Is this '71 Dodge Demon for real???

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pfeifer

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I ran across a '71 Dodge Demon on Ebay - Item #260161746624; take a look at what he has put in for a description....

Vehicle Description

1971 Dodge demon original 340 car with auto, buckets, ralley dash, hood scoops, spoiler, ralley wheels, tuff wheel, and a very rare factory sunroof.The sunroof shows no signs of any leaks and works perfect.The car does need to be retored or you could drive the car as is, drives very nice but could use a rebuild carb from sitting.The car was purchased from a estate sale years ago, and the man i purchased the car from had it for 5 years.The car as i stated drives very nice, we drove this car home 100 miles away, i followed a buddy of mine and the car did not blow any smoke at all, even under full throttle.The seats and all the interior look to be the original, no rips in the seats or dash, the headliner has 2 spots the hang down a little bit, no rips or tears.The motor in the car is a 72 340 in the car, the trans i did not check but was told it was a 727 and the rear looks to be orig 8.75 3.23 rear.

Can anyone confirm that they actually made a Demon with a sunroof??
 
Good question, I saw that car on the Bay of Evil too.

As far as I know, the steel sunroof didn't appear in a-bodies until 1973... the 1972 cars having the optional fabric sunroof.

If it's real, it's a 1 of 1 prototype IMHO.
 
I have seen a 71 Challenger showcar, early production, with the roof, but AFAIK this style of roof was never available until 73. Of course, I certainly can be wrong (wouldn't be the first time.).

Two things tho..

Since seller knows the apparent rarity of this vehicle, and the fact that he's been offered 25k if it had the fender tag or other documentation, I think "I" would spend the two hours looking for a broadcast sheet - that would make me $5,000 hr. His 65/hr a week job cant be paying him that!

Also, the crappy pic of the VIN tag shows the dash has been painted. From my experience, the only way to get at the dash is to remove the glass. That means the roof assembly could have been completely replaced at one time.
Pic 9 of 21 showing the Rallye dash looks a little weird in that I dont see the top shroud part of the dash. The interior shot is likewise pretty crappy considering this "THE" selling feature. I know the headliner style on my old 74 Duster w/sunroof was different fabric than the 71-style. I cant see any seams on this headliner or marks identifying it as a 70/71 headliner. My 72 Demon 340 has a cardboard headliner, so IMO the headliner should be a modified 70/71 style.

Suprised the driver door VIN decal is not being shown. The trunk fitment to fender is sloppy even by normal standards.

As to the claim of 1 of 27, I have been unable to verify a source for this claim.

I'd be wary, want some documentation, and as a minimum would want to see orange paint on the roof assembly.

Grant
 
Here is a thread from the other mopar site about the car in question.
http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3764332&an=0&page=1#Post3764332

My opinion, it's an aftermarket install. 72's had the canvas style sunroof. This car has a cloth headliner installed over a cardboard 73+ headliner insert. The actuating system is the 73+ style hand crank.

As far as value, it's a 71 340 auto Demon, nothing more. In some ways I'd say it's worth less than a non sunroof car because it's been hacked on. If there was some valid documentation to support the install at the factory, then yeah, it's one rare car. I doubt any legit documents would ever surface. The owner was bidding on a Demon fender tag or two on the bag recently...
 
There was a post on Moparts.com about it. Apparently the guy went on Moparts and tried to "flip it" and when the time came to send proof that it was original, well let's just say it was never proven.
 
Justed started to check the car out and found out it could probably be a demon (sizzler),which had all types of options.Now the true deal is the production date of the car,as the VIN says its a 4808 built that year at that plant,and if you do your research,the sizzler came out in feb,9,1971.Now if any one has a car from the same plant and has the build date of the car and their VIN number you can see if its a true car,as your number would have to be higher and built and before feb 9 71.Mrmopartech 450 424 0445
 
I thought sizzlers only came with the 318 because they were advertised as cars that have the performance car looks but not the performance car insurance.


Chuck
 
The other clue that it is a fake is every steel sunroof car I have decoded (I have done 4) and all the others I have looked at have a vinyl roof. Now I guess that could could have been removed but unlikely.

I do have a complete roof assembly with an original steel sunroof from a 74 duster if anyone is interested.

pfiefer - I did see one canvas roof demon (can't remember if it was a 71 or 72) (non-340 car) in Raymore SK about ten years ago. I would imagine it is still sitting in the same yard. The sad thing is all the canvas and hardware were removed and he was planning on welding in a flat roof panel. He was unaware that it was a special roof and thought someone had installed it. I informed him that it was something special and he should not hack it up...hopefully he listened. At the time I was searching for the original numbers engine and trans (340 4spd) for my 70 duster as it was rumored to have been sold to a person in raymore years ago.
 
I know a few of the mopar guys in Raymore. I'll get in touch with them and see if the car is still around and not hacked up. That would be a shame.

On another note, I too was led to believe that the Demon Sizzler only came with a 318.
 
The option code for a non vinly roof with a manual sun roof is(m53),if the car is a true demon,and from the looks of it and the options I have seen on the car,looks like it is,the fender tag or build sheet would show a low build date and a M53 code on the fender tag,mrmopartech
 
Here is an ad for one, like the body colored grill?

