The Naming of E Body Styles
#589629
01/20/10 11:57 PM
01/20/10 11:57 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 711
San Francisco
dilvoy
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 711
San Francisco
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Ok. Please check this short 1971 Plymouth advert out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vezBAOe-HKY It mentions Sports Coupe, Hard Top and Convertible. I had always thought that the "Coupes" had vinyl tops, "Hard Tops" Had a painted roof and of course Convertibles had a lowering roof. However I have been told over the years by Many people that anything that wasen't a Convertible was a Hard top. These were people that were into Mopar cars as a hobby too. Is this just an E Body thing in regard to mopars and vinyl and painted tops and was a different naming used for other years of E Body production? I know this is not earth shaking info, but I'd like to know.
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Re: The Naming of E Body Styles
[Re: dilvoy]
#589633
01/21/10 10:01 AM
01/21/10 10:01 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,165
Florida
cataclysm80
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master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,165
Florida
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The A93 Coupes (barracuda coupe & challenger deputy) didn't show up until half way through the 1970 model year, so you probably won't find much reference to them in a 1970 book unless it's a very late printing of the book.
I agree with what was said above about the coupes being cars with a B pillar where the back windows don't roll down. The 3rd & 4th digits of the VIN on mopar coupes are usually 21. E bodies are the exception to this rule. The E body coupes were planned to have 21 in the VIN, but for some unknown reason they were actually made with the standard 23 hardtop VIN and the A93 coupe option package instead. Maybe this was because E bodies don't have a B pillar? E body coupes were made from mid 1970 to the end of 1971 production.
As I mentioned above, the hardtop mopar cars use 23 as the 3rd & 4th digits of the VIN. Hardtop cars do not have a B pillar, and both front & rear side windows roll down. Hardtop cars are generally considered to be "cooler" to cruise around in than a coupe. This is because you don't have a B pillar blocking other people from seeing you. It's all about being seen in your car so that people will associate you with your cool car. Convertibles are even "cooler" than hardtops because when the top is down everyone can see you.
Convertibles obviously are cars that have the top come down. The 3rd & 4th digits of their VIN is 27.
The SE Challengers have 29 as the 3rd & 4th digits of their VIN. This is due to the smaller rear window. The SE Challenger was never available as a convertible. It is known as a fastback, & also a sports hardtop. Personally, of the two, I think sports hardtop is more accurate because the roofline itself did not change any. I've also heard the SE car called a notchback, but I'm not sure where that term comes from.
I think this terminology holds true from about the end of WWII until present day. Before that, it was coupe vs. sedan instead of coupe vs. hardtop. They also had tudors and foredors, roadsters, cabriolets, and touring cars. Alot of terms came, went, and were redefined in those earlier days. Sometimes that still bleeds over into today from the hot rod sect.
Tav
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Re: The Naming of E Body Styles
[Re: scatcity]
#589635
01/21/10 02:20 PM
01/21/10 02:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
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Too Many Posts
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Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
With no hijack intended, what was the reasoning behind the no roll down rear windows in the Challenger Deputy & I think the Western Sport Special. A cost saving measure on 2 regulators and window cranks? Then just plug the hole in the cover panel?? Personally I think it's pretty cool by looking back at this but, who & why would want a car with this "option"?
In all the years(35) I have owned and driven E bodys, I can't ever remember winding down the rear side windows. So I don't think it would matter to me if the rear windows wind down? 
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Re: The Naming of E Body Styles
[Re: scatcity]
#589637
01/21/10 03:48 PM
01/21/10 03:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,324
St. Louis, Mo
318 Stroker
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,324
St. Louis, Mo
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Quote:
You have me beat by 5 years on the ownership thing but if it's nice out, I always drive my E & B bodies with all the windows down all the time...To each his/her own I guess..
 I've had my 73 Challenger for 36 years now, and if the weather is nice enough to roll the fronts down, the rears always come down too. I like the looks of the car better with all 4 windows down... 
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Re: The Naming of E Body Styles
[Re: 318 Stroker]
#589639
01/21/10 05:25 PM
01/21/10 05:25 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
You have me beat by 5 years on the ownership thing but if it's nice out, I always drive my E & B bodies with all the windows down all the time...To each his/her own I guess..
I've had my 73 Challenger for 36 years now, and if the weather is nice enough to roll the fronts down, the rears always come down too. I like the looks of the car better with all 4 windows down...
Yes I hear you guys and your right, back in the 70-80s my cars didn't have AC anymore and I bet I rolled them down, expecially in a black 72 that I had. Was just thinking for the last 10 years both of my cars have had AC and I use it all the time during the summer even if I cruise with the window down. So I haven touched my rear windows in quite some time. 
Criused Reno Nv last July/Aug for 4 days and nights in my 74 challenger hardtop, AC sure was nice, almost necessary to enjoy the ride. Drove almost 300 miles while I was there during 95 degree days, my windows stayed up.
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Re: The Naming of E Body Styles
[Re: Challenger 1]
#589640
01/21/10 05:48 PM
01/21/10 05:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,324
St. Louis, Mo
318 Stroker
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,324
St. Louis, Mo
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
You have me beat by 5 years on the ownership thing but if it's nice out, I always drive my E & B bodies with all the windows down all the time...To each his/her own I guess..
I've had my 73 Challenger for 36 years now, and if the weather is nice enough to roll the fronts down, the rears always come down too. I like the looks of the car better with all 4 windows down...
Yes I hear you guys and your right, back in the 70-80s my cars didn't have AC anymore and I bet I rolled them down, expecially in a black 72 that I had. Was just thinking for the last 10 years both of my cars have had AC and I use it all the time during the summer even if I cruise with the window down. So I haven touched my rear windows in quite some time.
Criused Reno Nv last July/Aug for 4 days and nights in my 74 challenger coupe, AC sure was nice, almost necessary to enjoy the ride. Drove almost 300 miles while I was there during 95 degree days, my windows stayed up.
Gary, your Challengers are SWEET...
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Re: The Naming of E Body Styles
[Re: scatcity]
#589642
01/22/10 12:49 AM
01/22/10 12:49 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,165
Florida
cataclysm80
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,165
Florida
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Quote:
With no hijack intended, what was the reasoning behind the no roll down rear windows in the Challenger Deputy & I think the Western Sport Special. A cost saving measure on 2 regulators and window cranks? Then just plug the hole in the cover panel?? Personally I think it's pretty cool by looking back at this but, who & why would want a car with this "option"?
The windows in the western sport special cars DO roll down.
In addition to the lack of rear window regulators, the coupe cars had other cost savers like vinyl floor instead of carpet, no cigar lighter, only 1 horn instead of 2, and a standard rear view instead of the prismatic day/night version the other cars had, etc...
Tav
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