Last T&C

[PeugFra]

The car was finished on 7-7-77 and was signed by the assembly line workers in nooks and crannies all over the car.

Again, it's not a question of the highest VIN:

CP46T7D256872 (MDH 070613)
CP46T7D261877

Still, July 6th is not quite July 7th, so it would be interesting to know where that piece of information is coming from.

As the last 1977 C-body left the Belvidere assembly line July 15th, 1977 the dates are well within range.

The first picture of the fender tag is rather unreadible, so if you could could do another shot of that?

standard 440, ESA with cat (California emissions)

The second fender tag says N94 "ESA w/Catalyst", usually associated with Federal emissions. California emissions are associated with N95 "Emiss/Test and Label". Was this car first registered in California?

 

[PeugFra]

Also a picture of the emissions label would be extremely interesting to see.

 

[PeugFra]

The car was finished on 7-7-77 and was signed by the assembly line workers in nooks and crannies all over the car.

Back then 7-7-77 was known as "Seven-Up Day" and created a short-lived buzz. Marriages were preferably planned for that day. That could be the reason why the signatures on the car say July 7th rather than July 6th.

 

[jrdudeman]

Sorry to her about your dad Aaron. He was a good guy, I met him and talked with him at length at several events over the years.

 

[Totally 80's]

I’ll take a

Restoring these can be challenging. You' re rust free, so you have it easy in many ways. Here's mine... Date of Manufacture 4-77.

View attachment 319152

That’s a great color! Nice car!!

 

[Totally 80's]

Sorry to her about your dad Aaron. He was a good guy, I met him and talked with him at length at several events over the years.

Thanks. He really loved all things Chrysler and did a lot to promote the company. This wagon cane at the high point of his involvement and brings back a lot of good memories for me.

Aaron

 

[Totally 80's]

Again, it's not a question of the highest VIN:

CP46T7D256872 (MDH 070613)
CP46T7D261877

Still, July 6th is not quite July 7th, so it would be interesting to know where that piece of information is coming from.

As the last 1977 C-body left the Belvidere assembly line July 15th, 1977 the dates are well within range.

The first picture of the fender tag is rather unreadible, so if you could could do another shot of that?



The second fender tag says N94 "ESA w/Catalyst", usually associated with Federal emissions. California emissions are associated with N95 "Emiss/Test and Label". Was this car first registered in California?

When I toured Belvidere to watch my ‘96 Neon being built, it was clear the the build date was set before the car went through the paint shop... because the data tags were painted with the body. A car painted on the afternoon of 7-6-77 would be finished on the 7th. The 7-7-77 date is hand written in several places on top of the paint... so I have no question when it was finished.

As for the emissions... I saw esa with cat and figured it was ca emissions. I know the car was delivered in Detroit. California emissions of the time were awful and made the cars run terribly so, knowing my dad, he had it built as a 49 state car. I remember it always wearing those CA plates... but the car was three months old and had 5,000 miles on it by the time it got here. In other words, a used, out of state car. There were a lot of ways to skirt the California emissions regulations back then. My dad was the type who would have done that.

Aaton

 

[PeugFra]

Don't get me wrong, I am in no way trying to invalidate your claims. I am just trying to understand the circumstances that made your car come about.

... it was clear the the build date was set before the car went through the paint shop... because the data tags were painted with the body.

If you mean the fender tags, absolutely yes. But I couldn't read the Scheduled Production Date in your pic. What does it say? A pic with more contrast would help.

There were a lot of ways to skirt the California emissions regulations back then.

This is the second time I encounter a 1977 Town & Country from a region where they were not supposed to be available per the sales brochure. The first one was "from Colorado mountains". That one also had N94 on the fender tag. So I am starting to think that there was some work-around to get Town & Countrys registered in those regions.

That's why we need to get to the bottom of this. For a start, could you take a pic of the emissions label?

 

[Totally 80's]

Here are the pics:

Aaron

 

[1978 NYB]

Here are the pics:

Aaron

View attachment 319722

There should be a sticker on the top of the fan shroud with a color coded schematic of the emission hose plumbing with N94 or N95 on it.

 

[Totally 80's]

Here you go!

 

[PeugFra]

So it's a regular Federal emissions sticker, thanks!

Due to the condition it is in, the fender tag remains hard to read. I got this:

1st tag:
L31 L35 L81 M15 M45 CTD
G63 H53 J67 J68 J83
A16 A35 C58 G01 G11 G25
EW1 U ??? A01 A06
EW1 D8T7 K?? ??? ??????
E85 D36 CP46 T7D 256872

2nd tag:
Y14 END
P41 P44 S53 S54 S61
M91 M95 N88 N94 P31
CP46 T7D 256872

Could you read off the missing data in the second and third rows from below and correct possible errors in my transcription?

