When did Ma' Mopar start putting door / crash bars in the doors of our cars? I have tried searching for an answer but search overload occurred. Does any one have any solid info?

i think 73 1/2

1970
Look at the inside of an E body....
Also search for "1970 door impact beams"
the Mavericks and Camaros got 'em that year too.

It must be different for B,E and A bodies then. My 70 B body doesn't have them. I always thought 1973, but that might not apply to E bodies. I did read a thread that said later A's had them and IIRC that didn't start until around '73?

Dave

I believe the side impact safety standards were raised in 1972. Side impact beams were mandatory from that date forward. It wasn't a bolt out of the blue. Auto manufacturers knew it was coming. Some models had them earlier than others.

I believe b-bodies certainly had them by 74. I've never seen a true 74 b-body door without them. Having said that, I know that one should never say never! I do have a 73 door for my 74 Road Runner and it does not have the bar. By the way there is a noticeable difference in weight between the two. My 74 Road Runner was built in early Dec of 73. I do not know the date for the 73 door that I have (the one without the bar) so perhaps spank04 is right with mid 73???

Saw one in an april 1970 built t/a just yesterday.

All of the E bodys I've owned and know of(1970 to 1974) had door bars, my 1970 Charger and all of my pre 1973 A bodys did not

73 scamp built 1/73, yes.
72 dart built 10/71, no.

The doors on my 70 Charger are noticeably lighter than most every 70 and newer A body door.

My 1970 'Cuda has them.

Working on a 70 grand Coupe vert that has them, don't know build date. Pretty much all others E's I've seen/owned had them so maybe very early E's didn't.
Never seen them in 71/2B's
Have a 73 Charger built 8/72 does not have them
Have a 73 Satellite built 1/73 that does have them. All my 74B's have them

My '70 'Cuda, built in Oct. 1969, has them.

Sounds like I was right then, the answer to the question is: it depends!


Dave