Topic: Ford Strike 1967

[68GTFastback]

Recently saw a reference to a union strike at Ford plants in 1967. How did this affect Mustang production in late 1967 at San Jose? My 68 Fastback S Code was built 9-30-67. The engine codes have been confusing to research. Some of the numbers appear to be mid 1967. Could a strike have contributed to this? The heads and exhaust manifolds appear to be 428, adding more confusion to the equation.

[midlife]

Don't' quote me, but I think the strike was from about the first of 1968 (possibly mid-December) through March...

[68GTFastback]

I have read that the strike was from about mid September 67 to mid November 67.

[carlite65]

http://blogs.mustangmonthly.com/6609751/miscellaneous/fords-unfortunate-1967-uaw-strike/index.html




http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,918342,00.html

[J_Speegle]

From the Mustang Production Guide Vol 2

"....This strike also adversely effected the beginnings of 1968 Mustang and Cougar production. The three lines came to a grinding halt in mid-September of 1967. The last scheduled builds prior to the strike were on September 20, 1967. The three lines were silent until late November."

Mid- August (approx a month prior to the strike) the mast production of the 68 model Mustangs began

68GTFastback is the 9-30 date from the door tag or from a Marti report?

[T Lea]

The strike made for dates on parts all over the place. I have a car built 3 weeks after strike ended and while some parts are early Nov, most are anywhere from 6/67 to 9/67

[68GTFastback]

The correct build date is 11/30 per the Marti Report.

[T Lea]

The correct build date is 11/30 per the Marti Report.

That is one day away from my build date (different plant but I would think similar patterns emerge)
Engine assembly date 11/21, block casting 11/14, heads 11/15,16 distributor 11/14. Exhaust manifolds 9 something, timing cover 9 something, fuel pump 9 something. Other notables, all glass either 6 or 7/67, rear end 7/67

[yelostang]

 Ca. built 68 cvt was scheduled for build Sept 15, '67. Actually produced on
Nov. 17, 1967  63 days behind schedule. #60** Marti Report.

[Oz390]

Dec '67 San Jose build convertible, VIN stamped engine and most it's components are July/August....

[T5owner]

Lot of detailed information on Sams site (based on input from the Ford Archive)
http://www.geocities.com/mustangs68.geo/fo-uaw.html

[68 S Code]

So the Sept 30 date was stamped on a door tag? Seems odd. If 9-6-68 was the last day of production prior to strike did for continue to assign build build dates hoping for a quick resolution? Are there cars out there with dates on door tags between 9-6 and 11-15? If so then it shows that date on tag is not an accurate build date for car. Nothing more than a guess by Ford when the car was scheduled for build.

[Bob Gaines]

So the Sept 30 date was stamped on a door tag? Seems odd. If 9-6-68 was the last day of production prior to strike did for continue to assign build build dates hoping for a quick resolution? Are there cars out there with dates on door tags between 9-6 and 11-15? If so then it shows that date on tag is not an accurate build date for car. Nothing more than a guess by Ford when the car was scheduled for build.

Something to consider is that the build date usually refers to when the car was finished not started. It took more then one day for the build process (painting the unibody and parts to driving off the end of the assemblyline )to happen . I think the completion date of a car off the end of the line is what the build date reflects. The start date of a particular car (in the case of the strike) could have been pre strike and the car didn't get finished until after the strike was over . The start date is something we do not have a record of at this time. Who knows how far along a car may have been built up to before the strike was over and then the rest of it was completed and the "build date" was posted for that particular car for the purpose of tracking production changes and parts. Just some more thoughts for the discussion to consider. Bob