Build Date

So my cj5 is tittle a 1973 and my Vin sticker build date is December 1972 . Is this a normal event ? After checking the Vin number itself , I come up with 1973 . I am wanting to order myself a new Vin sticker for my dash . And really want to know who important the build date is .
After much research I am still just a little confused , as to wether or not I have a Renegade or not . But that really is not to important to me I guess , really like the super Jeep sticker package anyways.

 

Yes, very very common. The model year starts in September of the previous year in those days. And the factory starts building the next model year in the summer, to provide enough inventory for all the dealers for the model change in September. Model year production stops when the tooling change starts, which could be as early as June? Not many changes for '73, so '72 production likely went as late as, say, July or August '72?

There's lots of discussion of the Renegade in old posts. By 1973, the Renegade was mostly an appearance package, since all the Renegade mechaionical features could be ordered from the regular option list. To be a Renegade, you must have the gauges, HD springs and shocks, V8, solid back panel, LSD, aluminum slot wheels, factory installed roll bar .. maybe a couple others I'm not recalling. All of that but the roll bar and wheels were available from the factory option list in 1973, and both of those could be dealer installed.

The SuperJeep was always an appearance package AFAIK - I don't recall any connection with performance options other than maybe wheels and roll bar.

 

If you order a new VIN sticker for the dash, have it made EXACTLY as the original one is, dates and all. As Tim mentioned above, even if you Jeep was built in September of '72, it would still be considered a 1973 Jeep. Calandar year and model year do not always correspond with each other. A 1973 model could have been producced anywhere from Sept. '72 through Aug. '73.
As to whether your Jeep is a Renegade, does it have a tailgate? If it does, your probably not a Renegade. A V8 could be easily swapped, but the body tub is a lot more work. With that said, living in KDH, if your Jeep is has been around there for any length of time, it may have also had a body swap due to rust (I lived an hour+ south of you in Frisco for 30 years, so I know about rust!).
-Donny

 

That is my plan to make it the same as original. Thanks for the info guys .o and the rust , don't get me started . I have gotten into the tub now that it is off and making patch panels . I will be ordering floors pans this week as well .
Thanks again .