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Special Order does not exist.

Just the drivers side door was like that.
 
The only plausible scenario I can see here is that the car would’ve been ordered with a 340, and the intake and carbs would’ve been aftermarket or NOS from a dealership stockpile. It would not have been a T/A motor, just a 340 with dealer installed intake and carbs.
 
Curious as to why the salesman would bother to explain the Z VIN code to the buyer.

...and I almost bought one of those 67 Hemi Satellites, three times.

Complete with two letters from Chrysler stating-

1: ...all 1967 B body cars equipped with the 426 were GTX models..."

and

2: "...there were approximately 5 1967 Satellites produced with the 426 engine option".

...so I am a believe, to a degree of the existence of a few unicorns.

However, the preponderance of evidence suggests the 67 satellite 426 story has more facts that align rather than the only evidence being a personal account about a car that never got the order finalized.

Just for grins, I'll throw in a personal new car order story or two.

In 1991, one of my acquaintances had just purchased a new Shelby Daytona, ordered in 1990.
At least it was ordered as a Shelby.
During the process, Dodge stopped building Shelby packages.
It was delivered as a CS but with a Shelby valve cover and Shelby graphics.

It is one of two known to exist.

Around that same time, I was considering buying a new Dakota.
The Shelby Dakota had a v8, but all others were v6.
I liked the convertible and asked the dealer if I could order a convertible with a V8.
I was told they would look into it and get back to me.
After about a month I was told that they were redesigning the front end and the V8 would be available without special order.
Of course they stopped making convertibles at the same time.
I always wondered had I pressed them, if I'd have been able to spec my own unicorn.
 
beat horse.gif
 
1967 Coronet R/T???

Sorry, I meant B body Plymouth cars.

They guy that turned me on to the car the first and second times, quoted me the letters, and also bought that Daytona was Greg Rager, former editor of Mopar Muscle magazine.

He will confirm both stories.

Would have been great to have a car and a letter from Chrysler claiming they didn't build it, and than another "oops, yes we did" letter.
 
I don't doubt that the OP was told what he is saying, however we seem to think or act like the salesmen were all knowing and all powerful. If you ever worked at a dealership you know that salesman are just that "salesman" and most don't know what they don't know and will do anything to get a customer to buy a car (order one or out right buy one). Car salesmen were (are) a lot like military recruiters, they will pretty much tell you whatever you need to hear to get you to buy a car because their paycheck/bonus is tied directly to that sale.

In this case, I suspect that the salesman was trying everything he could to get a car ordered. Whether he called someone or not is debatable bc I sincerely doubt the local salesman had the hot line to a plant manager or anyone in the plant that could make any type of commitment as to a vehicle build. That said, I suspect he told the OP that he did exactly that in an effort to get a sale put in hoping that when the car came in he could convince the OP to go through with the sale despite not having the 6 pack. That said, (and what I suspect) I do believe the salesman went to the parts counter and asked the parts manager if he could order in a 340 6 pack intake figuring to make it into what the OP wanted. The part about the Z in the VIN was far outside the salesman's ability to make happen and IMO he was just making **** up (as they are apt to do all the time).

Mopar is wonderful in the fact that there were/are so many unique vehicles and it is almost impossible to say something did or didn't come with this or that, however there are limitations as we all know, i.e. you could not get a Superbird wing on a Challenger.. Now, if this car was 71 I might believe it potentially possible, but 73? I am pretty sure that all of the 340 6 packs (TA/AAR) motors were long gone. However, they probably were available through Direct Connection (parts).

Its a great story and one that I believe is rooted in truth, but to link this to actual production cars is a mistake. While Mopar did many wild things, there were limitations. We all know that they put 440 6 packs into station wagons as well as some Hemi's, made RT Challengers but without the RT designation (A66 cars), had some funky bottom scoop on some Cudas, etc. Colors were a whole other issue and anyone that has spent time in this hobby will know that Mopar put some wild and at times completely mismatched color combos together (once had a black 72/3 Challenger with a dark green interior, ugly).
 
