1961 Shriner Imperial ?

["Bill Watson" <wwatson@xxxxxxxxx>]

The data plate was not a static layout.  Over the years it has changed and
expanded along with the growing list of options, be they engine,
transmission, rear axle, wheels, tires, wheel covers, seats, radios, tape
players, etc., etc.

I have a copy of a 1953 tag and it, too, has "SPL-FO" on it.  It is for a
car built for the American market, so I am inclined to believe it stands for
"Special - Foreign Order".  The tag also has Model, Paint, Trim, Shed, Item,
the body number and 12 letters for options.  I was not sure when Chrysler
dropped the "SPL-FO" heading, but according to your observations, it must
have been for 1959.

However, there is no "SPL-FO" listing is on the 1960 tag, which is similar
in layout to the tags used through to 1968, which does have "SO NUMBER"
instead.   And unlike the "SPL-FO" number, there is something entered under
"SO NUMBER" on all cars.

The 1960-66 tags all had "SO NUMBER", "BDY', "TRM", "PNT" (or something
similar) along the bottom row.   The VIN did not appear on the tag.  And the
same information appeared on the broadcast sheet, and again not the VIN.
Many unibody cars had the SO NUMBER stamped on the radiator crossmember,
hidden by an antifreeze sticker.    The 1967 and 1968 tags still had the
same numbers, but there were no headings.  Starting in 1969 the tag had the
VIN on the bottom line and the SO Numbers above.   My 1983 Imperial tag has
that layout.

If you look at a broadcast sheet, the numbers used under the "SO NUMBER" on
the tag appear on the sheet under the heading "Shipping Order".    The first
group of digits is separated from the remainder of digits, just as on the
data tag.   (The heading became "Vehicle Order Number" in the 1970's.)

I own an LA-built 1962 Dodge Lancer GT with an "SO NUMBER" of "1006 3074".
When I stripped the interior I never found a broadcast sheet, but I did get
the build order from Chrysler Historical.  It is an IBM punch card, and in
the top right hand corner of the card the numbers "1006 3074" are printed.
The box is titled - "Shipping Order No."  On the lower section, the same
numbers are punched in a section labelled "Shipping Order Number".    It was
shipped to McCoy Dodge, Inc. (Worthington's Dodge City), North Hollywood, CA
on October 10, 1961.

The later IBM punch cards are labelled a little different.  The broadcast
sheet for my 1978 Dodge Monaco Brougham shows a "Vehicle Order Number" of
"526 D35355" while the punch card has the "526" under heading "S.O. Date".

So, if you see a Chrysler Corporation data tag with "SO NUMBER" on it, rest
assured, it stands for "Shipping Order Number", and the first group of
numbers is the Scheduled Build Date.

As for the "SCHED" and "ITEM", I am not sure.  Somewhere in my pile of stuff
I do have some information on the tags of the 1950's, and an interpretation
of those headings.  However, I cannot for the life of me find it.  Will keep
looking until I dig it up.  Someone said "SCHED" stands tor the scheduled
build date, but how do you explain the previously mentioned 1953's SCHED of
150?  I don't think they had 50 days in January in 1953.

Bill
Vancouver, BC


----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Walker" <walker@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bill Watson" <wwatson@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Imperial Club" <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2002 5:41 PM
Subject: Re: IML: 1961 Shriner Imperial ?


> Hey Bill,
>
> Are you sure about the 'SO'?
>
> The reason I ask is that on 1957 Data Plate, there is an SO/FO entry,
which
> is FOSO on the '58 Plate. This is blank on all 57-8 Imperials except for
> Export vehicles (Foreign Order) and Ghias (?Special Order). Interestingly,
> there is no such category on 1959 plates.
>
> Also, on 57 plates, there is an 'ITEM' category consisting of 4 digits;
and
> on '58 plates, 'ITM' with 3 digits. These don't seem to be in sequence, or
> be related to date/serial#.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Bob
>
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Bill Watson <wwatson@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  > Date: 12/25/2002 5:28:54 PM
> > Subject: Re: IML: 1961 Shriner Imperia
> >
> >
> > "SO" actually stands for "Shipping Order".
> >
> > The "0902" is the date the car was scheduled to be built - September 02
> > (1960)
> >
> > The "0902" plus "8517" form the Shipping Order Number.
> >
> > The VIN's sequential production number "102299" is very low - the
2,299th
> > car off the Warren Avenue assembly line.  (1959 to 1961 Imperials were
> built
> > at the old Graham/DeSoto plant on Warren Avenue and not at Jefferson.)
> >
> >
> > Bill
> > Vancouver, BC
>
>
>
>