1972 Barracuda Broadcast Sheet-BH23H2B451025

[justincollier]

what's the DOT code on the tire?

[torredcuda]

I found this but no "N" -
Vehicle Order Number (VON):
This is usually a 6 digit number that corresponded to the Dealership order pad on which the vehicle was initially ordered up. This allowed the dealership to track an order until a VIN was assigned to the ordered vehicle. Chrysler did assign some vehicles with a special VON in order to track the quantity of these vehicles. Typically the special VON had a letter in the first digit. Below are some of the special VONs that I have come across so far.

B - Car ordered for Canadian sale

D - Car for Driver's Education program

E - Car ordered for Export sale

J - Special Order Paint

K - Special Order Police

M - Early run Pilot Cars

Q - Public Relations/Executive Lease car

R - Public Relations/Executive Lease car

T - Chrysler Direct Lease car

https://sites.google.com/view/1973-74-plymouth-b-body-regist/decode-vinfender-tag

[torredcuda]

Better listing here -

https://www.mmcdetroit.com/VON/

[6bblgt]

radial from 1976

MPLE JWA046
MP = Goodyear manufacturing plant - unknown location ??
LE = FR70-14 - size
JWA = fiberglass-belted radial with whitewall - type
046 = 4th week of 1976 - production date

[6bblgt]

& KELSEY TIRE makes that GOODYEAR radial WT tire, but ONLY in RWL - FR70-14 

Those are fugly  in the pictures....not as bad mounted on a car, I think a member here has a set 

but their look is an extension of race & police tire designs of the time - more performance for the street

[justincollier]

radial from 1976

MPLE JWA046
MP = Goodyear manufacturing plant - unknown location ??
LE = FR70-14 - size
JWA = fiberglass-belted radial with whitewall - type
046 = 4th week of 1976 - production date

Thanks for the info 6bblgt! The research continues...

[6bblgt]

based on a true story from the mid-'80s, John Leguizamo's character in the INFILTRATOR is a U.S. Customs Service agent driving a 'cuda - it sticks out as odd in the movie, but maybe the 'cuda was part of the reality?

in the '70s-'80s U.S. Customs Service & U.S. Secret Service were both part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

[justincollier]

based on a true story from the mid-'80s, John Leguizamo's character in the INFILTRATOR is a U.S. Customs Service agent driving a 'cuda - it sticks out as odd in the movie, but maybe the 'cuda was part of the reality?

in the '70s-'80s U.S. Customs Service & U.S. Secret Service were both part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Now that would be pretty unique. Unfortunately, that timeline wouldn't work for mine, as the previous owner purchased in early 1981.
@Ebody Edgar mentioned contacting Secret Service public relations, making a FOIA request, etc. All excellent ideas. I tried looking through old St. Louis newspapers from late 1980-early 1981, figuring if it was a Federal Government auction, it would have had to be advertised. So far, I've come up empty handed.

What keeps me researching is that no one seems to have ever seen an "N" in the VON. If not for that, I'd just say it was seized by the U.S. Treasury and auctioned.

[6bblgt]

I don't think the US SECRET SERVICE sticker would be there if they "just" processed the car - IMO it was part of a "fleet order" US government vehicle

the N95 ECS emissions (California requirement)
the N98 emissions label (California requirement)
all point to CA origins
&
the "N" VON
the T99 special order tires
the Y15 "direct sale"
all are rarely seen (if ever) codes on an E-body

there are some '60s Border Patrol & Forest Service "known" US government MOPAR vehicles (4-drs & wagons) - there are cop-car fans, there has to be some sort of Gov't-vehicle fan info out there, but a gov't E-body is going to be UNIQUE

[57Fury440]

I ordered my Barracuda back in 1972. There were no radials available. The optional tires were Goodyear F-70 14 tires in either raised white letters or a white stripe.

[MoparCarGuy]

radial from 1976

MPLE JWA046
MP = Goodyear manufacturing plant - unknown location ??
LE = FR70-14 - size
JWA = fiberglass-belted radial with whitewall - type
046 = 4th week of 1976 - production date

I believe the MP code is for Tyler, Texas.