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1972 Road Runner V code cars.

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 10:41 pm
by 1972RM23
I posted this over on Moparts but thought I would post it here too if any member here doesn't visit Moparts.com


1972 Road Runner V code cars.

The reason I'm posting this topic is to explore the theory that the was a second V code car built and it was the 1972 Road Runner press photo car.

There is only one know 1972 Road Runner V code car (Mopars member Larry D's car)
I will post pictures of it here (I'm assuming that it's OK to post these pictures since Larry posted them here and on other Mopar forums before ... if not let me know and I will delete them).
Here is Larry's known Road Runner RM23V2G105346
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Also the known 1972 V code cars to exist are:
WH23V2G10006 (red)
WH23V2G100075 (yellow)
RM23V2G105346 (red)

Here are my thoughts on the 1972 Road Runner press photo car.
Enclosed color picture of the red exterior and red bucket interior press car.
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This car is a E87 440+6 4-speed manual trans car.
See enclosed road test of this car.
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The press photo car was photographed around mid-April 1971at Chrysler proving grounds (leaves on trees just stating to sprout and grass is growing).
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This is WAY before the first car production for 1972 model year on 1 August 1971 (I.E. the first know 1972 E87 car WH23V2G100006 built on 1 August 1971).
Also notice photographs in the road test article (with the Cricket) were taken much later in the summer (leaves on tree etc.)
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These photos were for release to the media before the 5 Sept. 1971 new car announcement.
The car is probably a 1972 proto-type model with a 1971 drive train.
Note the all red interior that was never offered in a 1971 or 1972 b-body.
Probably a test mock-up of styling designs.
The car has all 1972 exterior body panels and bumpers (with bumper guards).
Notice the standard Road Runner hood call outs are the plain reflective silver ones used on 1972 400 4v cars.
No 440+6 call outs anywhere or GTX emblems that were found on all 440 equipped 1972 RR/GTX optioned car.
Larry’s car (I believe he said) had them.
This car has short style decorative exhaust tips used with resonator mufflers found on 440+6 cars.
This car is a 440+6 console 4-speed car … see interior photograph.
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All of my factory info says that 4-speeds were excluded from being an option on E87 cars.
(Note: Galen says all 1972 440+6 cars built were automatics.)
E87 (440+6) engine shows up in the 1972 Option and Accessory report breakdown but no percentage given which mean less than 1/10% made (less than 7 Road Runners for 1972).
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The photos of the engine bays in both articles are not the same engine bays.
One is from the 1971 Road Runner press photo car (EV2 440+6 car with standard hood and 440+6 hood insert call out that can be seen).
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The other is from this 1972 Road Runner press photo car.
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The engine bay have different batteries, brake reservoir caps, ignition wires, the 1972 bay is very dirty for a press shot I.E. road tested car … anything else different about them can you see?
Notice the writing on the power brake booster and battery.
The writing on the battery says “CAR # 065”
The writing on the power brake booster says “CAR ???”
Is there electronic ignition on these engine shots?
1971 style washer bottles.
Horn in the wrong place for 1972 Road Runners.
There is no kick down linkage for this car in the engine bay photo (a 4-speed car).
There is no fender tag or ever holes were it would have been screwed down to the fender well (pilot car).
This a 1972 Road Runner proto-type with a 1971 440+6 drive train?
Then is it a 1972 Road Runners with a 1972 vin number?
Do all Chrysler cars; including pilot, test and proto-type car get vin numbers to keep track of them?
I do not think this is RM23V2G100065 since it was built way before Aug. 1971 to be included in the sequence numbers.
What does “Car #065” mean?
Seems strange that there were a few built the first week of production (first built 8/1/71 and last built 8/7/71) and then no more were built by the September cancellation of E87 engines for 1972 production.
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Maybe up to 7 built of 1972 production placed in Chargers and Road Runners.
I’ve heard stories of people ordering 1972 E87 440+6 engine and when they were delivered they were E86 440 4v engines (with GTX emblems for the 1972 Road Runners).

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 2:20 am
by Eric
Great stuff! I notice both engines have the 70 and early 71 valve covers (no raised circle on the drivers cover front).

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:52 pm
by Alaskan_TA
The engine photos with the car 065 crayon marks are from a road test originally done on a 1970 Challenger. They must have used the old photos for the newer article.

Barry

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:53 pm
by 1972RM23
Thanks for that info!
I really need to find a engine bay press photo then to make positively sure it's this Road Runners engine bay then.

Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:11 pm
by Alaskan_TA
Edited photo just in case anyone does not know?

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:37 am
by 1972RM23
Proof from Moparts on the engine bay being from a 1970 Challeger 440 6 pack.
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Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:07 pm
by Eric
Alaskan_TA wrote:Edited photo just in case anyone does not know?

Barry
71 B bodies I'm familiar with don't have a bump out, was this an E body only thing for 71? Attached is what a normal 71 drivers inner fender looks like

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:44 pm
by landon1
i was gonna say....i don't have the "bump" either...it's flat...a mid-year change possibly?

Battery "Bumps"

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:48 am
by 72Rdrnner
Here's a pix I took when I was doing and A/C "fit up".

Shows the "bump" and the nut plate where the battery hold down bolted to the inside fender wall. There were also two "j" bolts. The outer one went through a hole in the side just below the "bump" and can be seen with it's own rounded top "bump". The inboard "j" bolt went through a hole in the battery tray.

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:21 pm
by Eric
So it would appear on B bodies the changed happened for 72

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:25 pm
by mopar71
10.3 to 1 compression! I thought the compressions were more like 8.20 to 1 in 72? Oh,thats with a 4bbl. :oops:

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:05 am
by 71440 gtx
landon1 wrote:i was gonna say....i don't have the "bump" either...it's flat...a mid-year change possibly?

yes in 1971 may :beer:

Re: 1972 Road Runner V code cars.

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:06 am
by beepbeepTyler
Id love too see a police interceptor of the present with a 440-6 in it! Great post!

Re: 1972 Road Runner V code cars.

Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:53 pm
by mopar boy
Article on 72 road runner 440+6 in MCG set. 2012 issue. Larry D's FE5 red car.

Re: 1972 Road Runner V code cars.

Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2012 9:48 pm
by 1972RM23
1972 Road Runner press car color photographs


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