General Category => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: TylerRon on January 16, 2006, 03:54:06 PM
Title: Can Someone Tell me how to Decode Build Plate?
Post by: TylerRon on January 16, 2006, 03:54:06 PM
I have just done a complete authentic restoration on my 1964 Plymouth Sports Fury (High-Performance 383 4-speed), which was purchased brand new in Tyler, Texas in 1964.? I would like to decode the build plate so I will know when , where and how many SFs were made with these options.
Can someone tell me who I need to contact.? I need this information as soon as possible as I am preparing to show the car in the next month.?
Thanks much -
Ronny Anderson Tyler, TX
Title: Re: Can Someone Tell me how to Decode Build Plate?
Post by: Jim Benjaminson on January 18, 2006, 01:24:57 AM
Ronny - decoding the VIN plate is not going to tell you how many cars were built with the particular options you mention on your car. If any information is available, it will problably be that "X" percentage of cars were equipped with the 383, "X" percentage with four speeds., etc. Probably the most knowledgable person for decoding VIN plates is Galen Govier of Prairie du Chen, Wisconsin. He has a website and charges for his services. I don't know how much info he has on the early VIN plates - his specialty is the muscle cars of the late 60's and early 70's
Title: Re: Can Someone Tell me how to Decode Build Plate?
Post by: POC-Admin on January 18, 2006, 12:50:28 PM
There were 23,695 Sport Fury hardtops and 3,858 convertibles built. You will have to dig much deeper as Jim said to find out how many were four speeds and how many had HP-383's in front of them. Be prepared to pay for this.
By the way, you should have de-coded your fender tag BEFORE you restored the car. The Fender Tag and the broadcast sheet tell you what your car came from the factory with and when and which plant it was assembled in. There are on-line sites to decode that information from the fender tag. I have also added some basic tag information at this link on our site.
http://www.plymouthbulletin.com/tagdecode.htm
Title: Re: Can Someone Tell me how to Decode Build Plate?
Post by: TylerRon on January 18, 2006, 02:28:25 PM
First of all, let me say a big thank you to Jim and to POC Adm for the great pointers. I plan to contact Gavin Govier
And I do have the fender tag broadcast sheet. Do you have any of the online sites that could help me with the decoding? I am so glad to find this site and look forward to joining and meeting some of the good Mopar guys in the club very soon.
Ronny Anderson
Title: Re: Can Someone Tell me how to Decode Build Plate?
Post by: POC-Admin on January 19, 2006, 05:11:02 PM
Ronny,
I have Galen's book that covers the 1964 line - you can purchase one yourself at his site or if you can get a decent scan of your broadcast sheet, I would be happy to decode it for you. There are a lot of 1966-and up sites but I have not found any pre-1966 decoder sites. If you can scan it, email it to me -