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Fender tags: What codes did they list, which ones were left off?

The next lines are where I get confused. Looking at build sheets, I see that not all the options that a car has appears on the fender tag

This provides some clarity:

1970 Dodge Charger Registry


Below is an excerpt:


THIRD LINE FROM BOTTOM AND UP TO TOP OF TAG

Again, starting from the left, the first code identifies the roof color or if the car had a vinyl roof. The options in this field will be one of the following:

999 = Special Order Paint (rare)
BL1 = Beige Paint
DY3 = Cream Paint
EB3 = Light Blue Metallic Paint
EB5 = Bright Blue Metallic Paint
EB7 = Dark Blue Metallic Paint
EF8 = Dark Green Metallic Paint
EK2 = Go Mango Paint
EV2 = Hemi Orange Paint
EW1 = White Paint
FC7 = Plum Crazy Paint
FE5 = Medium Red Paint
FF4 = Light Green Metallic Paint
FJ5 = Sublime Paint
FJ6 = Green Go Paint
FK5 = Dark Burnt Orange Paint
FM3 = Panther Pink Paint
FT6 = Dark Tan Metallic Paint
FY1 = Top Banana Paint
FY4 = Light Gold Metallic Paint
TX9 = Black Paint
V1F = Green Vinyl Roof
V1G = Black Gator Grain Vinyl Roof
V1W = White Vinyl Roof
V1X = Black Vinyl Roof

The next code is the beginning of the listing of all the major option codes which will be listed in alphabetical order working left to right on this line and then moving up to the next line, again left to right until you see the code END indicating the end of the option codes. Not all option codes are found on the fender tag, the full listing is found on the broadcast sheet. The following lists the option codes that are known (with proof) to be listed on fender tags if applicable:

A01 = Light Package (standard with Special Edition) Lights (Ash Tray, Glove Box, Map, Trunk, Hood Mounted Turn Signals, Ignition With Time Delay and Head Lamp-On Reminder Buzzer
A04 = Radio Group Package - Music Master Radio, Power Steering, Power Brakes, 3 Speed Wipers (standard with 383 4bbl, 440 and Hemi engines), Deep Dish Wheel Covers (standard with Special Edition) and Left Side Remote Mirror
A31 = High Performance Axle Package 3.91:1 Ratio 8.75 Axle
A32 = Super Perf Axle Package 4.10:1 Ratio 9.75 Dana 60 Axle Auto Transmission
A33 = Track Pak Package 3.54:1 Ratio 9.75 Dana 60 Axle 4 Speed
A34 = Super Track Pak Package 4.10:1 Ratio 9.75 Dana 60 Axle 4 Speed
A35 = Trailer Towing Package
A36 = Performance Axle Package 3.55:1 Ratio 8.75 Axle Auto Transmission
A47 = Special Edition Package - Only Available on XP29 (500 model) and XS29 (R/T model) - Leather and Vinyl Front Bucket Seats, Wood-Grain Sports Type Steering Wheel, Pedal Dress Up, Light Group, Deep Dish Wheel Covers, Wood Grain Instrument Panel (standard on R/T)
A73 = Charger Special Value Package
B51 = Power Brakes
C16 = Console
C21 = Center Armrest/Buddy Seat
C55 = Bucket Seats
G31 = Right Hand Mirror
G33 = Left Hand Remote Mirror
G36 = L & ROutside Racing Mirror Combo color keyed to: EB5, EF8, EK2, FC7, FK5, FJ5 and FY1
H51 = Air Conditioning
J25 = 3 Speed Wipers
J45 = Hood Pins
J81 = Rear Spoiler
L31 = Hood Mounted Turn Signal Indicators
M21 = Drip Rail Moulding
M25 = Body Sill Moulding
M31 = Body Belt Moulding
M91 = Luggage Rack
N85 = Tic-Toc-Tach
N88 = Auto Speed Control
N95 = Evaporation Emission Controls (California Cars Only)
P31 = Power Windows
R11 = AM Radio 2 Watt
R13 = AM Radio 5.5 Watt
R21 = AM/FM Radio
R22 = AM/8-Track Radio
V08 = Paint, Trim and Vinyl Roof Edit Waiver
V21 = Performance Hood Paint Treatment (Black)
V24 = Performance Hood Paint Treatment With Engine Callouts (440 or HEMI in Silver)
V68 = Longitudinal Tape Stripe Delete
V6B = Light Blue Longitudinal Tape Stripe
V6F = Green Longitudinal Tape Stripe
V6R = Red Longitudinal Tape Stripe
V6W = White Longitudinal Tape Stripe
V6X = Black Longitudinal Tape Stripe
V8B = Light Blue Bumblebee Tape Stripe
V8F = Green Bumblebee Tape Stripe
V8R = Red Bumblebee Tape Stripe
V8W = White Bumblebee Tape Stripe
V8X = Black Bumblebee Tape Stripe
Y07 = Built For Canada Specifications
Y09 = Built For Export Specifications
Y16 = Sales Bank Order
Y39 = Special Order
Y93 = Car Show Finish
26 = 26" Radiator​
 
Presuming you have A/C then? I believe tinted would be the default with A/C. What year ('69 by your avatar?) and assembly plant? (they're not consistent throughout)

No AC, it’s a factory black car built in St Louis. Just speculating, maybe black cars got tinted windows. I don’t know…

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View attachment 1414259

On 1970 and later fender tags that I have seen, it looks like they always list the engine, trans and the VIN on the bottom line.
The next line up seems to be exterior color, seats, interior color, build date and a 6 digit number that I suspect is the VON (Vehicle Order Number) ?
The next lines are where I get confused. Looking at build sheets, I see that not all the options that a car has appears on the fender tag. The example above is from a 1970 Charger. It is a base XH model that looked to be very basic.
My red car has no fender tag but I am having one made by a guy that makes 3D printed versions. His have a deliberately different appearance to avoid the impression of fraud. I want to have one made to reflect the equipment that my car has, many of the codes are made up to suit my needs....E95 to denote the 495 engine, D25 for the 5 speed manual, etc.
I'm trying to determine which option codes are expected to be on the tag and which ones they didn't list.
This car is clearly not a clone, a tribute or any recreation of a factory package. This fender tag idea is just for my own fun.

View attachment 1414271
Next Gen Designs
That reminds me, the only Gxx codes that appear on the fender tag are the outside mirrors.

Yours is the G33 Mirror - Outside LH Remote Type Chrome

I'll note here my '70 Charger has the G41 Prismatic Rear View Mirror, but the fender tag does not have G41. However, my broadcast sheet shows the G41 option code. Similarly, my car has the G15 Solex Tinted Windshield, but this option code is only on my broadcast sheet.

________________________________________
Interesting note from the 1970 Dodge Charger Registry:

G21 Clear Glass W/Air Conditioning (1 Known To Exist)

1970 Dodge Charger Registry
 
Everything necessary to assemble the car is on the broadcast. Definitely not every option is on the fender tag.
True. But every 60’s-70’s Mopar I’ve seen over the years has a fender tag for the car. I’ve seen many original owner cars with no Broadcast sheet or one from another car.
 
True. But every 60’s-70’s Mopar I’ve seen over the years has a fender tag for the car. I’ve seen many original owner cars with no Broadcast sheet or one from another car.
Then you have seen many lucky owners. There seem to be lots of missing fender tag complaints. And I feel very, VERY fortunate to have a decent broadcast for my car. (Found in the backseat bottom of a lynch road car).
 
Had a fully loaded 70 Challenger 440 rag top that had a broadcast sheet in it for a /6 rag top car. How many of those were built? Humans built this stuff and lots of them didn't care what ended up inside the cars as they went down the assembly line....
 
Then you have seen many lucky owners. There seem to be lots of missing fender tag complaints. And I feel very, VERY fortunate to have a decent broadcast for my car.
My point was the cars came with a fender tag. Richard Carpenter has an owned from new Black 1970 ‘Cuda 440-6. It didn’t come with a broadcast sheet. A lot of cars didn’t. Most LA cars don’t have them, as his was built there.
 
My understanding is that the broadcast sheets were just trash after the equipment was installed in the car so to keep the assembly line clean, stuff like that was just tossed into the cars.
 
My understanding is that the broadcast sheets were just trash after the equipment was installed in the car so to keep the assembly line clean, stuff like that was just tossed into the cars.
Going to the trouble of inserting it flat in between the springs and foam or folding it up and taping it to the glovebox insert is hardly "tossed into the car".
 