Chuck

71dmonad.jpg
 
This is a quote from the owner:
Dear mrmopartech,

No fender tag, really have not had the time to in the past few days to look for a build sheet.The only place i have looked so far has been under the rear seats.I have a few people coming over Sunday after 4pm if the car is still for sale, i work 65+ hours a week and so many people are waiting to come and see the car.Thanks hope this answers your question, the vin matches the radiator support as a few people have asked me also to look for.The car is going to be a great deal for someone, i am even having second thoughts after talking with a few guys who really have been helpfull.


- hauk67
 
Like I stated above, if the difference is $10,000 on your profit - hell I'd take the entire day off to look for a shard of that broadcast sheet. I agree it's a Demon 340, but as far being original with sunroof - no way!

And just because the butched/painted dash VIN matches the repainted rad support... means nothing. I have all those parts in a box somewhere (including the dash and fender tag) that I cut off a 72 Hemi Orange 4-speed Demon 340. Don't worry tho.. mine is 72 Auto TB3, so you'll never see me use them.. hey crackedback, maybe I should contact this guy eh?

Grant
 
OneOfMany said:
I have all those parts in a box somewhere (including the dash and fender tag) that I cut off a 72 Hemi Orange 4-speed Demon 340. Don't worry tho.. mine is 72 Auto TB3, so you'll never see me use them.. hey crackedback, maybe I should contact this guy eh?

Grant
Click to expand...

Ummm yeah that's the ticket...

Wanna trade, I have a 72 Demon 340 FY1 Auto car.... would like to have a 4 speed fender tag/VIN, and a color change isn't a bad thing. :lol:

Maybe I could put a hemi in it and get a fender tag as well. :snakeman:

Here's my final two cents on the car.

NO CHANCE IT'S A FACTORY SUNROOF INSTALLATION!!! PERIOD! :thebirdm:

I feel better now.
 
Looks like the car is going for a good penny so far. The new owner might want to replace the roof with a stock roof and re-coup some of his money selling the sunroof set-up to someone who really needs one.
 
I too would be interested in that Demon title and fender tag! I am starting to collect all those old Mopar VIN plates fender tags and titles.

I just wish I would not have forgot to buy the 1969 Dodge Daytona fender tag and title on eBay for $285.00 three months ago!!!!! That will be something not many have hanging on the wall.
 
340wedge said:
There was a post on Moparts.com about it. Apparently the guy went on Moparts and tried to "flip it" and when the time came to send proof that it was original, well let's just say it was never proven.
Click to expand...
I never tried to flip the car on moparts, i asked a question how rare is this demon? As far as the demon, i do not have a fender tag, and i have not taken the front seats out yet, but i will be looking friday night as i took a half a day off to do so.If it were a dealer add on or a factory roof, it's not proven yet and may never be.I posted questions on the demon at the bottom of my ebay ad stating no fender tag or build sheet found.If i would of knew about looking for a build sheet before i posted my ebay ad i should would of looked as i have had over 70 emails on the car.And to the claim of 1 of 27, that is for a 71 challenger that i posted the item number with the same sunroof.
 
You posted on both this site and Moparts asking how rare of an option it was this site on 9-09 and was told right away by MY340 on 9-16 it wasnt an option till 73 but you still went ahead and listed it on ebay 09-18 as a VERY RARE FACTORY INSTALL SUNROOF car!!! Not to mention what everyone has told you on moparts.com and has suggested since day one to change you misleading dishonest title!!!!
 
If you read my updates on my add i stated that with no fender tag or buildsheet it may never be proven to be a factory sunroof.I can say this, we can never say never with no buildsheet and fender tag.If a dealer added it on when the car was new? What if a customer had a special order?What if dodge made this car as a promo vehicle or show vehicle?Trust me that is alot of what if's, and i really never intended to mislead anyone at all, and would never do so.The auction will most likely be ending on sunday with a few people coming to look at it, thanks.
 
HAUK67 said:
If you read my updates on my add i stated that with no fender tag or buildsheet it may never be proven to be a factory sunroof.I can say this, we can never say never with no buildsheet and fender tag.If a dealer added it on when the car was new? What if a customer had a special order?What if dodge made this car as a promo vehicle or show vehicle?Trust me that is alot of what if's, and i really never intended to mislead anyone at all, and would never do so.The auction will most likely be ending on sunday with a few people coming to look at it, thanks.
Click to expand...

You're grasping at straws... you have NO EVIDENCE that the car came with a FACTORY INSTALLED sunroof. Here's one for you. Find an order book for that year vehicle and provide a copy of it with a proper option code. I'll save you the trouble, it's not out there for that style sunroof. There is a reason those style sunroofs weren't installed in 71, but, I won't go there.

If a dealer added it then it's not a factory install, now is it?

Promo/Show vehicle??? LMAO! Again, you have no evidence of this. That's like me saying I have a 1 of 1 71 duster with a factory installed and coded 440 cause it might have been a show car.

Evidence that it's not a factory install is overwhelming.

Your ad is misleading at best, and an outright fraud in the worst case. You got what you wanted, eyeballs to your ad. I just hope there isn't someone out there stupid enough to buy into the BS you're spouting. You want credibility, add in a HUGE red font that you have no proof of the sunroof being a factory install. That would be the right thing to do as you've already muddied the waters with your initial ad after being told that it wasn't a factory install prior to listing it. Balls in your court.

If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle. Not likely she's my uncle, because I've got no proof, never seen the broadcast sheet, or her snatch for that matter. See how that works.
 
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