Panther Pink 1971 Charger R/T

[1972coronet]

Factory-applied Panther Pink (paint code FM3) 1971 Charger R/T - the only one of its kind.

FM3 was a 1970-only colour, introduced for Spring 1970. It was discontinued at the end of the '70 model year ; however, at least one '71 model was slathered in it via a special order.

Oddly, the typical "999" Special Order Paint code was disposed of in this instance - its paint code is "147". Seemingly arbitrary assignment.

I'd read about this car some 30+ years ago, and put it in my memory bank. Concurrently, a friend at the time had a '71 Challenger R/T 383 which was Panther Pink. The paint code on its tag was "999" - but without any supporting documentation, that "999" could be any colour from any year prior to 1971. 

No build sheet , no nothing. Not sure whatever became of the car; he sold it in '94.

Anyhow, here's the Charger : World's Only 1971 Dodge Charger R/T in Panther Pink Is a Stunning Muscle Car - autoevolution 

[Shark]

The things manufacturers would do to accommodate the buying public back then. Not anymore.

[1972coronet]

59 minutes ago, Shark said:

The things manufacturers would do to accommodate the buying public back then. Not anymore.

Other than fleet orders, they couldn't care less. 

[Robberbaron]

I ran across a YouTube video on this one a year or two ago.  Assuming it is legit, it's also noteworthy for the way it's optioned (besides the color obviously).

AMT's '71 Charger kit came in for a lot of criticism for its bench seat interior and lack of body color sport mirrors.  I'm no expert, but lots of folks claimed that those items were standard on an R/T.  Again, if this car is legit, it would demonstrate that it was at least possible to obtain a '71 R/T with that configuration. (Don't know if it would maybe need to be delete options, etc.)

Full wheel covers had to also be an unusual selection on an R/T.

I totally understand the reasoning that AMT/Ertl should have configured their kit to match the options on the vast majority of 1:1 '71 R/T's that were built.

Edited May 8 by Robberbaron

[1972coronet]

9 hours ago, Robberbaron said:

AMT's '71 Charger kit came in for a lot of criticism for its bench seat interior and lack of body color sport mirrors.  I'm no expert, but lots of folks claimed that those items were standard on an R/T. 

Bucket seats were standard with the R/T ( along with a column shift automatic ) . 

Anything -within reason- was possible with Chrysler and their ordering system. 

[Carmak]

The molded in B pilar sure ruins the flow of the window opening on these kits. I know very small percentage of 1:1 Charger R/T's and Super Bees were actually built as sedans (like the pink example above) but the vast majority were true hard tops. At least they are easy to cut out  

[tim boyd]

As one who has long called out the kit on these subjects, the 1971 Charger R/T was not available with the split bench seat as provided in the AMT-Ertl kit.  It is theoretically possible that someone might have been able to get one on a special-order basis, but it was not a regular production option.

The exterior rearview mirror in the AMT-Ertl kit was standard equipment spec for a 1971 Charger R/T, so the kit represented the way a car that year could be ordered.  But the dual sport racing mirrors, either in plated chrome form or with matching body color paint, was the way the vast majority of 1971 Charger R/Ts were spec'd (either by the ordering dealer or by a retail customer order) and delivered.  

Hope that clarifies the topic....TIM 

[1972coronet]

1 hour ago, tim boyd said:

As one who has long called out the kit on these subjects, the 1971 Charger R/T was not available with the split bench seat as provided in the AMT-Ertl kit. 

I'd like to see the car's fender tag. Likewise, how would a de facto special order seat be coded ? 

Bucket seats with column-shift T-Flite definitely was standard fare with the R/T (at least with the standard 440 Magnum - not sure about the 440+6 and/or Hemi) 

[deuces wild]

More pictures of the pink R/T.....