 

[Totally 80's]

1st tag:
L31 L35 L81 M15 M45 CTD
G63 H53 J67 J68 J83
A16 A35 C58 G01 G11 G25
EW1 U ??? A01 A06
EW1 D8T7 K?? ??? ??????
E85 D36 CP46 T7D 256872

2nd tag:
Y14 END
P41 P44 S53 S54 S61
M91 M95 N88 N94 P31
CP46 T7D 256872

 

[Totally 80's]

I can't read those either. I think the K?? is K18. K refers to stripes, so it has to be the vinyl wood siding. I can't read the others either. it's a soft stamping and the paint is thick.

Aaron

 

[PeugFra]

Thanks for trying.

K?? is in the slot for Upper Doorframe Color, so I guess it reads KT8 for Chestnut. The codes for the upper doorframe color are undocumented as far as I know, but Chestnut goes with the D8T7 Trim Code. I have the combination D8T7 KT8 on record for a 1975 T&C.

The slot following on K?? contains the Scheduled Production Date that more often than not differs from the actual production date (MDH).

One more line up, following on the single U and before the package codes start, is a slot with a code I am very much interested in. I am inclined to read "101", but I'm not sure.

 

[noah300g]

Rapid Trans,

This is my 65 Valiant V-8 convertible. I bought it as my first car in 1983. It had 16,000 miles at the time. Now it has about 45,000 miles on it. Lots of cars have come and gone throughout the years, but the Valiant has always been my favorite. The T&C will be an easy project and a part of the family.

Aaron

View attachment 318990

 

[noah300g]

I just recently looked at a 65 Valiant convertible with 273 motor that is available for sale in the Boston area. Pretty clean car, but I've been in large, powerful, Chrysler 300's too long. The car seemed like it had too much power steering and not enough brakes or horse power. I was tempted to get it and make a one of none 65 Plymouth Barracuda convertible out of it, since it would be a simple grill and valance swap, plus a couple of badges. My 'C' bodies are all 375HP cars with power brakes, and I really wanted something small, nimble, fun to play with, but the Valiant just didn't do it for me once I got behind the wheel. It had the 180HP 273 in it, and it seemed to run fine and not blow any smoke, but just didn't accelerate the way I hoped it would. The brakes were not spongey at all, but manual drums really needed to be stepped on hard to bring it down to a stop compared to my bigger cars. I really wish the car had worked out, but it would have needed too much to bring it up to standards I could be comfortable with. Trans was fine, but engine needed much more power (maybe upgrade to the 235HP 273 configuration?) and a conversion to power brakes with front discs, but I didn't want to put that much money/time into it.

 

[Mid70's Chrysler Fanatic]

Here's a fresh picture of mine (there are others on FCBO). It was soaked from rain, so that is why the Di-Noc looks so beautiful:

In between rain showers, subtropical heat/humidity, and work, I'm fixing my late Dad's Y2K Dodge Caravan to get it back on the road. It was his final vehicle; he was pretty much "Mopar or no car."

Wow that’s an amazing story. My condolences on he loss of the Dad, my Dad passed last February.. I miss him dearly. Hang on to that Wagon!! I have dad’s truck, drive it often.. I feel him with me all the time. Anyway! Your in the right place for info on the Wagon. Dig into some of the forums we have, great info and details.. keep us posted with your progress and keep the pictures coming.. thx

My most frequent driver is my girlfriend's '95 Dakota that I acquired after she passed away. When I first heard Lee Brice's song "I Drive Your Truck," I mistakenly thought it referred to the narrator's wife/S.O. until I listened more carefully. An autobiographical error, I suppose.

 

[Mid70's Chrysler Fanatic]

When I toured Belvidere to watch my ‘96 Neon being built, it was clear the the build date was set before the car went through the paint shop... because the data tags were painted with the body. A car painted on the afternoon of 7-6-77 would be finished on the 7th. The 7-7-77 date is hand written in several places on top of the paint... so I have no question when it was finished.

As for the emissions... I saw esa with cat and figured it was ca emissions. I know the car was delivered in Detroit. California emissions of the time were awful and made the cars run terribly so, knowing my dad, he had it built as a 49 state car. I remember it always wearing those CA plates... but the car was three months old and had 5,000 miles on it by the time it got here. In other words, a used, out of state car. There were a lot of ways to skirt the California emissions regulations back then. My dad was the type who would have done that.

Aaton

Where do you find the day of manufacture? Mine was built in February 1974; it and I share the same "birth month."

I remember being disappointed to learn that the '77 C-wagons weren't sold in California or elevations over 4,000 ft. In my boyhood home state of Colorado, very few counties (not mine) "qualified."

 

[PeugFra]

Where do you find the day of manufacture? Mine was built in February 1974

If your car has a door sticker, look for MDH (Month-Day-Hour) in the lower left corner. For the T&C under discussion it's 070613: