Patrick H. Smith from PHS Collector Car World brought this car to my attention a few years back. He was doing an article on Lost Star Cars from the 60’s and 70’s and knew I had a penchant for sunroof cars. Patrick has got a lot of great car articles on his Blog which can be found at: http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/search?view=magazine If you’re looking for this particular article, just throw satan or sunroof in the search box.

Once I previewed the movie on YouTube, I was curious if I already had this car in the Sunroof Registry. I knew I had a light blue car in there, but I was wondering if it was a match. Here is my analysis on this particular movie car. The letters and numbers in parenthesis are the order codes for that particular option:

At 4:18 we have a light colored Charger with a white halo top (V1W) driving through the gate. I spot sill mouldings and dual exhaust. The dual exhaust limits the engine choices to the 340, 400-4bbl, and the 440. In this body style, the 340 and 440 would have been coupled with the Rallye package which has large side stripes. So the likely engine in this car is the 400-4bbl (E68). Later on you can tell the body paint is light blue (HB1).

At 4:27 we can see the medium blue (B5) bucket seat interior, and can kinda make out the upper door panel pattern. With help from seeing the full door panels at 8:59, we likely have the (H6B5) interior in this car.

At 4:38 you spot the fender mounted turn signal and an emblem on the left front of the hood. The fender mounted turn signals were only available in the light package (A01).

At 4:43 and 5:01, the driver turns the steering wheel, and you can tell its got the thicker spokes – so its not the padded 74 wheel and not the 73 coupe steering wheel.

At 4:46 you briefly spot the chrome vent outboard of the Charger emblem in the dash bezel, and the passenger side chrome racing mirror.

At 5:04 the camera pans back across the upper dash and you glimpse the two inner chrome vents in the dash bezel. So this car has A/C (H51).

From 5:22 to 5:39 you get to see a prolonged view of the driver’s side as the car pulls to the curb. You spot the sunroof (M52), road wheels (W23), drip rail mouldings (M21), sill mouldings (M25), wheel well trim (M26), upper door and quarter window trim (M31), Antenna – which means a radio of some type (Rxx), and the driver’s side chrome racing mirror. So with the passenger side mirror to match – that’s (G37). You also see the Charger emblem on the front edge of the door.

At 8:59 you get a decent shot of the driver’s side inner door panel – and what do I see – a bank of power window switches (P31). PWs were not available on the coupe.

So it looks like we have an HB1 Light Blue 1973 Charger Hardtop (WH23) with the 400-4, automatic transmission, and outfitted with the V1W Halo vinyl top, B5 Blue bucket interior, and a good array of options.

This was not a match to the light blue car I already had, so it is now a new addition!

Photos by Mecum Auction

This is the third of the three significant sunroof cars from the Wellborn Collection that sold this January at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in Florida. This un-restored survivor 1971 Plymouth GTX has quite a history. It was originally ordered up as a sales bank car, with just about every option you could possible check off. When it was all said and done, this car stickered at a  whopping $6592.75. For reference, a stock GTX stickered for $3,707. It was built and sent to a dealership in late 1970, and remained unsold for over a year. Enter the original  owner:

Larry was a highly decorated serviceman out of Vietnam. When he returned to the States, he purchased a brand new 1970 Road Runner with the base 383 cubic inch engine. But by early 1972, he was on the hunt for a Hemi car. Somehow he found out that this car was still available brand new, and snagged it for a bargain at just over $4,500. He made a few changes to the car and implemented some hot rod tricks, and proceeded to press the pedal to the floor when the occasion warranted. One night, he got it just a little loose, and could not get it shut down before gently bumping into a power pole. This left a nice dent in the passenger side door. Shortly afterward, the car entered hibernation with only 40-some thousand miles on the clock.

Larry passed away several years back, and the car re-entered the Mopar world through his estate. Scott Lindsey acquired the car, and in turn, sold the car to Tim. Tim was able to hunt down a near mint original paint EL5 Butterscotch passenger door from a well known Canadian collector to replace the dented one. Since then, the car has been a staple at the Wellborn Museum in Alabama until running across the auction block in early January. After all the bids were in, this one hammered away to a new owner at $340K.

