The subject of the use and application of the thin flat plastic retainer strap attached to the metal post that is welded to the upper drivers side corner of the firewall, just under the cowl to firewall pinch weld came up in a thread and in my search for original examples I rand across a possible running change in how the retainer was "closed" and wanted to document this possible change and open up a discussion, reports of and findings to look into the subject
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As of 9/12/23 we have collected the following helping us determine at least when each version was used and the change over period somewhere in between sometime in April 68 and the start of May or so. We don't have have real built dates for the April built Dearborn examples.
So at this point I have the following according to what I'm seeing with VINs and or dates
Method or Version #1 - Straps attached post to post for lack of a better term at this point
- 8F5346xx Jan 24, 1968 build date
- 8F17189x Mar 27, 1968 possible scheduled build date
- 8F183XXX April 18, 1968 scheduled build date (CT428CJ)
- 8F18222x April 23, 1968 scheduled date. Picture does not show the end but the angle and direction suggests post to post
Method or Version #2 -Straps attached to the post and to itself with a plastic push pin
- 8Fxxxxxx May 4, 1968 (warwick)
- 8F20531x Built June 11, 1968
- 8F206XXX June 13, 1968 scheduled build date (CT428CJ)
- 8F206XX2 June 14, 1968 scheduled build date (CT428CJ)
- 8F02R211073 Built July 18, 1968 (Anghelrestorations)
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One from 8F17189x
This example appears to show that during the construction of this car they looped both ends to the anchor like the example above. 8F18222x
And one from later in the year and 8F20531x that is also featured in the 68 Unrestored Picture Thread section of this site.