I don't doubt that the OP was told what he is saying, however we seem to think or act like the salesmen were all knowing and all powerful. If you ever worked at a dealership you know that salesman are just that "salesman" and most don't know what they don't know and will do anything to get a customer to buy a car (order one or out right buy one). Car salesmen were (are) a lot like military recruiters, they will pretty much tell you whatever you need to hear to get you to buy a car because their paycheck/bonus is tied directly to that sale.

In this case, I suspect that the salesman was trying everything he could to get a car ordered. Whether he called someone or not is debatable bc I sincerely doubt the local salesman had the hot line to a plant manager or anyone in the plant that could make any type of commitment as to a vehicle build. That said, I suspect he told the OP that he did exactly that in an effort to get a sale put in hoping that when the car came in he could convince the OP to go through with the sale despite not having the 6 pack. That said, (and what I suspect) I do believe the salesman went to the parts counter and asked the parts manager if he could order in a 340 6 pack intake figuring to make it into what the OP wanted. The part about the Z in the VIN was far outside the salesman's ability to make happen and IMO he was just making **** up (as they are apt to do all the time).

Mopar is wonderful in the fact that there were/are so many unique vehicles and it is almost impossible to say something did or didn't come with this or that, however there are limitations as we all know, i.e. you could not get a Superbird wing on a Challenger.. Now, if this car was 71 I might believe it potentially possible, but 73? I am pretty sure that all of the 340 6 packs (TA/AAR) motors were long gone. However, they probably were available through Direct Connection (parts).

Its a great story and one that I believe is rooted in truth, but to link this to actual production cars is a mistake. While Mopar did many wild things, there were limitations. We all know that they put 440 6 packs into station wagons as well as some Hemi's, made RT Challengers but without the RT designation (A66 cars), had some funky bottom scoop on some Cudas, etc. Colors were a whole other issue and anyone that has spent time in this hobby will know that Mopar put some wild and at times completely mismatched color combos together (once had a black 72/3 Challenger with a dark green interior, ugly).

There may be a small bit of truth to his story, but how much is lost to time. I agree, salesmen will do just about anything to make a sale. However, I do have an instance where a factory rep was involved in the sale of a car.

In 1970, my Dad wanted a Roadrunner, and must’ve told a coworker lady about ordering one. She told him that her husband was a Chrysler exec, and to go to the dealership and order up what he wanted and bring a copy of the order back to her and she would give it to her husband, who would oversee the construction of the car. He did, and according to my Dad, his car was “followed” down the line. His order was a 70 6bbl convertible 4 speed car, so it was already a rare car in a sea of other cars built at the Lynch Rd. plant. What makes his story more than just a myth is the fact that it was no ordinary build. Now, my Dad was not mechanically inclined, we did not have a garage, and we lived in a small flat, so the car sat outside. My Dad did not even so much as turn a wrench on this car, except to raise the torsion bars up when he took it to the drag strip. Long story short, he was runner up at the PHR Summernationals in 1970, running in E pure stock. Included is a Picture of his time slip, and one of the car with his runner up trophy, with the torsion bars still cranked up. In an era when these big B bodies were running respectable high 13’s, the time slip shows that this was no ordinary car. An astounding time for a convertible to boot. How?? I’m convinced that there was indeed intervention from the higher ups at Chrysler, of course maybe not to the level my Dad remembers, but the time slip doesn’t lie.

ECDCE0E7-02FE-40AF-A00E-D6FF0FF15A18.jpeg 4994C3B6-3BF4-4185-8208-D1D332B98D02.jpeg
 
That was 1970 and not 1973. It was also expressed by Tom Hand many years ago that these engines where not normal to standard production and where installed at the engine shop due to their limited numbers. I have no reason to question Mr Hands knowlege after all he was there.
 
