Not in the 96 either. 167093 and then the next car is 167097.
One thing that sticks in my mind is the way the scripts were installed. To the best of my knowledge, of what I have read and seen, is the holes are drilled. This is somewhat supported by the lack of a "specific" quarter panel for GT/CS only. And of course they woul need two styles as early GT/CS cars had the recessed rear markers and later ones the flush mount.
So if the holes were drilled Ford more than likely had a "template" that was placed on the quarter to drill the holes. I would assume before the final painting of the car. So looking at the more normal location for the right side it is obvious that there were "two" templates. One right hand and one left hand. Kinda makes sence, as I would assume that the edge of the rear of the quarter panel would locate the script fore and aft on the car.
So if any of the above I wrote is true, I wonder if the template could be used so to speak "upside down" (not upside down, but using rear side of the left hand template on the right hand side, or flipped). If you visualize the same left hand template being used upside down or flipped on the right side, viola, the "California" script is more forward on the right side, but the hole spacing, the relationship to the rear quarter fore and aft, and the relationship between the "California" and the "Special" script is preserved.
Did they lose the right side template in the middle of the night? Too much drinking the on Sunday night? Could the template realy be used upside down or flipped?
One thing that would be interesting would be to locate the distance of the aft most peg on the "Special" script, to the end of the quarter panel where the end gap attaches. On your car, and the one in the weeds. Then measure the right hand most rear peg on the one in the weeds and see if it is identical to the left side. That would shed some more light.
I would also submit that based on a template locating the holes, there may be minor differences in any car. Depending on how accurately and easily the template could be fit to the car. I was a sheetmetal mechanic by trade and used templates in many cases in production of parts in high numbers. If the location or tolerance was not critical, some deviations occured. And I have used one template that would work for a right and left application.
It would be fun to get a bunch of GT/CS cars together on a Saturday and open the trunks and measure a few. Might surprise us!
Rob