Lynch Road fender tags to me are unique in that I feel 90% or more of the information stamped into them are codes for Body-In-White and Paint departments. To me it's more of a back up, in the initial welding and "gate" areas, to keep that info from being burned (like a paper broadcast or build sheet would from welding sparks) and to be able to read codes if the broadcast/build sheets get paint or overspray on them. Other plants have additional info like radio, accessories, trim and things that don't require sheet metal that needs to have certain holes or mounts (seats bucket or bench, console or 4-speed, A/C firewall, etc.,) so the Lynch Road Fender tags don't list radios, power steering, power brakes just sheet metal and paint.

The Lynch Road Fender tags do have other stampings on them not in the standard line-item codes an these are commonly referred to as Inspector's or Inspection stamps. Do these stamps identify a specific inspector's identification (person like Bill Smith) or what was inspected like "Yes it has a hole for the radio antenna in the front right passenger's fender" or "Yes the A12 Super Bee did NOT get the holes drilled for the fender call outs", or "Yes the Super Bee did get the holes drilled for the side "air scoops" or etc.,

So are the addition fender tag stamping to identify what was inspected or to identify Inspector "R" or inspector "W" or inspector "Clouseau" ?

INSPECTOR or INSPECTED? "PAINT OK"?

Mike

I have two 1967 St. Louis fender tags and they both have punched holes in them that I've always thought were inspector's stamps.

You mean the stamps represent a certain inspector like a 5 = Bill Smith?

Have no idea what they mean. Here's a picture, one is a "T" and one is an arrow.

My 66 is Lynch Rd.
And I dont have any kind of inspection mark.

None on mine

Thanks. What I'm trying to determine is what specific characters represent as my feeling is these specific characters (i.e., X, R, W, etc., Bid D has a complete list) are NOT assigned to an inspector but are characters that represent either what was inspected and confirmed or that a certain procedure or work was preformed. For instance my A12 Road Runner has belt molding and this means that because Lynch Road fender tags do not list the code for belt molding Body-In-White would need to know to drill the holes on the top of the driver's and passenger's doors and on top of the quarter panel at the base of the quarter glass. Seeing that a paper build or broadcast sheet could be burned by welding sparks did they some how use an addition code stamped onto the Lynch Road fender tags (like maybe an "X")?

I'll start with a 1969 model year B-body Lynch Road Fender tag and start with just one additional character randomly stamped on it and try to find a "common denominator" that would require Body-In-White to perform a task or know what it means. Here is my 1969 A12 Road Runner Lynch Road Fender Tag with the sideways "X". The car has a few more options than the belt molding but if other Lynch Road built cars with belt molding and the "X" stamp it may start to create a pattern what the stamps indicate?

Besides the belt molding my Y4 Spanish Gold A12 RR also has: Power Steering, Power Drum Brakes, Vinyl Roof in Black, All Tinted Windows, Rear Deck Speaker with dash switch that would need a hole drilled for it. A clock that I would think doesn't require anything but installation? There's a history on my car of unusual trim that would require BIW holes to be punched or drilled but that's so far of an oddity that I don't want to explore at this point.

Can someone with an "X" stamp on a '69 LR fender tag chime in with options they might have please?

I will do some digging Mike. The last few days have been very busy for me. Let me spend some time on it and see if a pattern presents itself to support your theory.

D

Thank you D !!

Mike

@A12 My bee is similar to this tag except I have a "D" on the same line as your "X" but on the other end of the line.

With the "D" (most likely sideways laying to the left?) would you mind listing a few options your A12 Bee has that might require a body process that might be needed to be done. Like vinyl roof would require holes drilled in the C-pillar for the trim and that Dodge emblem. Or side scoops which would also need mounting holes drilled, and of course the belt molding if your A12 Bee has it?. Thanks in advance. Did all Super Bees get the wheel well trim like all A12 Super Bees or was it an option on 383's and Hemi Bees?

This should be fun to watch but will most likely end up some random inspector thing. Carry on

Probably right But what always puzzled me was how crisp the Lynch Road stamps were/are and how to me it seemed they were not done by hand or hanging or on the car? It's almost as if they were done on a similar device as the machine that made the rest of the fender tag? No distortion of the tag at the stamp, usually done at either left or right side, the "R" stamp at the upper left smashes the raised groove and somewhat flattens and spreads it like it is done in a small arbor press. Wish we could find an example of those hand stamping tools like the one that punch out or through the fender tag and the tool/press that stamps characters like the "X" on my A12 tag. Just something for the winter blues and something that I've been curious for decades on what was inspected or are they for a specific job to be done in BIW or paint. Why the necessity to have it on the fender tag that is more permanent and visible even if painted over and so it can't be burned during welding. I doubt those stamps were done after Body-In-White or after the car was painted.

