What is 'Hot Car' in a 1966 broadcast sheet?

[- Marvin -]

This is a picture of the broadcast sheet of my Valiant - a special order car.

But what is a 'Hot Car' in the column left before 'special order'?
What cars were these 'Hot Cars'?

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Good question, Probably one that can be driven like you stole it.

 

[BrianT]

According to the interwebs...

The term "hot car" on a Chrysler build sheet likely refers to a vehicle equipped with performance-oriented features and options, often associated with Chrysler's muscle car era. These "hot" cars would typically include features like powerful engines (e.g., Hemi, Max Wedge), specific body styles (e.g., Charger Daytona, lift-off hood Road Runner), and performance-enhancing options such as stripes, spoilers, and body-colored bumpers

 

[A56]

Just a wild a$$ guess. Probably no air conditioning. Difficult to determine what the complete number is (ie 697? )

About Option Code "697"​

In Mopar terminology, option code 697 frequently refers to an "Air Conditioning Delete" or "Manual Air Conditioning" code, but this can slightly differ depending on model year and vehicle type. Other times, "697" may represent a specific equipment package related to air or climate controls. The exact meaning is best verified against official Mopar broadcast sheet option code lists for that year and model.
For example, in some Mopar build sheets from the muscle car era:

• Code 697 has been linked to manual air conditioning delete or specific AC configuration in Dodge, Plymouth, or Chrysler models.

 

[- Marvin -]

According to the interwebs...

The term "hot car" on a Chrysler build sheet likely refers to a vehicle equipped with performance-oriented features and options, often associated with Chrysler's muscle car era. These "hot" cars would typically include features like powerful engines (e.g., Hemi, Max Wedge), specific body styles (e.g., Charger Daytona, lift-off hood Road Runner), and performance-enhancing options such as stripes, spoilers, and body-colored bumpers

Typical for the interweb...but I don't believe it - it is a buildsheet of 1966..

Buildsheets of 1970, when there were truly hot cars, didn't have this column...

 

[- Marvin -]

Just a wild a$$ guess. Probably no air conditioning. Difficult to determine what the complete number is (ie 697? )

About Option Code "697"​

In Mopar terminology, option code 697 frequently refers to an "Air Conditioning Delete" or "Manual Air Conditioning" code, but this can slightly differ depending on model year and vehicle type. Other times, "697" may represent a specific equipment package related to air or climate controls. The exact meaning is best verified against official Mopar broadcast sheet option code lists for that year and model.
For example, in some Mopar build sheets from the muscle car era:

• Code 697 has been linked to manual air conditioning delete or specific AC configuration in Dodge, Plymouth, or Chrysler models.

Interesting, but 'Hot Car' sounds quite funny for a non-AC car.

And according to this, there would have been very many 'Hot Cars' in 1966...

 

[MMissile]

My 2023 Hellcat WB, has a "HOT CAR" sheet. I believe it was a priority car for something or someone. I somewhat recall the factory dragcars having such stickers or paper.

 

[- Marvin -]

'Hot Car' must have been something very special - it sits between 'Show Car' and 'Special Order'

No-AC is/was not so special....

 

[A56]

Interesting, but 'Hot Car' sounds quite funny for a non-AC car.

And according to this, there would have been very many 'Hot Cars' in 1966...

So what's the actual number on the build sheet and yes there would have been many "Hot Cars" in 1966?

 

[A56]

'Hot Car' must have been something very special - it sits betwen 'Show Car' and 'Special Order'

No-AC is/was not so special....

Probably worth millions by now.

 

[- Marvin -]

So what's the actual number on the build sheet and yes there would have been many "Hot Cars" in 1966?

I found this in the web - Chrysler New Yorker 1966 (no 'Hot Car') - and the actual number is 696:

 

[matthon]

For 1966, 670-699 are Vehicle Sales & Delivery.

696 is New car service with 5 gallons of gas.

690s are all New car something, or special order or sold car, etc.

 

[ProjectBazza]

For 1966, 670-699 are Vehicle Sales & Delivery.

696 is New car service with 5 gallons of gas.

690s are all New car something, or special order or sold car, etc.

Makes me wonder if “hot car” may be something like “customer is waiting”, or “hot” for it. Think Dealer Prep time….

Maybe there was a box the dealer could check-off if a customer paid a little extra to have it delivered and prep’d quicker…..

 

[- Marvin -]

For 1966, 670-699 are Vehicle Sales & Delivery.

696 is New car service with 5 gallons of gas.

690s are all New car something, or special order or sold car, etc.

Thanks and very surprising...'Hot Car' because of a full tank.

They had really humor at Chrysler.

 

[matthon]

First thought was an abbreviation or something similar to H.D. but those typically have periods.

Here are all the 690 codes.
66 and 68 had 670-699 as Vehicle Sales & Delivery, 67 only 690-699.

 

[matthon]

Get the IBM Buildcard from Chrysler, the rows on that sometimes have more detail.

 

[- Marvin -]

Probably worth millions by now.

Unfortunately no....

 

[RustyRatRod]

Makes me wonder if “hot car” may be something like “customer is waiting”, or “hot” for it. Think Dealer Prep time….

Maybe there was a box the dealer could check-off if a customer paid a little extra to have it delivered and prep’d quicker…..

I wouldn't think so. The factories wouldn't have used slang on a build sheet, I wouldn't think. But who really knows? Somebody does. @krazykuda used to work for Chrysler. Karl, you know what "hot car" means?

 

[Dartswinger70]

"Hot Car" means you can fry an egg on the passenger sear on a summer day.

 

[413]

look at all the other codes next to it. It is a processing code, probably needs to be built or shipped out in a rush, moved to the front of the line for assembly.

It has nothing to do with heat, A/C or a performance engine.

 

[RustyRatRod]

It's listed right up there^^^^ on that sheet posted plain as day. "696 New car service and 5 gal of gas." That's a hot car.

 

[mvh]

Interesting. My 1967 sheet doesn't have that box in that location. It has "69 N/C SERVICE WITH/WITHOUT GAS", "691 SOLD CAR", "692 PAINT & TRIM EDIT WAVER", "69 SHOW CAR FINISH A OR B" and "699 SPECIAL ORDER".

 

[Dartnut]

''Hot Car'' refers to a car that was stolen off of the production line when it was nearly ready to ship.

 

[cudamark]

Wow, that one rare car! a 273 4 speed station wagon with disc brakes and a 3.23 sure grip and fast ratio manual steering. Probably one of one with those options since they only made 13 V200 273 4speed wagons. That's the rarest '66 Valiant made. That makes it pretty HOT in my book!

 

[cudamark]

I see it has the suspension package too, which included heavy duty (probably 6 leaf) springs, torsion bars, and a front sway bar.