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Just the drivers side door was like that.
1: ...all 1967 B body cars equipped with the 426 were GTX models..."
1967 Coronet R/T???
1967 Coronet R/T???
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 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.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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.