That is really interesting, Bill - I will check my two service manuals at the shop today. The printing date on the Parts book I am using is "October 1980", so they picked up this situation fairly early. Of course, as is true of all literature, there are errors and omissions, some of which don't come to light for many years. As you know, I play with Studebakers and Packards, and I'm still finding errors in the literature, 50 years later! Sales literature is notorious for showing impossible features and colors, and unavailable options, and this is true for all brands. I have a 68 Imperial which was repainted at the dealer because when it came in it didn't match the magazine ads for the car published in Time and other magazines in October 1967! The buyer INSISTED that the car look like the one in the ad. Mark McDonald has seen another one painted the same way (with a contrasting color band between the lower trim strips above the rocker). I wonder if my friend had to pay them to do that (the original owner was a fellow Packard collector and friend, unfortunately passed away in 1987). Dick Benjamin -----Original Message----- From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Bill Watson Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 1:00 AM To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: IML: IML Year ID question And I am sitting here with the 1981 Service Manual (RWD), and it shows three selections for the second character : B = Dodge C = Chrysler P = Plymouth No "A" is listed The 1982 and 1983 editions show "A" for Imperial. The fifth digit shows "Y" for Imperial in all three editions. And this would not be the only time Chrysler has made errors in their service manuals. The 1967 Dodge car service manuals listed incorrect VIN engine codes. I do not have the parts book for 1981. But, as Dick does, and he has owned 1981 Imperial(s), I would have to bow to his experience and knowledge. So all 1981-1983 Imperials have "A" for the second character. Which does makes more sense, Do not know why Chrysler chose "B" for Dodge. I do know that "E" was used for Fargo trucks (export markets) up to 1987 and then for the Eagle. Chrysler Corporation Vehicle Identification Plate for trucks of the mid-1970's through 1987 (driver's door or post) lists Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto and Fargo trucks. Perhaps "B" was chosen for Dodge to prevent confusion with the DeSoto truck (although I cannot find listing for a Make code for DeSoto). Bill Vancouver, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Dick Benjamin To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 5:41 PM Subject: RE: IML: IML Year ID question My information comes from the parts book for 1981, a copy of which I am looking at as I type. Regarding the second character in the VIN: A is for ImperiAl. C is for Chrysler P is for Plymouth And, B is for? - - - - - - - - - Dodge!?! (Bdodge? Bodge? Blewitagain?) I know Bill Watson is infallible, but something got lost in the translation, I'm afraid. Dick Benjamin -----Original Message----- From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mark and Theresa Elliott Sent: Sunday, January 16, 2005 4:27 PM To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: IML: IML Year ID question The information that I got from Bill Watson a few years ago (when I was building the Imperial Registry), said that an 81 is a "C" and 82 and 83s are "A". I haven't verified this independently. If some one can prove me wrong, please do so, so I can get the Imperial Registry and the VIN decoder fixed. Mark Elliott At 12:46 PM 1/16/2005 -0800, you wrote: >From: "Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: RE: IML: IML Year ID question >Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 17:29:29 -0800 >Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >Um... The second character will always be an "A" for an Imperial. Lesser >cars have lower characters (meaning further down the alphabet, of course, >and not implying a difference in moral fiber at all). > >Dick Benjamin ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm ----------------- http://www.imperialclub.com ----------------- This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm