NZ Avenger Chassis Number and Paint/Trim Codes Explained

[oldschool]

Being Avenger obsessed and with far too much spare time, I'm attempting to decipher the apparently meaningless codes our Avengers have!
It's a work in progress and contains gaps and errors, let me know and I'll amend the list.

Our NZ chassis numbers all start with a 6 character sequence followed by the 4 figure chassis number, for example BK1M41 #### is a 1975/76 1300 Manual Sedan

The first character is always B.

The second is the production year..July to June?

E=1970/71
F=1971/72
G=1972/73
H=1973/74
J=1974/75
K=1975/76
L=1976/77
M=1977/78
N=1978/79
P=1979/80
Q=1980/81

The next 2 are motor size, class and gearbox...

1M = 1300 Medium Manual
7M = 1500/1600 Medium Manual
8M = 1600 Medium Auto
5H = 1500/1600 Alpine Manual
6P = 1600 Alpine Auto 
7H = 1600 GLS Manual
8H = 1600 GLS Auto

The last 2 are...

41 for a Sedan
45 for a Wagon
47 for a Van
...followed by the 4 figure chassis number.

The Paint and Trim codes have 3 parts...

1st part = Body colour
2nd part = Roof colour and type
3rd part = Interior colour and style

Body Colour Codes:
AO = Avenger Orange
AQ = Aquarius Aqua
AR = Apache Red
BG = Birch Green
BY = Burgundy Metallic
BZ = Peruvian Bronze Metallic
CA = Caracas (Orange)
CB = Casino Blue
CD = Cicada
CL = Caramel
CM = Cimarron
EM = Emerald Metallic
GG = Go Green
HG = Huntly Green
KC = Kipchak Metallic
KH = Kalahari Sand
LG = Larch Green
ML = Mistral Metallic
NB = Neutron Blue
NP = Neptune Blue Metallic
PB = Praire Beige
PG = Pamingo Grey
RB = True Blue
SE = Spice
SH = Sherwood Green
SK = Spinnaker White
SM = Silver Metallic
SY = Sundown Yellow
TM = Tamarisk
YB = Sky Blue

Roof Colour Codes are the same as body colour codes, unless a vinyl roof is fitted:
VP = Vinyl Pearl
VK = Vinyl Black

Interior Colour Codes:
N = Brown
T = Tan
U = Blue
W = Walnut

With 4 trim styles:
2 = Hillman Super
4 = Hillman Alpine
6 = Chrysler Vinyl seats
7 = Chrysler Cloth seats

For example, BY BY T2 = Burgundy Body, Burgundy Roof and Tan Super upholstery.
 

[avenga]

They seem to use the Valiant system so I can tell you what a few thing mean.

The next 2 are type...

1M = 1300 Manual
7M = 1500/1600 Manual
8M = 1600 Auto
5H = 1500/1600 Alpine Manual
6P = 1600 Alpine Manual and Auto  
7H = 1600 GLS Manual and Auto

I think that would be using the Valiant price scale

Chrysler offered it's vehicles according to price range:
 
L = Low
E = Economy
M = Medium
H = High
D = Deluxe
S = Sport
P = Premium

And a number ranking system, 1 though 8.  1 is low and 8 high.  The higher the number the better the specification.

So a 1300 Manual with a 1M is the bottom the the medium price range
1500/1600 Manual is 7M which is near the top of the medium price range
8M = 1600, Auto, Top of the medium range (they were more expensive than the manual versions)
5H = 1500/1600 Alpine Manual, middle of the high price range
6P = 1600 Alpine Manual and Auto, middle of the Premium range
7H = 1600 GLS Manual and Auto, near the top of the high range

41 on the end is probably the Chrysler NZ country code.

Again I think this is using the Valiant codes

Each body type has it's own number:
 
22 = Utes
23 = 2 Door Hardtop (Sedan)
29 = 2 Door Coupe (Charger)
41 = 4 Door Sedan
45 = 4 Door Station Wagon

I can confirm this by the fact that my old wagon was BQ7M45#### http://www.carjam.co.nz/car/?plate=jo2977 so 45 for a wagon and 41 for a four door

Valiant codes are laid out the exact same way.

1972 VH Chargers code VH8H29
75 Avenger Alpine 1600 BK6P41

And another colour to add to the list

AQ = Aquarius

[avenga]

It is actually pretty cool how close the VIN codes are. Except for the first letter they are the same (for the valiants the first letter is V for Valiant or C for Chrysler)

http://www.hemi6pack.com/knowledgebase/vhmanual/0%20Index%20and%20Specs.pdf

Base model 73 Valiant ranger VH1M41
base model 73 Avenger 1300 BH1M41

75 Valiant Regal 770 V8 VK6P41
75 Avenger Alpine 1600 BK6P41

Even the year codes match up pretty nicely with the VG,VH,VJ,VK,CL and CM Valiants.

[JoKer]

awesome! so there are really 9 "series"s then?

edit : what about the 4 digit code after the Model? I have 2847

Im not even gunna ask about the engine code

[avenga]

That is the body number. it is just a serial number for the body of the car, each one is different and they restart every year.

So a "BK6P41 0255" would be an early 75 Avenger Alpine and a "BK6P41 4534" would be a late 75 Avenger Alpine.

Same as the Valiants had.

Speaking of body numbers my Charger and race cars body numbers are 1 apart. and the Charger body number is made up of the day of the month I was born plus the year I was born. How freaky is that!!

My Chargers VH8H29 1378
My Race car BP1M41 1379

Edit:

I have also seen a VH Pacer with the body code 1378

the pacer was VH7S41 1378
my charger was VH8H29 1378

[azza1600]

I always find this stuff interesting, my avenger chassis # is BP1M41 1500 and paint and trim is KC KC N2, so mine was built in 1979 and sold in 1980

[avenga]

My '80 was a BP1M41 also. The think they sort of went mid-year to mid-year so the BP's were mid 79 - mid 80

[azza1600]

Sweet, that explans that, did you 80 have cloth inserts on seats?

[avenga]

To tell you the truth, I can't even remember. I turned it in to a race car back in the early 2000's so I got rid of the original seats over 10 years ago.

I will see if I have an photos of when I first brought it.

EDIT: Found some old pictures, and no, mine didn't have the cloth insert.

Mine was T2 (Tan, Super trim level) Yours is N2, not sure what the N stands for but it probably means cloth inserts.

[azza1600]

Sweet, yeah mine had poo brown door cards and seats with cloth inserts......long gone as well lol

[oldschool]

N2 might be Brown Super trim as N stands for Brown in the wiring diagrams. Blue is U, so I wonder if Stuarts/Kieras cars have a U2 trim code??

[oldschool]

Looks like UK made Avengers include the assembly plant and engine number in the chassis number...
For example FML255 has Chassis R4831163108 = R (Ryton) 4 (1974) and 831163108 is the Engine no.

[oldschool]

Have just completed all 30 paint codes, courtesy of Don...enjoy!

[Avenger414]

Hi can someone tell me where i can find the Avenger color chart please?

[JoKer]