Photos by Mecum Auction

This is the second of three significant sunroof cars from the Wellborn Collection that sold this January at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in Florida. Tim likes his cars loaded – and this one does not disappoint! As the article title states, this is the highest optioned and most expensive Charger R/T known to exist. Tim acquired this beauty around 2005, and it has been a staple at the Wellborn Museum ever since. Notable previous owners include Steven Segal and NFL great Kevin Greene. This car is outfitted with some pretty rare and expensive options including: The HEMI, Dana 60 rear axle, Power Sunroof, Power Windows, AM/FM with 8-Track, 6-way Driver’s Seat, and Color-keyed Bumpers and Dual Racing Mirrors. Total sticker came to just north of $6,300! It hammered away at Mecum for $290,000. Stat Line: 426 Hemi, Auto, Super Trak Pack Dana 60, EV2 Hemi Orange, with White interior and top, and Black stripe.

Photos by Mecum Auction

This is one of three significant sunroof cars from the Wellborn collecion that sold this January at the Mecum Kissimmee auction in Florida. Back in 1985, Randy Hoepker purchased this car as a total rust bucket. But just glancing over this heavily optioned, dealer demonstrator car, he knew it would be well worth the effort to bring it back. Long before reproduction stuff was available, this car was painstakingly rebuilt with NOS and nice used body panels and parts. Randy finished the restoration around 1990, and it had a fresh repaint around 2005. The white hood stripe is a personal choice, as the original V21 hood paint was only available in black from the factory. A few years back, Randy parted with the car, and it went to the Wellborn Museum in Alabama. After a few years in his collection, Tim Wellborn decided to put this one up for auction. It hammered away at $120K. As stated in the title, this is the highest optioned 71 sunroof Challenger known. Major options include: AM/FM Cassette radio, 6-way adjustable driver’s seat, A/C, Power Windows, and Challenger Trim Package with Wide Grill Surround. Stat Line: 383-4 barrel, Auto, 8 3/4 with 3.23 Sure Grip, GY3 Citron Yella with White interior, top, and stripes.

The latest 1969 sunroof Charger find is an interesting one. A gentleman in Canada ran across this gem last week and did not ponder too long on laying down the cash to bring her home. This R6 Red, V1W White vinyl, C6R Red interior car came from the factory with the 383 2 barrel engine mated to an Automatic transmission. It is smartly optioned with the A04 Basic Group – which got you the Music Master AM Radio, Power Steering, Power Brakes, 3-speed Wipers, Deep Dish Wheel Covers, and the Remote Driver’s Side Mirror. The big option that this car has (other than the sunroof) is Power Windows, which was only optioned on around 5% of 1969 Chargers. The other interesting tid-bit on this car is that it just happens to be the latest scheduled 1969 sunroof Charger in the Mopar Sunroof Registry – being scheduled to run down the line in the second week in June. Hopefully we will see some additional pictures on this beauty as the new owner gets it back on the road.

Photos by Terry Dodge, Jeff Fisk, and Tyler Hoodenpyle.

During the 1972 model year, the economy struggled and people were holding off on buying those big ticket items. As a result, production numbers were down a bit from the 1971 model year. Early power sunroof cars are a bit of a rarity, but compound that with tighter wallets, and sunroof sales were tight for the 1972 Plymouth B-bodies. Out of the approximately 6,800 Road Runners that were shipped to U.S. dealerships, only 34 were outfitted with the power slider. I haven’t found good sunroof production numbers for the 1972 Satellites yet, but best guesstimates put that number around 160 units.

So what are the chances of seeing a 1972 sunroof Satellite out in the wild these days? Pretty slim pickings at best. But in a city in southern Washington, their lives two very similarly optioned 1972 sunroof Satellite Sebring Pluses (SSPs). Both are loaded with options, and both were ordered with the highest power plant you could put in a Satellite – the 400-4bbl HP engine.