I have had a few days to investigate and offer the following. Not what you are going to want to hear Mike. Let’s start by looking at the plant itself and what we know and think we know.

1. There were 32 gates used to produce the bodies.
2. The fender tags were used in 2 areas of the plant, BIW and Paint.
a. In the BIW because of a build sheet being flammable
b. In the paint section due to…well, dipping and paint.
3. The inspector stamps consist of digits 0-9 and letters A-Z not all of which are used.
4. Fender tags at Lynch Road commonly have 2, 1, or no inspection stamps applied. 2 and 1 are most common.
5. There are 16 options for just the 1969 W line alone which require body modifications not including station wagons. This does not consider the various locations for emblems and trim. A broadcast sheet had to be available (not attached to the car) to account for the options not shown on the tag.

Now to the question at hand. Were the inspector stamps tied to any specific option? My answer is no based upon the following analysis.

Looking at the 32 gates, no individual inspection stamp appears exclusively at one gate.
No option noted on the fender tag is exclusive to a specific gate.
No option noted on the fender tag is exclusive to a specific inspection stamp.
Cross reference of inspector stamps with known broadcast sheets does not reveal a tie to any options.

With all of this said, what do the inspection stamps mean? Since there are usually 2 inspection stamps one can surmise, they were a final inspection for each area the tag was used in, the BIW and the Paint area of the plant. This is the only explanation I have based upon the data available.

Perhaps others will chime in.....

D

The D is laying down on the right/clockwise. My options are pretty bare besides the ones that came standard with the hemi (N96, PS, PB) It is a vinyl top car and came w/track pack, 4 speed, other than that no options...I'm ok w/that though. From my research bee came standard w/wheel well moldings.

What percentage of tags got stamped? And then break it down to type of stamp might tell something????????

Big D, wow great research (so far ) and no I'm not sorry to hear anything in fact I'm happy with your (and others) research on this subject and can't wait for more! I think if we continue we may find something as to why those extra characters are on their just like confirming the tags at Lynch Road were not bent and finding evidence (taxi) that the tags were hanging. So with that 69hemibeep brings up another interesting question. And I have one, are or is there a stamped character that is not found on both fender tags of an A12 Super Bee or an A12 Road Runner or even 383/Hemi SB's or RR's? I think that the A12 Super Bees would have two or three processes in BIW that wouldn't need to be done or not done to the Road Runners such as the extra hole in the front fenders for the A12 hood pins and the holes for the SB side scoops and not drilling the holes into the fenders for the 383 callouts which would need to be done on all A12 Super Bees per the special build process I posted decades ago on the A12 Registry. The radio antenna hole in the passenger's side fender would be something required to know but not necessarily in BIW but at the point that the fenders were installed for paint I would think? Now that I think of it the 383 callout holes wouldn't need to be known in BIW but also when the fenders choice was need at assembly. Hmmmm as I typing this it's starting to seem as if the extra characters are for something either in BIW that or maybe paint??? Still very interesting to me what those extra characters are for. I still think they are for identifying a process or job done and not tied to individual inspectors like the stickers on the windshield at the end of the assembly line like these. I don't think the "W" is for William the inspector or "M" for Mary the inspector or Inspector #22 Joe......has to be something inspected and confirmed? Thanks again for your researches Big D and everyone

I was looking at the fender tag for my GTX last night. I'm getting ready to dip it in a de-rusting solution and was gently just getting the dirt off of it. It's almost impossible to read the front of it, but you can read the back pretty well. It looks to me like there is a # 5 laying sideways punched on it. I'm not sure though. Maybe after it soaks it will be more clear.

I was also looking at a fender tag that I took off another RoadRunner that I used for parts (I am going to de-rust that one for a trial run before I do mine.) and that one has a P laying on it's side and is punched high-side on the back of the fender tag. I took some pics of it, but they are on my computer at home. I can post some later tonight.

I forgot last night, so here they are today. These are of the tag from my parts car. Hopefully they show up well. Ok, that didn't work well. Some way, shape, or form I got the picture reversed. I love technology.....I'm amazed at how well the backsides of both tags are vs. the front sides.