“CONRAC”

70/6chall · November 07, 2022, 02:32:49 PM

Maybe the e-body enthusiasts on the forum can help me out with a puzzling question I have. I have a friend who lives a couple of blocks over from, my wife and I have known his wife and him for about 40 years now. He has owned a 1971 Challenger R/T sitting next to his garage under a failing cover for just as long a time, is quite dirty full of leaves and in need of restoring. The car is quite impressive being a 2 fender tag car, white/black interior, R/T stripes, SE type trim including WOM, rocker trim and the wide front hood and fender trim. Enough of the car this is my question, on the back between the taillights is the usual "Challenger" emblem, but directly under that emblem is another emblem in connected block type lettering saying "CONRAC". What is this? My friend says "Oh, it's a special car"with that emblem. I highly doubt this. What do you all think. Thanks, Al

CudaJim · November 07, 2022, 02:37:01 PM

Nothing I've ever heard of. Sounds like maybe a car dealer emblem placed there?

CudaJim · November 07, 2022, 03:40:43 PM

A little google searching shows there was a 'CONRAC' corporation in Covina and Glendora CA (not far from you) making locks, safes, security systems, television equipment, etc. in the 1940's, 1950's and maybe later - maybe someone placed one of their equipment nameplates on the car for some unknown reason. Pure guess.

anlauto · November 07, 2022, 04:37:13 PM

That sounds plausible, let's go with that !

70/6chall · November 07, 2022, 07:11:07 PM

I did some more Google researching and came up with maybe this could've been a rental car. Why not a rental car I'm sure they had Challengers as rental cars. The name "CONRAC" on back of car installed just below the Challenger emblem would be a place used to advertise the agency's name. I found some info on this on my research I'll post this here. Actually I don't believe I've ever thought of an early Challenger as a rental car, or ever heard of one but why not. I mean they had executive leases

6bblgt · November 07, 2022, 08:06:36 PM

my dad had a rental Challenger on a business trip to San Fransico in 1972

there were literally thousands of e-body rental cars - Hertz, Avis, etc. - the '70 VONs that start with "T" were most likely "rental cars"

70/6chall · November 07, 2022, 08:22:21 PM

Thanks Dan for the pic and the info on this. I'll check the VON on my buddy's car and see if it starts with a T. Al

torredcuda · November 08, 2022, 04:01:49 AM

Quote from: 70/6chall on November 07, 2022, 07:11:07 PM
I did some more Google researching and came up with maybe this could've been a rental car. Why not a rental car I'm sure they had Challengers as rental cars. The name "CONRAC" on back of car installed just below the Challenger emblem would be a place used to advertise the agency's name. I found some info on this on my research I'll post this here. Actually I don't believe I've ever thought of an early Challenger as a rental car, or ever heard of one but why not. I mean they had executive leases

That sounds like just the name of the building that housed the rental car companies, not an actual rental car company.