Musclecar Dealers & Low Production Factory Freaks

[old5.0]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: old5.0</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure why a Six Pack Bee would be considered a freak.

Now, a 440 Magnum Bee? THAT's a FREAK! </div></div>

Why would the 440 Magnum be any more or less of a freak than the 6-pack? 26 440 Magnums were built and 30 6 Pack 4spd Bee's were built. I would say thats apples to apples. </div></div>

Wouldn't the difference be that the Six Pack was &quot;officially&quot; available, the four barrel engine was not? </div></div>

http://www.glenwood76.com/Coronet_Pr...65_76.htm#1971

5 motors available on the 71 bee.
</div></div>

Well, yeah, I'm aware that they built them. IIRC, the 71 Dodge order guide shows clearly &quot;opt. Super Bee&quot; under the 340 Mag., 440 Six Pack, and 426 Hemi. Under 440 Magnum, it says &quot;Standard R/T, opt. S.E.&quot;, with no mention of the Super Bee.

Additionally, I can't recall ever seeing any advertising mention the 440-4, nor can I recall ever seeing a road test of one, while both exist for the Six Pack and Hemi powered variants.

To me, that adds up to &quot;not officially available.&quot;

[442w30]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pilot cars are not the same as factory production. Maybe your confused, were talking about 72 Chargers not 71. </div></div>

A car built after the first day of production could hardly be called &quot;pilot.&quot;

The fact is that there are a few surviving 1972 Mopars built with Six Packs that were built within the first two weeks of production.

[69hurstSC]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: old5.0</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Additionally, I can't recall ever seeing any advertising mention the 440-4, nor can I recall ever seeing a road test of one, while both exist for the Six Pack and Hemi powered variants.

To me, that adds up to &quot;not officially available.&quot;</div></div>

&quot;In 1971, the Coronet name was used on 4 door Sedans and station wagons. The Super Bee continued on with a &quot;W&quot; VIN code designation but was called the Charger Super Bee. The Super Bee was the only car in the 1971 Mopar performance car line up to have five different engine options. Super Bees were made with a 440-4 bbl for a brief time yet it's companion, the Road Runner, did not receive this motor.&quot;

I'm no expert and I know posting information from another source is always subjective, but regardless of you hearing info about availability its obvious that some people knew the 440-4 was an option.

[69hurstSC]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not sure why a Six Pack Bee would be considered a freak.
</div></div>

Because it's a 1972. Official production of the Six Pack/Six Barrel engines ended in 71. But Chrysler initially advertised the motor as available in the 72 model year but then killed it prior to official release, though several early pilot, preproduction cars made it out of the gates and into private hands. </div></div>

Not to drag Steve back into this (OK, maybe just a little) but if hes calling them preproduction and pilot cars than I'm not betting against him.

[njsteve]

If i recall correctly the 72 6-packs were killed due to emissions issues and they couldnt get them emissions certified. Remember, 72 was pretty much the drop dead year for all makes of engines to go to low compression. The 6-pack's 10.3 to 1 comp ratio just couldnt pass the federal emissions tests so they had to kill the optional engine.

[442w30]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I'm no expert and I know posting information from another source is always subjective, but regardless of you hearing info about availability its obvious that some people knew the 440-4 was an option. </div></div>

. . . or maybe the factory built them? The factory has been known to build goofs.

Now back to the '72 Six Pack:

I sent a note to the owner of one of the surviving Road Runners. This is what he said:
<span style="font-style: italic">My Car was built 8 days into production. The 2 Chargers were both very low vin numbers 7 and 46 if I remember right where mine is 5146 or something like that I would have to look at the car to make sure. </span>

[442w30]

You can also see from this bulletin that the engine option had yet to be killed:


http://www.hamtramck-historical.com

[69hurstSC]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 442w30</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can also see from this bulletin that the engine option had yet to be killed:


http://www.hamtramck-historical.com
</div></div>

Good stuff, thanks for posting. As you know Dodge and Plymouth were two different animals. Just look at the fact that 440-4 71 Bee's were built yet no 440-4 Road Runners have been found.

[442w30]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 69hurstSC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Good stuff, thanks for posting. As you know Dodge and Plymouth were two different animals. Just look at the fact that 440-4 71 Bee's were built yet no 440-4 Road Runners have been found. </div></div>

The reason why no 440 Super Commando Road Runners have been found is because they were not built per production records. The 440 Dodge thing was an anomaly, not some renegade Dodge product. It's an issue of marketing because the 440 Magnum Super Bee would have cut into the sales of the Charger R/T with the same engine, which was standard in that model.

There really isn't a circumstance where one engine was available on a Dodge but not a Plymouth. Sure, maybe the 'Cuda had a 340 but the Challenger R/T did not - the 340 was available on the base Challenger - but for the most part they offered the same things.

[69hurstSC]

The 80 1969 Badger Javelins