Maybe. It did get the trash stowed away in a more tidy manner than just balling it up and tossing it in the trunk.
Until I read a bulletin from the factory as to what actual protocol was, I'm not sure of what was their true intention.
 
Maybe. It did get the trash stowed away in a more tidy manner than just balling it up and tossing it in the trunk.
Until I read a bulletin from the factory as to what actual protocol was, I'm not sure of what was their true intention.
I have my fender tag but no broadcast sheet. It still had the original seat in it that was never taken out. I’ve seen cars myself with at least 3 broadcast sheets in them and not one even belonged to the car that it was in. Took the rear seats out of my buddy’s 70 Challenger RT/SE and it had two sheets in it and neither one belonged to the car.
 
It’s all about trying to get more “worth” out of a car with broadcast sheets. I got a club flyer or letter back in the mid 80’s from the NHOA. They were discussing the broadcast sheet at the time. There were at least 20 LA built Hemi cars still with the original owners that didn’t have any papers in the cars. So now they are worth less because of it? That was the beginning of the end of fun with these cars.
 
Somewhere there was an article as to how the production line operated, from getting the orders in the system until they came off the line. Don't remember where it was but, probably here on FBBO, but as my car is a code 691 (sold car) the fender tag I'm sure was used to call out the options that the buyer wanted. I was blessed to have the orig build sheet still in the car when I got it. It was in excellent condition.

Screenshot 2023-03-12 090425.jpg


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We would like to believe that there was rhyme or rhythm to how these cars were built and processes that went with that but having been in the hobby for about 45 years I can say with a degree of confidence that Mopar went about things in somewhat of a chaotic fashion. We tend to forget that these were "just cars" which humans built and at the time didn't give a crap about. I have seen and heard about things that should not have been built leaving the factory and being sold.

You have to also remember that plant managers were under the gun to manage inventory and on sales bank cars (arbitrary cars sold to dealers with no specifications) the mangers moved parts which were stagnate such as green interiors and the like. Likewise in some cases they didn't have necessary inventory unhand to build an ordered car such as the case with the N96 E bodies wherein the plant would substitute a TA hood for a shaker on the 70 Challenger because they didn't have the shaker stuff.

Then of course there was the dealer installed stuff which would not be captured on a Broadcast sheet or fender tag. This included the installation of 6 packs, stripes, spoilers, etc. I remember one case in the early 70's a person ordered a 4 speed Challenger but what arrived was a AT car, the dealer converted the car for him (I grew up with this guy and he had all of the documentation about it).

Long story short, love the cars for what they are.
 
I’m on vacation till the 10th.
Only certain options were stamped on the tag, engine/trans/paint/interior/ AC/ lights/ tach/ Special Edition/ power windows/ and others.

If you had H51 AC it would normally have tinted glass,
Special Edition/White Hat and the other packages had standard grouped items.

Front shoulder belts and rear shoulder belts, head rests, power steering, power steering cooler, 6 way seat. Are a few items not normally stamped on the fender tag.

My car for example, has a 6 way seat, locking fuel cap, rear speaker,
Just because they aren’t on the tag, didn’t mean it didn’t come with them.

All of the items on the build sheet, didn’t get put on the fender tag.
The fender tag isn’t a build sheet.
It only carries the important information.
Most stuff like power steering, heavy duty suspension, for example was standard equipment on Chargers.
Each model has its own standard equipment.

Remember, some options were only offered when they released them.
My car wouldn’t have ever had the hood treatment or hood pins, since my car was an early build in 8/68. And the options (hood pins 4/69)came out after 1/69.

There isn’t any way to tell though, if an owner went to the dealer after the options were released, to have them added.

I hope this makes sense.
Let me know, I’d love to help.

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Additionally the various plants stamped the fender tags differently, or better said they seemed to have different priorities when it came to stamping the tags. On top of that there are differences from what seems to be the various people stamping/making the tags as well. Point in case, on a 70 Challenger RT it comes with a rallye instrument cluster as a part of the RT package in which is the tach. One plant (LA) would at times stamp the tag with the code for the tach whereas Hamtramck did not seem to.

Again, these were made by people in the heyday of sex, drugs and rock and roll so anything is possible.
 
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