The first car is a stunning GY9 Tawny Gold car with a fender tag full of options. Power disc brakes, front and rear sway bars, center buddy seat, dual chrome racing mirrors, A/C, inside hood release, electronic ignition, and the uber expensive AM/FM cassette radio. This car racked up over 400,000 miles before the owners put it through a thorough restoration.

The second car is outfitted in gorgeous GB5 Blue with a white canopy top and blue interior. It also has a full fender tag, with many of the same options as the gold car. Differences include painted racing mirrors, center console, bright exhaust tips, and power windows!

So if you are ever at a car show in the Pacific Northwest, keep an eye out for these uber rare sunroof cars. Wouldn’t it be great to see these beauties at a show side by side?

Here is another opportunity – out of Canada, but your pockets are going to have to be a little deeper than the last one! 1969 Charger SE with R/T badging. Originally a 383 auto car, now it has a 440. SE package of goodies. Currently listed on Kijiji out of Ontario asking 59K. Some of the factory options on this car include Power brakes, Center console, A/C, AM Radio, and the Light Package.

I have a great sunroof opportunity for someone. Loaded 2-tag 74 sunroof Duster – first 2-tag A Body that I have ever seen. This one has some damage in the rear end – so it will take some skill to restore. But what an awesome car it would be when done. Someone please find a home for this one! Here is the owners description:
1974 Plymouth Duster…I really hate to part it out, so I will try to sell it complete for now. 318 2bbl, 904 automatic, bucket seats, console, power steering, power disk brakes, a/c, cruise control, tuff steering wheel, am/fm radio, with rear speaker, manual sliding sunroof. This is the first two fender tag A body that I have ever seen. Would like to see someone love it enough to put it back on the road.
Car was rear ended pretty hard over 10 years ago and has been sitting since. It runs and drives (out of a gas jug). Has had some usual rust repair in rear quarters…not that it matters now. Car is very clean and solid otherwise. To build it, it needs rear springs, quarters, taillight panel, and probably rear rails. Trunk floor isn’t bad. It is a worthwhile project, but I don’t have time for it.
Shows around 73,000 miles which are believed to be original. Interior is pretty good, but not perfect. Dash pad is better than most, but is cracked on the outer corners. AM/FM radio works as it should (very rare option). Sunroof opens and closes perfectly. Before you laugh at my asking price, add up the value of the parts…some nearly impossible to find. $2,650.00. I do have most parts available to repair it for an extra charge. Has a clear title. Located in North Central Wyoming.
If interested, email Dwain at: wyomingcarsandparts@yahoo.com

If you ever wanted a manual sunroof B-Body – here is your car. The owner Carl is parting with this nicely optioned 1973 Satellite Sebring Plus with a factory big block and awesome color combo! He describes it as such:

1 of about 1500 produced with sunroof. Big block 400 2 BBL (now a 4 BBL) slapstick auto trans, roadrunner trim package, tuff wheel. Was originally from Calif. Factory FY1 yellow car with black vinyl top and white interior.
Needs paint and body due to minor rust –  needs vinyl top and interior due to AZ sun. Aftermarket stereo mounted in a homemade cassette deck mount on console. Also have build sheet and original window sticker. Sorry no PayPal. No trades and buyer pays shipping. Reasonable offers may be considered. Car has fender tag and build sheet. Car is in Humboldt, AZ.

Carl can be contacted through Facebook at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688493634764357/?multi_permalinks=2244517095828672&comment_id=2338942809719433&notif_id=1552778562243464&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic

Or you can go to the 1973-1974 Plymouth Roadrunners & Satellites Facebook page directly and scroll down until you find Carl’s car. Good luck Carl!

Steven Juliano had an incredible collection of cars and memorabilia, and his passing last year was a major blow to the hobby. From the Rapid Transit cars to the Hemi sunroof cars to the unending memorabilia, you hate to see such a collection broken up. Steven never claimed ownership of his vast collection, he knew that he was just the custodian until his time was up. Hopefully, the cars and art in his collection find new and worthy custodians. https://www.mecum.com/lots/SC0519-371531/1970-dodge-hemi-challenger-rt-sunroof/

Picture from Mopar Action Magazine.