VIN Door Decal Month Determination

[cudahook]

My 1971 BH has the following VIN numbers: 102123. My door VIN decal is missing and I'd like to replace it. The car is missing the fender tag and I don't have a build sheet. I'm not looking for the actual build day, just the month for the new door decal.
The original 318 engine was an August 17, 70 build and the trans is July 17, 70. Just for reference, it has the last-gen 1970 deck lid and non-crumple hood. I tried searching for similar close VIN numbers and most came up August, but none were real close. Would it be reasonable to assume the original door tag was August 1970?
Does anyone have a close VIN and provide the build month? I know there were variables in VIN assignments, I'm just trying to get a fairly confident approximation.

 

[Challenger RTA]

Mopar - Decals
look on the front of K frame. That's about as close as you can get if it's there.

 

[EW1BH27]

You ask the guys at ECS Automotive Concepts too. I'm pretty sure they were helpful narrowing down the month on my 1970 when all I had was the VIN also.

 

[cudahook]

Mopar - Decals
look on the front of K frame. That's about as close as you can get if it's there.

View attachment 128665

I did have a look previously, but nothing to be found with the two coatings of KBS on it. It will probably be worth the effort to sand it down, though. Thanks!

 

[cudahook]

You ask the guys at ECS Automotive Concepts too. I'm pretty sure they were helpful narrowing down the month on my 1970 when all I had was the VIN also.

Hey, I never thought of that. If they keep any records they just might be able to assist. Appreciate the tip!

 

[Chryco Psycho]

In 70 my was 112XXX & was built sept 2 69 so I would bet on Aug

 

[pschlosser]

In 70 my was 112XXX & was built sept 2 69 so I would bet on Aug

it different at each plant, too.

 

[pschlosser]

My 1971 BH has the following VIN numbers: 102123.

If we knew the letter in the VIN, just before the sequence number, we will then know which plant it was built at, and better estimate the build month using the sequence number.

 

[cudahook]

If we knew the letter in the VIN, just before the sequence number, we will then know which plant it was built at, and better estimate the build month using the sequence number.

Good point! It was a Hamtramck build (B).

 

[Cuda Hunter]

BH23G1B102123 Is that correct?

I have a BH23C1B126*** born on 909.

BH23G1B104681 is 812.


Unfortunately you will never know the actual date unless you locate FT, BS or factory paperwork.
There are Other 71 BH's in vin ranges that have different VON's and have later actual SPD's. No telling where your car will lie. Take as many dates as you can off the car and make an educated guess. Get that K frame number as well.

 

[DetMatt1]

Back when I lived and breathed this stuff a lot more than I do now I would have confidently said that the non crumple zone hood did not make past January 1st 1970…

 

[cudahook]

BH23G1B102123 Is that correct?

I have a BH23C1B126*** born on 909.

BH23G1B104681 is 812.


Unfortunately you will never know the actual date unless you locate FT, BS or factory paperwork.
There are Other 71 BH's in vin ranges that have different VON's and have later actual SPD's. No telling where your car will lie. Take as many dates as you can off the car and make an educated guess. Get that K frame number as well.

Good info, that adds more useful pieces to the puzzle. Yep, K frame is on the "to do" list. Thanks much for your input!

 

[cudahook]

Back when I lived and breathed this stuff a lot more than I do now I would have confidently said that the non crumple zone hood did not make past January 1st 1970…

I can't say that I have found a definitive answer to that. I've heard anything from April 1970 to them being early early leftover installs on 1971s, which could be the case of mine as an early build. Even though I feel it is, I can't say with full certainty that it's original, either.

 

[pschlosser]

I think the Body Code Plate (fender tag) and the Broadcast (build) Sheet have the "scheduled" (SPD) production date on it, but not the actual (APD) date. And in many cases, this will be pretty accurate for the "actual" production month/year found on the VIN sticker, but not always. Special Order vehicles often have a bigger gap between scheduled and actual production dates.

If the K-frame is the original one for the car, the date code stamped there typically matches the actual APD production date (month/year).

If I were to make a guess and estimate the production month, I would favor its 09-1970 or 10-1970.

My notes show a build sheet for a BS23H1B1007XX with an SPD of 08-07-1970.

102123 is a pretty low number, suggesting only a few thousand cars have rolled off the assembly line. How long might it take to build 2000 cars starting in August 1970? a few weeks, more or less?

I understand the engine build date is usually around 2-6 weeks prior to the actual production date.

 

[Mr Cuda]

LA was known for building 300 a day.
I think hamtramck was twice that or 600 per day. That gets it to 3or4 days past the 8-7-70 build date mentioned.
I have a car that deserves no tag, has no tag, but might get a door sticker, 100725.
How close are we to 100xxx?

 

[Cuda Hunter]

But all these numbers mean just about nothing without the actual proof. The car could have a unique VON which delayed the SPD by months. Difficult to tell. Plus, how would you know if the K frame is the "actual" original K? I can remove a K in a day and put another one in on the next day. I'm slow, I'm no mechanic.
I would want to have absolutely every date on every piece of that car to even try to determine the SPD.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

No 71s were built in LA , Only Hamtramck

 

[Cuda Hunter]

Awesome car by the way!

 

[MoparCarGuy]

Early 1971 BH fender tags from August 1970. You cannot guarantee that your 102123 was built in August but it is most likely an August production date.
That Door VIN decal date should be 8 - 70.
Production was past 114XXX (over 12,000 cars above your sequence number) by the end of August.

 

[Culvers]

101088 is 807
102141 is 808
so I think there should be August on the decal