Question about 1969 Barracuda door lock button

[jimharvard]

I have three 1969 Barracuda Fastbacks and have a question about the door lock button on one of them.

I also have several 1968 Barracudas and in that year, the door lock button was at the backend of the door very close to the door end. 1967 Barracudas also had the door lock in this position. In 1969, as a "safety, convenience" improvement, Plymouth moved the door lock button further up the door about 6 inches from the end of the door.

So my question is this: does anyone know if "early produced" 1969 Barracudas still had the 67/68 style doors put on them with the lock button still at the end of the door? i know Mopar had a common practice of "using up old parts" on newly released models. The 69 Barracuda in question that i have is ALL ORIGINAL except for what appears to be 67/68 doors on it. I also know this is a common mistake on a lot of Barracudas where doors are swapped between the 69 and 67/68 models and the door lock buttons are not in the right place for the year of the car.

Let me know if any of my fellow FABO folks have an "original" 1969 Barracuda that came from the factory with the older 67/68 doors.

Thanks to all who might reply.

 

[A56]

I would suggest removing your door cards and seeing the color behind them.

 

[Dana67Dart]

If that is a visible screw it is a 67 door, if it is a plug and the lock is at the back it's a 68 door if it's a plug and moved forward it's a 69 door.

As you noted it is very likely the 67 to 68 and 68 to 69 had some mixed parts.

67 parts book shows 1200 67 Darts got a press on speedo cable.

 

[A56]

How early is this cuda's build date?

 

[autoxcuda]

i know Mopar had a common practice of "using up old parts" on newly released models.

Not really common practice. Old parts were just boxed up and used for parts dept inventories.

Old parts being used on early pilot cars pre-production cars is because the new parts weren’t ready yet. Those small number of cars end up in brocheres, magazine tests, and parts catalogs.

Some parts carried over for a while. But the parts interchanged with: form, fit and function. The front mounted locks don’t function the same. They don’t offer the same safety and convenience

The 69 doors take different lock linkages parts too.

 

[autoxcuda]

If that is a visible screw it is a 67 door, if it is a plug and the lock is at the back it's a 68 door if it's a plug and moved forward it's a 69 door.

As you noted it is very likely the 67 to 68 and 68 to 69 had some mixed parts.

67 parts book shows 1200 67 Darts got a press on speedo cable.

View attachment 1716413545

Isn’t that a 67 door panel and large 67 remote mirror nut ?

 

[HemiSSDart]

Do the doors the vent on the bottom like 67-68? I believe they eliminated that in 69...

 

[jimharvard]

How early is this cuda's build date?

i don't know yet... i haven't ran the VIN to figure out the date. unfortunately, the fender tag is gone so the VIN is all i'll have.

 

[jimharvard]

Do the doors the vent on the bottom like 67-68? I believe they eliminated that in 69...

that is an excellent observation!! i never thought of that. i'll look at my original 68 for the door vents and then check out the doors on the 69. thanks.

 

[jimharvard]

I would suggest removing your door cards and seeing the color behind them.

that is a great suggestion. i have original paint cards for 68 and 69 Barracudas. i know all three years - 67, 68, 69 - had some "year unique" colors.

 

[4spdragtop]

I thought all 3 years had 3 different lock locations?

 

[HemiSSDart]

I thought all 3 years had 3 different lock locations?

No, 67-8 have the same location 69 moved it forward...

 

[Cuda Al]

If you know the details all three years are different.
1. Vent screw 67 vs 68/69
2. Vent 67/68 vs 69
3. Mirror location (I'm not touching this one)
4. Door lock location (I'm not touching this one)

I agree, those door panels look like 67.


Alan

 

[Xgoldfish]

Is your VIN in the first few hundred, somewhere in the 100001-100300?