Body number issue

[Builderguy]

To someone who knows about this stuff:

I can't make any sense of these body numbers. The car is an original one owner (title in hand is dated 1974) 1973 RR 400 4-speed from Canada. Anyway, both the rad support and the cowl body numbers are the same, only problem is they don't match the VIN. The stamping for both is R5 899086 Which should be from Canada, 1975 the 799086 car scheduled for production. I know they didn't make this car in 1975 and that they didn't make 700K back then. The VIN tag on the dash is fine but is a 2 instead of an 8, the title has it as a 2 also.
Anyone know why the body number would be off?

 

[flypaper]

one digit on the vin is different?
its probably just a factory error

 

[Builderguy]

Hung over Monday, it should read R3 299086. Just trying to clarify before I sink some $$$ into a restoration. I think it is just an error as you say, but the next buyer may need some more facts. I does have a partial (what's left of it) build sheet but is missing the areas that would have relevant numbers on it.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

I have seen several cars that are similar to what you describe. I have seen cars with no body codes etc. Anybody with knowledge of mopars will understand this. As you say, that body style did not exist in 1975.

 

[beanhead]

Unless they changed methods in the 70s, the numbers won't match the VIN... It's coded differently..for example here is my 68 VIN:

The stamping on the cowl support, as you can see only certain numbers from the VIN are included...( sorry it's upside down LOL )

(G8R2I9086)

As I understand, it's so law enforcement could ID stolen parts/vehicles... The factory never dreamed motorheads like us would be trying to match pieces together 50 years later haha

 

[hunt2elk]

19

Unless they changed methods in the 70s, the numbers won't match the VIN... It's coded differently..for example here is my 68 VIN:
View attachment 615387

The stamping on the cowl support, as you can see only certain numbers from the VIN are included...( sorry it's upside down LOL )View attachment 615388
(G8R2I9086)

As I understand, it's so law enforcement could ID stolen parts/vehicles... The factory never dreamed motorheads like us would be trying to match pieces together 50 years later haha

1969 and newer, the last 6 of the vin should match the body stampings.

 

[beanhead]

19


1969 and newer, the last 6 of the vin should match the body stampings.

Okay so my year was the cutoff for the old system, got it... Thank you for that info!

 

[R/T Boy 67]

1968 body codes were a one year only deal. They differed slightly from 1967 and prior, and totally from 1969 and up.

 

[eldubb440]

Okay so my year was the cutoff for the old system, got it... Thank you for that info!

your stampings will match your fender tag, not the VIN...… both numbers appear on the build sheet