Yeah that story makes perfect sense and is entirely plausible. Let's put it in a different context, suppose your dad went that same route but wanted a 392 Hemi (not a 426), those motors were out of production and thus would have not even been possible. This is the same analogy we have here with a 73 getting a 340 6 pack.

Back in the day I remember the legend of the "white hat" engines and cars. The legend was/is that some cars (or engines) were essentially hand built by engineers in clean rooms. Some say this was done to test the engines, others say these engines were pulled from production, torn down to check quality but then were meticulously rebuilt and put back on to the line, others say the engines (and in some cases cars) were basically hand built either for marketing purposes or because someone of importance ordered the car. I have no doubt that same of this did happen (probably at all of the manufacturers) but I absolutely am certain that some engines dramatically out performed their brethren.

I once bought a 68 Charger RT, 440 4bbl, AT that was well used. However, that car exhibited signs that it was constructed better than others, everything fit exceptionally well, all the lights actually worked, and the drive train was outstanding. I don't remember how many miles were on the car but in stock form, I street raced the crap out of it and never lost. That car would spin the tires through 2nd gear all day long. Now, I readily admit that I don't know what gears were in the car which would have had a distinct effect but that car just was "right", more so than I have ever seen on another classic Mopar.
 
Yeah that story makes perfect sense and is entirely plausible. Let's put it in a different context, suppose your dad went that same route but wanted a 392 Hemi (not a 426), those motors were out of production and thus would have not even been possible. This is the same analogy we have here with a 73 getting a 340 6 pack.

Back in the day I remember the legend of the "white hat" engines and cars. The legend was/is that some cars (or engines) were essentially hand built by engineers in clean rooms. Some say this was done to test the engines, others say these engines were pulled from production, torn down to check quality but then were meticulously rebuilt and put back on to the line, others say the engines (and in some cases cars) were basically hand built either for marketing purposes or because someone of importance ordered the car. I have no doubt that same of this did happen (probably at all of the manufacturers) but I absolutely am certain that some engines dramatically out performed their brethren.

I once bought a 68 Charger RT, 440 4bbl, AT that was well used. However, that car exhibited signs that it was constructed better than others, everything fit exceptionally well, all the lights actually worked, and the drive train was outstanding. I don't remember how many miles were on the car but in stock form, I street raced the crap out of it and never lost. That car would spin the tires through 2nd gear all day long. Now, I readily admit that I don't know what gears were in the car which would have had a distinct effect but that car just was "right", more so than I have ever seen on another classic Mopar.
I once owned a beater 4 door '70 Oldsmobile Cutlass green on green that was bone stock being that I saved it from the bone yard that was ready to crush it. I knew the bone yard operator fairly well and he had picked up the car from the original owners widow himself. The original owner was an executive at Oldsmobile and had it since new, ordered through his own hands and calls.
This car flat out ran like a scolded junkyard dog. It too would fry the tires through second gear. Automatic. It was a 350 Rocket two barrel engine that surprised a lot of relatively stock Rats and Mice on the street. It had all the creature comforts of the day and it idled with a little bit of a rump. The AC worked flawlessly and everything else. The only bump it had was that the body was rusting around it, but I'll never forget it because I walked away from a horrific head on accident with it while wearing no belts and the Nurse who was driving the other car, not only had an elbow compound fracture while wearing her belts, but she asked me out on a date. I guess we met by accident and I didn't accept the offer. She was high as a kite.
 
Some cars just work like many other mechanical devices. I worked in the firearms industry for many years (still do to a degree) and I have seen the same thing with them. I once discussed this with one of our engineers and he said it was all about tolerance stack. Everything is built to operate within certain tolerances, however when components are both on one side or the other issues and problems occur.

