OK... from my experience:
Customer goes to dealer and orders said automobile, in this case the limited production '08 SRT8 Dodge Challenger.
Dealer places order for Challenger and receives a VON (vehicle order number) for the automobile.
Dodge has not yet decided how many they will make at this early stage in the game. Dodge sees an overwhelming response to the initial offering but has already loosely commented that 5,000 or so units would be produced and that EVERY DEALERSHIP would receive AT LEAST ONE of said automobile.
Dodge pulls orders of cars up to the 5,000 units and minimum one per dealer rules. Thus 5,000 orders have been pulled and allocated based on dealer sales history, when the orders were place from the originating dealers etc.. THEN ups the production to 6,400 units.
Dodge then allocates the remaining production allocation to dealers based on dealer sales history, when the orders were place from the originating dealers. 1,400 additional units have now been allocated to dealers.
When I placed my order (#1 for this particular dealer) my order was pulled within a week of the order and moved to a status "C". A few days later the #2 order for this dealer was also pulled and blessed with the status "C". Others were ordered, but none followed to the beloved level of the status "C". It was only after Dodge raised the official production to 6,400 units that the #3 order acheived the level of status "C".
Status "C" in Mopar land is apparently the level that dictates wether the car is on the road to production or not. If you can confirm your order to be in status "C" with Dodge... you are GOLDEN. To do this call Dodge with your VON and ask to check status on your order. The number is 1-800-992-1997. If they cannot find the status call back another time and try again as some of the reps apparently are challenged(no pun intended
) in this area. I had to call twice.
Status "C" for those who might not know indicates the order has been pulled and approved, awaiting scheduling for production. Hope this helps out those who may be wondering... Cheers!!