal.
--> In 1971, the NR is a sub-model of the Newport (CE), introduced sometime partway through the model year. In 1972, the NR gets its own model designation (CL).
--> In 1970, the PS is is a sub-model of the Polara line, introduced sometime partway through the model year (why it would be DM and not DL, I know not -- strange, since DL had been used till then for the lowest-priced Polara). In 1971, it gets listed as the lowest model in the Polara line and gets its own VIN (we know it is DS, not DE, thanks to @FK3 Sport Fury). And, it is in the brochure:
So I respectfully submit that mentioning the 1971-1972 Newport Royal is actually relevant. At least it is, until someone confirms or contradicts the hypothesis that, for some reason, mid-year model introductions could not get their own model designation and thus their own second letter in the VIN.
--> Could there be a regulatory reason for this? I do not know.
In a related note, even though the Polara Special is mentioned in the sales brochure on fuselage.de, it is not listed anywhere (that I could see) in the materials I found on the Hamtramck Registry Library. Yet, I know that @polara71 has seen two 1971 PS cars with his own eyes. What would be good would be to get 1971 PS tags (and build or order sheets).
As @69CoronetRT says, research continues
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Thanks to @kyle340 we now have info on DM41G0D250507 and DM41L0D217700 -- thank you!
Notice the F1B3 interior trim code for DM41G0D250507 and the F2T5 code for DM41L0D217700. F2 is for an "all vinyl" (as handwritten on the order form) bench in tan color.
F1 and F2 are nowhere to be found in the trim book for the other 1970 Polara models: L1 and L2 are the lowest-price interior codes in the book. The picture I posted early this morning shows what the F1 (cloth & vinyl) rear seat looked like (F1F4 would be my bet).
So we have an additional piece of information about the 1970 A71 Polara Special package.
Notice the F1B3 interior trim code for DM41G0D250507 and the F2T5 code for DM41L0D217700. F2 is for an "all vinyl" (as handwritten on the order form) bench in tan color.
F1 and F2 are nowhere to be found in the trim book for the other 1970 Polara models: L1 and L2 are the lowest-price interior codes in the book. The picture I posted early this morning shows what the F1 (cloth & vinyl) rear seat looked like (F1F4 would be my bet).
So we have an additional piece of information about the 1970 A71 Polara Special package.
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71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
Great post. Thank you.
Do all DM cars code A74?
The answer is no.
Research continues.....
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
Belvidere plant vs Windsor plant.
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
Yup...makes me wonder if the lack of A74 is because it was built at Windsor?
There must be an answer.
69CoronetRT
Senior Member
Is there a broadcast sheet or window sticker to go with the tag?
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
Unfortunately not.
DM23T0R138173 is a 2dr (Windsor-built) Polara Custom, no A74 code on the tag. I think @71Polara383 is making a good suggestion about Canadian cars.
DM23L0F249668 is currently for sale near Aberdeen, MD -- not very far from where she was built. She is a Newark, DE-built Polara Custom 2dr.
Newark is the third plant where Polaras were built in 1970, and -- lo and behold -- A74 appears as one of the codes in the tag posted by the seller. Wyatt's theory still holds. @69CoronetRT @71Polara383
PS: Note that this one is consistent with that observation, too.
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