Topic: Odd keyed lock on Shelby grille

[Oz390]

My brother-in-law sapped this at a car museum with a few Shelby's.  Don't believe it to be original, but curious if anyone might know what it could be for... have seen similar items as hood locks, but an odd location for that...

[JKWilson]

I'd be willing to bet it's for an old car alarm installed by a previous owner sometime in the car's life.

[Bob Gaines]

I'd be willing to bet it's for an old car alarm installed by a previous owner sometime in the car's life.

You would be safe in that bet. 

[jwc66k]

I'd be willing to bet it's for an old car alarm installed by a previous owner sometime in the car's life.

I agree. I found an alarm keyed switch on a 66 Shelby mounted inside the right hand horn. It's still there (the owner is "involved in other activities") but not hooked up. Access is thru the grill. It's a tight squeeze but it can be accessed.
On a 66 Hardtop I bought many years ago, the alarm keyed switch was mounted on the outside of the left front fender, easily accessed for alarm activation and deactivation. The only problem with its location was the back side of the switch, where the two wired terminals are located, were also easily accessed, like with a pair of diagonal cutters. The switch was not hooked up. There was a plunger switch mounted on the radiator support. It's wiring was suspended in the underhood harness to the former location of the alarm horn that used one of the washer bag screws.
My current security techniques include cars parked in a locked garage.
Jim
Jim

[J_Speegle]

+1 real safe bet and not that all unusual. Location is a bit different but you can find them slapped almost anywhere.  Remember that these cars were just used cars at one point. Inspected a car a few weeks back that had a hood lock (in addition to the hood pins) added to a 67 Shelby. Owner choose to just drill another 1 1/2 holes through the hook and radiator support on one side. Look reeeeeaaal attractive  When the owner repainted the car he removed the lock though left the hole in the hood   

[Oz390]

Thanks for the replies...

[Mike_B_SVT]

Yep, old school car alarm.  Mine was installed in the fender - used to see them mostly on corvettes growing up.
Doors and hood had push-pin switches all wired to the fender key switch and to a "fire bell" in the engine bay.

[67gtasanjose]

Yep, old school car alarm.  Mine was installed in the fender - used to see them mostly on corvettes growing up.
Doors and hood had push-pin switches all wired to the fender key switch and to a "fire bell" in the engine bay.

Very much like the one I built for a 70 Ranger XLT F-250 Camper Special I used to have (a REALLY sweet, fully optioned luxury truck) Mine had a motion sensor too with a "disconnect" toggle switch for the M.S. in case the California "tremors" were too often   Mine used a round barrel key like you see on vending machines. That FIRE BELL was REALLY LOUD!

Sure do miss that old truck. Had a 428 and N.P. 4-speed conversion (originally a 390 C-6) I carried an overhead style camper with a rear bumper extension system. That 428 REALLY pulled as good as most of your "POWERSTROKES" do today...only it got 7-minutes to the gallon (sitting at a train or 70MPH fully loaded, was the same) When gas pushed up towards $2/gallon, had to let it go. Had Factory Ford Racing Pistons ("for racing purposes only" on the sides of the pistons)

[preaction]

Mike, that looks like a fire alarm bell !