I once had a buddy that worked at our local Plymouth dealer and he told me that back in 69 they got in 2 nearly identical 69 Roadrunners; both had 383's but one was a AT and the other a 4 speed. He told me that he and another mechanic took them out one day and raced them, he said the 4 speed just walked all over the AT car. He went on to say that they switched several times and that the 4 speed car was vastly faster than the AT car and he thought the both had similar rear gears. He tried to buy the 4spd car but it was ordered by someone.
 
There may be a small bit of truth to his story, but how much is lost to time. I agree, salesmen will do just about anything to make a sale. However, I do have an instance where a factory rep was involved in the sale of a car.

He did, and according to my Dad, his car was “followed” down the line. His order was a 70 6bbl convertible 4 speed car, so it was already a rare car in a sea of other cars built at the Lynch Rd. plant.

Thanks for sharing. Great times for that car.
One minor detail...convertibles were built at the St. Louis plant.
No intervention would have been necessary. Anyone could have walked into a dealership and ordered a 70 RR convertible 440-6 four speed.
 
My Uncle's nephew had a sister that knew a guy that ordered this Volare in 1978. He had to call the factory to get them to put a 440 in it.

View attachment 927758

Kern Dog is just getting warmed up folks......hehe.
1973 Dodge Charger with 340 6 pack does not exist. Really? I sat in the Dodge Dealership with a dream car in mind. I talked to sales man but was told I could not get a 6 pack that year. I was upset and said thank you. I stood up and was leaving. The sales man said wait. I sat there and waited as he called the factory and found that they had a 340 6 pack available and he said they would put it into the car and put a Z in the 5th digit of the VIN showing that the engine was a special order engine. He told me that you would have to look at the paperwork to see what engine was put in it. I ordered it, but later i cancelled the order. But i have some members on this site that must have been sitting in the empty chair beside me that said everything i have said was a lie. So since you were there, what Dodge Dealership was i sitting in? If you can not answer that, you have a mental problem. Please stop disagreeing with stuff that you do not know. Just admit your wrong and move on.


Robert, not to keep the thread alive....did you ever explain why you cancelled this order? I know some on here don't care to believe that this could possibly happen, but I'd never put it past a salesman worth his salt, who would sell his granny to a Turk......so, having said that, why would you have cancelled such a beast? Gas crunch?
 
Thanks for sharing. Great times for that car.
One minor detail...convertibles were built at the St. Louis plant.
No intervention would have been necessary. Anyone could have walked into a dealership and ordered a 70 RR convertible 440-6 four speed.

well, my post wasn’t meant to corroborate anything other than the fact that some kind of “factory” intervention was possible. In the case of the OP’s story, I still stand by my theory that it would’ve been ordered as a 340 car, and as mentioned above, would’ve had the 6 bbl intake sourced from the parts counter or Hustle Stuff catalog to appease the customer.

as for all convertibles being built in St. Louis, I don’t know anything about that. Now, according to my Dad....

“since Colony had a racing program, and he had connections, they dyno’d 5 different motors and put the best one in his car”. Of course, this is also coming from his memory that the car he ordered was such a good idea, that Chrysler decided to build 50 more. We all know that’s not true, but Dad loves to tell it that way. Mom did enlighten me to the fact that yes, he worked with a girl named Donna whose husband was a big shot at Chrysler, so I know that part is probably true. And he wasn’t bullshitting that he raised the torsion bars to transfer weight to the rear end, as the picture shows. I also contend that the time slip doesn’t lie, that car was over a second faster than any other “stock” 6bbl car at the time, so something was done between the order and delivery that is now lost to time! Dad has been known to spin a yarn or 2, but some facts seem clear now that accurate info is available in the hobby.

He also contends that he can tell his car from one particular detail. When I asked him about it, he told me that the K frame edges were completely welded all the way around, and looking at my car, mine is not. So somebody took a little extra time on his car!
 
I believe your story but the salesman lied to you, it’s done all the time. When he saw you where leaving, they’ll do anything to get you back. Besides whatever regular car came in he could sell.
 
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