Jim's Road Runner

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Feb 21, 06 11:33 am

Oh God.. I just read Blue's earlier post! - This Beeper already has a modern Radio/CD player, - 'makes a change to have good sound in a Mopar! - Only the 3" Flowmaster exhaust system is so deafening it's hard to hear it anyway.

Seriously, the problem with rare original cars is how to have fun. I don't get enjoymnet out of polishing a car and keeping it wrapped up in case someone touches it. My Hemicuda has loads of power, but is so valuable I don't even drive it now. - I took it out once last year, - for an MOT, then put it away again. Where's the sense in that? My Challenger convertible is gorgeous, Richard Ward has restored it beautifully and I do enjoy driving it. The 340 makes good power and the car looks great and goes well.

But neither of those is bringing out the kid in me anymore. I am going to have a ball in this Road Runner. At last a fabulous car that I can take sideways down the street and scare the life out of myself and everyone around me.

Like I said, - I can't wait!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Feb 21, 06 11:48 am

Well said Jim well said! I understand exactly where you are coming from, and as far as driving the cuda to the MOT station and back as its only outing for the year - you cant be criticised for that.

A rag top e body for high days n holidays, a decent B bod for being the hooligan, a hemi cuda just because, and a corvette for.... er, well..... hmm..... help!!

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Feb 21, 06 12:12 pm

Why not.....?

Actually there's not much I can do about it. I am a car nut, - and that's that! While I am physically able, I will have cars. I love old Mopars best, - God knows why; compared to modern cars they are crap to drive. But that doesn't really matter does it?

You only live once.
I intend to spend most of my 'once' with a big grin on my face.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 21, 06 3:08 pm

Hi Jim. Going slightly off-topic here but seeing as your convertible has been mentioned...

Great feature on your Challenger in Classic American by the way.

I was wondering though. How come it hasn't got any R/T badges on it?

Most of the A66 convertibles I have seen got R/T badges even though they are not R/T cars. Any sign that yours ever had them?

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Feb 21, 06 3:30 pm

Hi Dave, I am sure you know A66 cars were not R/T's. Any R/T badges were put on by owners.

I always wondered why the 340 Challenger was not an R/T. The 340 was an R/T in everything except the badges and black grill paint.

This goes for the T/A and AAR too:

The AAR Cuda has a BS VIN
The T/A Challenger has a JH VIN

They put this right of course for the 71 model year and made all 340 Challengers R/T's, and gave them JS VIN's.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 21, 06 5:03 pm

Well Jim let me educate you on this point.

You will actually find that almost all 1970 340 package convertables (and some JH hardtops) came off the Hamtramck production line with R/T badges on. We know they are not R/Ts but it seems the production line people didn't. Or maybe they had a reason for it?

In fact out of the dozens of 340 convertibles I have details on now I have not found one that didn't get the badges. Which makes yours odd.

I have heard of another one or two withou badges but only third hand so I can't be sure.

So if yours did have badges and you removed them you need to think about putting them back on!

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Feb 21, 06 5:16 pm

Ah David.... I have to bow to your superior Challenger knowledge. But i must say i am sceptical. Perhaps dealers or original owners fitted R/T badges? Maybe they figured it would look good with them, (after all, 340's had the R/T bonnet). What does Galen have to say about it?

I am absolutely certain that my car never had R/T badges. When i got the car it still had all it's original paint and emblems, - not an R/T badge in sight. If others why not mine?

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 21, 06 6:04 pm

I think your car escaped maybe because of the side moulding Jim. Just a thought. But I would like to know. I will toss that theory out there and see what comes back.

We have gone over this lots of times on my message board. I keep getting 340 owners asking how come there were no 340 R/Ts when they own one?
All the convertible owners we could find among our 1000 challenger owners and all the rotting ones in yards people found for me all had the badges.

The only 340 cars we have found without badges are the few WSS 340 cars we have discovered. And Galen has always said they don't exist.....
Come to think of it the WSS cars have side mouldings too.

There was a 340 convertible on the front cover of Classic American once you might remember. Yellow I think? That had the R/T badges too.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 21, 06 6:09 pm

Sorry. I lost my line of thought there. Getting nagged by the wife.

The WSS cars have nothing to do with the convertibles. Don't know why I mentioned them?

Anyway. We have found a few hardtops that came with R/T badges too. These are documented cars.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 21, 06 6:24 pm

I have a LA build 340 hard top that came with flat hood and a V8 badge on the fenders like the 318s.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 21, 06 6:29 pm

Just working my way though my notes.

All (the 340 package cars that came down line 2 at hamtramck I have details on got the R/T badges. Including hardtops. I think I have some information somewhere on hardtops made on line 1 that didn't get R/T badges.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Feb 21, 06 6:31 pm

JH23H0B236709 is a 340 H/T that does not have any RT badges. But it DOES have a side moulding like yours Jim.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Feb 21, 06 7:15 pm

Slaves to the tag ....

But interesting none the less

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Wed Feb 22, 06 8:58 am

Really sorry for hijacking this thread boys.

I just have one more question for you Jim. Does your Challenger tag end with EN1 or EN2?

I have a theory that certain options sent a car down one line rather than the other. If your tag ends with EN1 then that would be interesting to me.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Wed Feb 22, 06 10:08 am

Dave. You say the R/T Emblems on '70 340 cars are documented. Where? - on the broadcast sheet.?

Here's my Challengers fender tag: