WANTED '78 SE / Premier steering wheel in butterscotch

old yellow 78 · Sep 2, 2017

BudW said:
It looks like your fender tag says:

J83 M43 N96 L2? 13? ??

RY3 U 1 G11 O32 J52

RY3 B2U5 000 208 00??90

E26 D24 NL45 D8B 2?8311

Is what I wrote down look correct, and can you fill in the question marks (except for the Last one (which is not important, here)?
BudW

I'll have to take another look at it this weekend and get another better pic. I'd like to see if the fender tag can tell when OY was manufactured as the sticker on the door is damaged where the manufacture date is located.

Dr Lebaron · Sep 4, 2017

One like this?
1978 PLYMOUTH VOLARE | classic cars | Stratford | Kijiji

.

old yellow 78 · Sep 4, 2017

Dr Lebaron said:
One like this?
1978 PLYMOUTH VOLARE | classic cars | Stratford | Kijiji

.View attachment 26831

That's the one! Unfortunately, it still has the entire car attached to it. It would be exactly what I want though, because it would have the "wood" inlay around the rim being from a '78. If anyone buys this car to part out, please let me know if you want to sell the steering wheel. Thanks Doc.

old yellow 78 · Sep 6, 2017

Ok Bud, here is a better pic of the fender tag on OY. Would you try your hand at translating it from Moparian to English? The digits as I read them are:
J83 M43 N98 L2 13 619
RY3 U 1 G11 G52 J52
RY3 B2U5 000 208 DG (or maybe D6?) 6490
E26 D24 NL45 D8B 268311

There is also this narrow, coiled up, thin aluminum strip that was wrapped around the wiring. Uncoiled, it seems to have an "N" or "Z" and two "41"s and a "47" stamped on it. Any ideas what this might be or mean?

BudW · Sep 7, 2017

The narrow strip was for different inspectors to punch out as car went past their stations. They quit using that strip in ’79, I think (but could be wrong. My wagon has one on it as well.
Your car was passed by inspector 41 and 47 (at least)

J83 – Roof air deflector
M43 – Grill Surround Molding
N98 – Without Lean Burn / With Catalyst
13 – State code (but not sure which state)
619 – not sure
RY3 – Upper Body Paint code – Classic Cream
U 1 – Built to US specifications
G11 – Tinted Glass – All Windows
G52 – Left Outside Mirror, Manual, Chrome
J52 - Hood Release, Inst Panel Mounted
RY3 - Lower Body Paint code – Classic Cream
B2U5 – Interior Trim Code – Defined as:
. B – Price Range
. 2 - All Vinyl Bench Seat
. U5 – Medium color Tan
000 – Interior Paint Code
208 – Vehicle Build Date – February 8, 1978
D66490 (it is a 6) - Vehicle Order Number
E26 – 225 ci 2-bbl
D24 – 4-speed Manual Transmission with Overdrive

NL45 D8B 268311
VIN is as follows
N - Dodge Aspen
L – Low Price Range
45 – 2-seat wagon
D – 225 ci 2-bbl
8 – 1978
B – Hamtramck, MI (assembly plant)
268311 – Sequence Number
BudW

DCAspen · Sep 7, 2017

13 State code is Idaho,Bud,State codes go in Alphabetical Order 01-Alabama-51-Wyoming,District of Columbia is 09 giving us the total of 51.

BudW · Sep 7, 2017

Thank you, sir.
How about Canada?

old yellow 78 · Sep 7, 2017

Thank you very much BudW!! I'm particularly glad to know the build date, as the black and silver sticker on the drivers door is damaged right where the date was listed. Very interesting that M43 is "rear bumper guards" because OY has the front guards too, but there isn't a separate code for them? The "state code" of Idaho is also a mystery DCAspen. I know OY was sold new in Canon City, Colorado in the spring of 1978 from a Dodge dealer because I have the paperwork. I also have the original paperwork ordering the Mopar AM/CB transceiver that the dealer seems to have installed shortly before the original owner took possession. Could it be that this particular car originally landed in Idaho and was then transferred to Colorado? Seems strange to me. What does the "state code" actually mean? The narrow rolled up strip that the inspectors punched is also a new one for me! Didn't know about that. Again, thanks for the great info guys!!

BudW · Sep 8, 2017

I goofed (big time) and edited the above post.

M43 is Grill Surround Molding, and not for bumper guards. The code doesn’t make any sense to me sense there is nothing that surrounds the grill any more than any other Aspen.
I suspect that might be a way to know to install an Aspen grill and area chrome works vs. a Volare, maybe.

Rear Bumper guards are M83 and fronts are M81.

While I was a dealership, we installed a bunch of bumper guards on just-sold cars (dealer installed options), as well as fender turn signals, any radio above AM, etc.)
BudW

old yellow 78 · Nov 3, 2017

Bump. Thought I'd try again. Still looking for the three spoke SE wheel in butterscotch color.

old yellow 78 · Jun 21, 2018

Thought I'd bump this thread again now that I'm actually finally doing the interior work to OY and there are a lot of new members. Still looking for that nice three spoke butterscotch colored steering wheel like pic above if anyone wants to sell.

old yellow 78 · Oct 19, 2018

Still looking for a three spoke butterscotch colored Special Edition or Premier steering wheel for OY! Anyone? Anyone? If not, I will likely just go for a new Grant's repop "Tuff" wheel, which might look better anyway.

lowbudget · Oct 20, 2018

My buddy has a 78? wagon with the butterscotch interior in his Mopar yard. I don't know what the wheel looks like as I want the column as it was a 4 speed wagon. I won't be able to look at it until next month when I get home. Come to think of it I think the parts car that I bought last days off has a butterscotch interior in it. I have to go pick it up also.

old yellow 78 · Oct 20, 2018

lowbudget said:
My buddy has a 78? wagon with the butterscotch interior in his Mopar yard.

Great! Keep me in mind if either of them has a nice "three spoke" that you want to sell!

lowbudget · Oct 20, 2018

My friend just messaged me to tell me he has the title for my 76 Roadrunner. The wagon has a cheapo aftermarket on it. I will let you know when I go up to Wyoming and grab my parts car.

old yellow 78 · Oct 22, 2018

Thanks Lowbudget! I appreciate the thought. Just let me know, no rush, I've been waiting a long time anyway.

silverd1973 · Oct 24, 2018

Think its hanging on the wall in the basement but will check tonight

silverd1973 · Oct 25, 2018

here it is.

old yellow 78 · Oct 25, 2018

silverd1973 said:
here it is.

Thanks Silverd1973. I've sent you a PM.

old yellow 78 · Dec 11, 2018

WOO HOO!!! It only took just under three years, but I finally have my "three spoke '78 Special Edition steering wheel in butterscotch" many thanks to Silverd1973!!!!

I am like a kid on Christmas morning! I have been waiting for a full month for it to be delivered from Ontario - shipped Nov. 11th, finally arrived today Dec. 11th due to the Canada Post strike. It is exactly what I had wanted. The correct year (1978) with the wood inlay around the rim, and of course the right color and it's complete! Silverd1973 even shipped the nut! Now THAT is service, and super well packed! The center emblem is missing, however I think I might have the one from my Aspen T-top around here somewhere, so no big deal. It has some cracks but is basically very nice. I have been looking on YouTube for videos on how to repair steering wheels, so there is a project for later, but for right now, it is fine as it is!

AND, just to make my Christmas complete, I also got the excellent woodgrain glovebox door!!

A BIG two thumbs up to Silverd1973!!! A super nice guy to deal with! Thanks so much!!

WANTED '78 SE / Premier steering wheel in butterscotch

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