Original quarter marker lights??

Has anyone seen this style of quarter panel markers?

...Standard on '67s and used on early '68s. It means you have an early production GT/CS or quarter panels replaced w/ '67s.

The frame encasing the reflector is usually "body" color...

Midnight Special said:

...Standard on '67s ...

Click to expand...

Quarter reflectors and side marker lights were required by federal law in 1968, they were not used on any Mustang in 1967.

The UAW strike of 1967 greatly affected the early 68 production of all Ford products, and alot of changes were made after the strike. The side reflectors, dash knee pads, and A-pillar pads are some of the changes. Generally, the accepted date for the change is Feb. 15, 1968.

Danny

...My mistake. Although I do have a 67 and a 68 coupe (assembled Sept. 67) with these reflectors...

Tim,
Not sure that is a mistake. Do you have a very late 67 coupe with these reflectors? Conventional wisdom and what is known to most is 68 only. I have learned not to believe al are absolutes. Give us more details! Have you read the sheetmetal codes on each quarter? I can help.

Rob

I'll see what I can find out Rob, Thanks! This particular '67 is now cloned as a CS, but they started with a very clean coupe and no quarter replacements. I will contact the original owner/ builder for more info and look at the sheet metal codes as you suggest. 'Seems to me that if it didn't have the recessed markers, why go to the trouble as opposed to just punching holes and putting the later versions on?. It's VIN is 7RO1C199455. Too dark & cold to look for codes right now ;-)

'Never too proud to learn something new

good info...the CS I picked up today (initial picture) was built Feb9th which had the early markers (non painted) before they went with the conventional ones most see.

Interesting indeed!

Rob,
I did hear back from the guy who built my clone. He says the quarters were not replaced, but he added as many '68 parts and that the motor was '68... Please remind me where to find the sheet metal codes and I'll try that avenue. This car went to bare metal and emerged as an award winning restomod, so I hope any stampings are still visible.

Thank you!

Tim,
The codes are normally in the trough that keeps the water out of the trunk, and has the rib that the trunk gasket seals to. If the car has lots of coats of paint they can be hard to find.

But….. If the quarters on this car are the original quarters then this gets interesting. I have the same quarter on my GT/CS that has a January 2 of 1968 build date. These are the early quarters that have a formed recess in them to accept this early reflector. Later the quarter “resembles” a 67 quarter and just has an “add on” chrome reflector that did not require this special forming of a recess. A running change that, in my mind, was done to reduce costs for the car. Lets not go into whether the script was punched or drilled!! We “clubbed that seal” in another thread…..

Soooo….. If this is a titled 67 Mustang with early recessed 68 reflectors on it, then this is something really weird. I have seen stranger things happen!!!

Things to look for. Open the trunk and look up at the very top of the quarter from the inside. If someone replaced the quarters, many times they “seam” it in this area. It will be quite obvious if it was done from the inside. Look at the spot welds that connect the tail light panel to the quarter. Do they look unusual to other spot welds, like those that hold the radiator support to the inner fender panels in the front?

Of course you need to scour the car for date codes. They are on the tag for the steering box. The data plate has an assembly date code. The front fenders have date codes on the flange that bolts to the inner fender panels. The inner fender panels have date codes you can see by jacking up the car and removing the front tire. They are the “back side” of the punching, so must be read backwards. Or you can put a piece of paper over them and use a pencil and produce a “rubbing”. If you remove the lower rear seat and take the back of the rear seat out, there are all sorts of date codes on the assembly behind the seat back. If you remove the headliner….. Ok, don’t go that far unless you need to replace it!!!

If the date codes on the rear quarters start to match up very close to the date codes on the rest of the car; you may have a transition car of some kind. I have learned to doubt nothing!!!

I doubt that this car was “back halved”. That is a ton of work!

Get us some date codes on these pieces!! I love a good mystery.

Rob