Aero Warriors - SuperBird Fender Tag Decoding

About This Site

Clubs

Essays

Home

Pictures/Videos

Quiz

Racing Statistics

Table of Contents

What's New

SuperBird Fender Tag Decoding
By Ken R. Noffsinger

This page is intended to provide a basic understanding of the SuperBird data tag which is located on the driver's side inner fender, under the hood, near the battery. The explanations that follow are correct for a typical SuperBird tag (if there is such a thing), but as with your mileage, your fender tag may also vary. If you know of a fender tag which is somewhat different than the one described below, don't panic! Much of what is found here will still be applicable, and you should feel privileged to have discovered an especially unique piece on an already very unique car.

A significant portion of the information presented here is from an excellent article in a recent issue of the Daytona-SuperBird Auto Club's monthly newsletter. Aero Warriors gratefully acknowledges the Club's contribution to this effort.

A fictitious fender tag has been created below. It will be examined one line at a time, with the line of current interest highlighted in orange.

15135 178240

112 083 676

V19 V88

EK2 P6XA TX9 B30 J98876

E74 D21 RM23 R0A 181256

The five digit number at the beginning of the first row
(unique to each car, and in this case, 15135) is known
as the Gate Number. This number is followed by a set
of six digits (again, different for each car, and here they
are 178240) which is close to the Assembly Plant
Sequential Number (the last six digits of the Vehicle
Identification Number, found in row six).

15135 178240

112 083 676

V19 V88

EK2 P6XA TX9 B30 J98876

E74 D21 RM23 R0A 181256

The first set of numbers in row two (112 is found here)
indicates the type of engine/transmission combination
that came in the car. The different number sets which
can appear are:

112 426 8-bbl, Four Speed 113 426 8-bbl, Automatic
114 440 4-bbl, Four Speed 115 440 4-bbl, Automatic
122 440 6-bbl, Four Speed 123 440 6-bbl, Automatic

The second set of three digits (083) identifies the type
of rear axle. Possible codes are:

052 Chrysler 8 3/4", 3.55:1 Ratio
083 Dana 9 3/4", 3.54:1 Ratio

The third group of three numbers (676) indicates the type
of transmission found in the car. The three digit codes
that can be found are:

670 440 4-bbl Automatic
671 426 8-bbl Automatic
672 440 6-bbl Automatic
676 426 8-bbl Four Speed

15135 178240

112 083 676

V19 V88

EK2 P6XA TX9 B30 J98876

E74 D21 RM23 R0A 181256

SuperBird fender tags should always show a number 26
here. This refers to the 26 inch radiator found in all
SuperBirds.

15135 178240

112 083 676

V19 V88

EK2 P6XA TX9 B30 J98876

E74 D21 RM23 R0A 181256

The fourth row begins with the code V19, indicating that
the car had special order black vinyl roof material. Some
early production SuperBirds may read V1X here. Next
is V88, which deletes the Transverse Sport Stripe that
would normally run above the taillight panel of a Road
Runner. Also, cars with a console should show a C16
code in this row.

15135 178240

112 083 676

V19 V88

EK2 P6XA TX9 B30 J98876

E74 D21 RM23 R0A 181256

Row five begins with a code set (EK2 for this car)
identifying the SuperBird's exterior color. Available
colors were:

EB5 Blue Fire Metallic EK2 Vitamin C Orange
EV2 Tor Red EW1 Alpine White
FJ5 Limelight Green FY1 Lemon Twist Yellow
999 Corporation (Petty) Blue

Next is the four character code indicating the type and
color of the interior. The possible combinations are
as follows:

H2XW White Interior, Bench Seats
H2X9 Black Interior, Bench Seats
P6XA Black Interior, Bucket Seats
P6XW White Interior, Bucket Seats

The three character code group signifying the upper
door frame paint color is up next. It should be TX9
for black interior cars and EW1 for white.

B30 is the code revealing the car's scheduled
production date of November 30, 1969. All SuperBirds
show B30, although they were not all manufactured
on that one day. The B designates the month of
November, with 30 referring to the 30th day of that
month.

Finally, there is the six character set called the
Vehicle Order Number, sometimes referred to as the
J-Number. Apparently, this number can be used to
identify where a particular SuperBird falls within
the total number produced. J-Numbers for SuperBirds
start at J97000, and run to somewhere above J99000
(numbers above J99000 seem to occur most often on
Petty Blue cars). In the case of a SuperBird wearing
the fender tag illustrated at left, it would be the
1,877 car produced. This number is arrived at by
"subtracting" the first J-Number, J97000, from the
number on the tag (here it is J98876), and then adding
one to the result (because the first car was J97000,
not J97001).

15135 178240

112 083 676

V19 V88

EK2 P6XA TX9 B30 J98876

E74 D21 RM23 R0A 181256

The sixth and final row of the fender tag begins with an
engine designator code set. Possible codes are:

E74 426 8-bbl
E86 440 4-bbl
E87 440 6-bbl

The next letter/number data set designates the
transmission found in the SuperBird. The two choices
are:

D21 Four Speed
D32 Automatic

Finally, there is the serial number (also known as the
Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN) and this should
match the one found on the driver's side of the
dashboard, close to the base of the windshield. R
identifies the SuperBird as being part of the Mid-size
auto series. M is the price class - Road Runner.
2 is for the number of doors, and 3 identifies the
body type, which in this case is hardtop. The fifth
character is the letter indicating the engine, and
can be one of three: U for a 440 4-bbl, V for a
440 6-bbl and R for a 426 8-bbl. The number found
immediately after this is 0, which is the last digit of
the model year (1970). Next up is the letter A,
indicating the assembly plant where all SuperBirds
were made, Lynch Road. The last six digits make up
the Assembly Plant Sequential Number, which begins
each year at 100001. The SuperBird sequential
numbers appear to fall at various points in a range
between 149789 and 181274 inclusive.

A more in-depth reading of your fender tag can be provided, for a fee, by Galen V. Govier. Exact fender tag reproductions are also available if your tag is rusted or missing (other substantiating evidence of the car's identity must be provided). Galen can be contacted at gvgovier@mhtc.net, or you can visit his home page at www.gvgovier.com.

More information about Lynch Road fender tags can also be found here: www.andy440.com/tag2.htm.