Hi there.

Im wondering if anyone here can help me out.

As you probably already know, Im from Malaysia, and I have a 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible.

My problem is the car registration card has some wrong infos:

Car Manufacturer : Dodge (Correct)
Car Model : Custom (WTF!)
Year of Manufacture : 1966 (Correct)
Engine size : 3687cc (The car has the original engine, and its a 170ci (2.8L) not the 225ci (3.7L)
VIN : LH27A69****** (According to the VIN, "A" is for 170ci which is the engine that is in the car. And the VIN number on the car and the card are the same)

My problem is trying to convince the local DMV (who knows NOTHIN' about Mopar) that they made a mistake and that the reg card should say "Dart 270 Convertible" and the engine size should be "2786cc".

All I have rite now are the "Service Manual" which says that "A" is for 170ci, the VIN Decoder program (off the net, which I dont think they would believe anyway), and the engine number itself, which is 170 11 24.

They would need some sort of a letter/email from the "Authorities" i.e. Chrysler saying that the engine in the is per factory and the engine size should be 2.8L instead of 3.7L.

Who should I write to? I dont think Chrysler would even wanna listen to my problem...

Any ideas?

PS: Sorry for the long post. Hope you get what Im trying to say.

Syed
Malaysia

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Cars: 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible,
1990 Alfa 164 Twin Spark
1980 BMW 735i 5-speed

http://www.weddingcar4u.blogspot.com/

Around here asking to change a registration is tantamount to pissing in yer own corn flakes. ....more trouble than its worth.......

In Canada your car model might well have been a Custom 200.

If the VIN matches the facts I would leave well enough alone.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Syed may be taxed on engine displacement… Smaller is less punitive.

Second symbol in vin = price class. USA or domestic, not for export vehicles, had the following designations:
E= Economy, M= Middle, H= High, S= Special, and P= Premium

In USA your 270 would have M as second symbol I believe. Export and or vehicles built off shore may have used different coding for price ranges from US coding.

Also these codes were changing every few years in mid to late sixties before a standard format was developed.

Dan can probably enlighten us about this detail.

Bill

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Hi Bill,

You are rite about the tax thingy. Over here, we are required to pay "road tax" which is based on engine size, and it goes up exponentially above 3000cc (185ci) or so.

If the reg card says 3.7L, I would have to pay about US$1,600 per year in road tax (which is more than 1-month salary for most of us here).

If it was 2.8L, I would only have to pay US$550 per year.

Thats $1,050 in saving every year for gasoline etc.

I just hate paying more than im required to, especially that its not even my fault.

As for the L, M, H, and P on the VIN, the '66 Service Manual says 170 = L = Low, 270 = H = High, and P = GT = Premium.

Thanks.

Syed

_________________
Cars: 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible,
1990 Alfa 164 Twin Spark
1980 BMW 735i 5-speed

http://www.weddingcar4u.blogspot.com/

There was no "M" for the A-bodies. L for Low, H for High, P for Premium. Also no difference between domestic and export coding of this detail.
Mmm...nope, the VIN format in question was fully implemented in 1966 and remained the same through (and past) the 1976 end of A-body production.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

This information was gleaned form: “3ed Edition Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Price coding apparently as listed included other bodies in addition to A Bodies.

I know that the vin length changed by 1982, as my Lebaron’s is longer, and has more info imbedded.

Perhaps I was thinking of the late fifties & early sixties vin numbers as being in transition, or was it fender tag lay-out.

Well anyway, sorry for the bum dope.

I can see some government servant taking advantage of someone on engine displacement years ago when your mother had the car:

Oh, Mrs. X is it a six cylinder in that giant decadent beast?

Oh yes, a six…

Ok than, 225ci = 3.7l … Rubber Stamping sounds emanating in the background. Very good Mrs. X, that will be an arm & a leg; please fork it over at the window down there... And you’re good to go mam.

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Yup.
Yup. 1981 was the first year for the industrywide standardised 17-digit VIN in North America.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

The only people that may be able to help me out, I think, is the Walter P. Chrysler Museum here: http://wpchryslermuseum.org/newsroom.do ... 35&mid=146

But it says in the website "The Collection does not have build records relating to Jeep®, AMC or Canadian-built vehicles." and my car WAS built in Windsor, Canada

_________________
Cars: 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible,
1990 Alfa 164 Twin Spark
1980 BMW 735i 5-speed

http://www.weddingcar4u.blogspot.com/

Probably why the model is Custom. Your car looks like a Canadian Custom 200.

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Hi Syed, if you're completely stuck, and bearing in mind the taxes you will have to pay, it may be easier to have the cylinder volume measured with fluid, by a certified workshop/research facility/university.

If you can arrange it in forehand, so that it is witnessed by a public notary or some other person pre-recognized by the authorities, they should accept the findings - especially if you do two or more cylinders.

My 2¢.

Olaf.

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Aspenized

Says on the VIN plate too (Made in Canada)

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Cars: 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible,
1990 Alfa 164 Twin Spark
1980 BMW 735i 5-speed

http://www.weddingcar4u.blogspot.com/

This is the reply I got from Chrysler Canada:

"Dear Mr. Alsagoff

Thank you for your email of November 1, 2011.

Regrettably, vehicle history information for this model year is no
longer available. As such, Chrysler cannot provide the information on
your 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible.

We suggest that you contact Mr. Ken McGee regarding your inquiry. He has
an extensive collection of antique and special interest car and truck
manuals and may be able to help you. A fee may apply. His contact
information is as follows:

Ken McGee Holdings Inc. 519-524-5821
442 MacEwan Street
P.O. Box 464
Goderich, Ontario N7A 4C7

order: 1-888-275-2666
web: www.kenmcgeeautobooks.com
e-mail: hurontel.on.ca"]kenmcgeebooks[at]hurontel.on.ca

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to review this matter with you.

Sincerely,

K. Owen (Ms.)

Customer Care Manager
Chrysler Canada Customer Care"

_________________
Cars: 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible,
1990 Alfa 164 Twin Spark
1980 BMW 735i 5-speed

http://www.weddingcar4u.blogspot.com/