Jeep Side Cowl Location Differences

I was looking at a 74 no tailgate 5 and the JEEP stamping was down low closer to the entry cut out. I am used to seeing up higher, closer to the forward fender edge. Whats the deal?

 

Body swap? Or possibly a early 75 tub titled as a 74?

 

Got pics ?
No tailgate was an option and was standard on “Renegades” by then.
A 1975 cj would have the one piece floor pan.
Also they began putting plastic “CJ-5” badges on the quarter panel that year.
Likely it’s a late 1974 with the lower quarter panel “JEEP” script.

 

I think so.

 

The VIN sticker on the dash looks old and says Feb 74. The tub looks origional but it has no top hdw. indentation for the vestigial early outside hoop mount. The windshield frame is body color. Something is fishy.

 

I think "oldtime" hit it on the head. Transition year, using up all the old stock. My '74 is Jan. but up high, Capital "J". Color matched windshield frame original.

 

This 74 has the VIN tag on the firewall and the sticker on the dash that say 74 but it has no outside indentation for the military canvas top hardware. It does have a body color windshield frame. What was the first year for no indentation?

 

Even the 1975 CJ’s have the triangle indent at top of the rear wheel house.

 

The rear corner top bow sockets disappeared mid-way through the 1966 model year. The triangular recess over the rear wheel openings was still present through the 1975 model year (last of the intermediate AMC models). The 1975 CJ5 changed the “Jeep” font and lowered the location on the side cowl. The ‘72 through ‘74 models had a “bar” on the top of the J of Jeep, and the location was the same as the early (pre-AMC) Jeeps.
-Donny