'62 to '65 Mopar Web site logo, based on early 1960's Mopar Logo

1962 Plymouth Belvedere

March 2009 Mopar of the Month

One of the interesting parts of our hobby is trying to determine the history of the Mopar we own. Plus, the “never say never” mystery when it comes to what Chrysler Corporation built back in the 1960’s adds to the detective work. This month’s feature car pays homage to this aspect of our hobby. —  Editor

4 door Max Wedge?

Tony writes: I am trying to find out if this 1962 Plymouth Belvedere 4 door has a dealer installed Max Wedge motor.
1962 Plymouth Belvedere in field 1962 Plymouth Belvedere fender tag

I purchased this Mopar in Idaho; (it was going to be a parts car for my 1962 Plymouth Fury convertible). When I talked to the owner of the Belvedere he told me that the owner before him kept the crossram and heads off the car but he still had the original 413 with the car. I headed out for Idaho as soon as I could!

The Plymouth has a window sticker special order sheet from Chrysler, car specification schedule, and data plate; but I could not find the proctecto-plate and he did not have the bill of sale from dealer.

1962 Plymouth Belvedere window sticker thumbnail 1962 Plymouth Belvedere window sticker
1962 Plymouth Belvedere special order paperwork 1962 Plymouth Belvedere special order paperwork
1962 Plymouth Belvedere car specifications paperwork 1962 Plymouth Belvedere car specifications paperwork
[Click on each image above to see a larger view.]
It turns out that the Plymouth was a special order black and white car ordered from the St. Louis plant through Elledge Motors* at 19th and Grand in Granite City, Illinois, order by Lt. A.W. Farrar.
*[Later called Granite Chrysler & Plymouth]
1962 Plymouth Belvedere Dealer Name: Elledge Motors

See the data tag at the top of this page: I have seen the “9 2 B” stamped at the top of the data plate on one other car owned by the original owner in Colorado Springs, CO. That Mopar was a 4 door Max Wedge car, but the owner had ordered a two door. They offered him a discount of several hundred dollars if he would take delivery of it. He did.

Back to my car: the Belvedere was factory built with as per special order sheet, 361 hi-perf, 3 speed, heater, no radio, full tinted windows, 8&3/4 wit 3:23 gears and back-up lights; the sheet also called for a “vehicle must” of (5) 14 x 5.5 h.d. ‘k’ wheels with a “special equipment availability number P62-724” and a “material procurement reference no. p1636.” I have no idea what either of these later 2 items are.

There is also a list of things with part numbers on the special order sheet and I can not find any of these anywhere:
engine 2268168
transmission 2400236
rr.axle 2070767
pinion 1949402
prop shaft 2401350
radiator 2099897
wheel (bc3) 2266840
1962 Plymouth Belvedere special order numbers

So not knowing what this car is of course I bought it.

So I get the Mopar home and the orange over green paint 413 I got with the car is stamped on the pad “A.W.F. T41 2-11” the awf are the original owners initials. No hp, no mp but is an AAQA block cast date 1-12-62. 1962 Plymouth Belvedere tires special order

The hood braces appear to have been mangled to make room for something, not cut out like they should have been.

Anyway I believe this Plymouth to be a non-existent dealer installed Max Wedge (according to Darrell Davis) that they did not even use a max wedge engine in. Or I guess the original owner blew the motor up and had this one installed.

This is what I would like to find out.

At the least I have a special order 361 hp, stick shift, 4 door, maybe cop car, maybe dealer installed Max Wedge.

So if anyone has any information on any of these numbers I would love to hear from you!

Contact Tony if you can help him decode this Plymouth: Contact owner: 1962 Plymouth Belvedere
Thanks Tony,

Decoding mid to late 1960’s Mopar fender tags is relatively easy. But my understanding is that Chrysler Corporation’s record keeping was haphazard and archives discarded or destroyed back in the 1962-1965 years. Moreover, I was told various Chrysler manufacturing plants used different fender tag codes for the same option. For example, Govier’s 1962-1965 decode book only covers the Lynch Road and Hamtramck manufacturing plants, last time I looked at his booklet. If your 1962 was built elsewhere that Govier book can’t help you. So decoding fender tags is tricky to impossible in some cases for our favorite cars.

Hopefully some person reading this page will shed some light on the mystery.  smile!

Gary H.



Go back to the 1962 to 1965 Mopar Web Site Home Page.