Topic: '67 ribbed tail light panel option

[V8_bloke_28]

Jeff
The marti report shows the option.
Paint code is definitely 8.
So does that mean that everything should be painted yellow?

[67gtasanjose]

If you've confirmed with a Marti report that it had the option and the paint code on the door tag and Marti report is a single digit as I understand it it would not have the gray rear taillight panel or the tail light panel grill painted gray

Jeff
The marti report shows the option.
Paint code is definitely 8.
So does that mean that everything should be painted yellow?

Yep! I have seen them painted white (many years ago) on what I believed to be a factory-paint white GTA 390 fastback. I did not have a Marti report though, year I saw this was circa 1980, first time I even knew the ribbed tail panel ( a.k.a rear grille) option was available.

[J_Speegle]

Jeff
The marti report shows the option.
Paint code is definitely 8.
So does that mean that everything should be painted yellow?

That is the current understanding. If the taillight panel had been originally painted gray along with the optional panel the door tag paint could would document that. Same goes for the few cars ordered with no optional panel and the blacked -out/gray taillight panel option - both would have an additional digit just like other years did for other paint options/details

[196667Bob]

SUMMARY OF REAR DECK ORNAMENTATION FINDINGS - PART I

I had hoped that I would have all of the information documented before Posting this, but, as you will see in reading it, there is one item still "up in the air". Hopefully, some of our readers will respond with documented picture information to "fill in the blanks".

Due to only being able to attach 10 pictures to a single Post, this will be presented in two Parts. The first will cover the Rear Panels themselves, and their Attaching Parts ; the second will cover the Paint. Be sure to read, and/ or copy, both Parts in order to get the "whole picture".

Before getting into details, a little nomenclature.  This Option, only available in 1967, was noted in the Sales Brochures, Salesman's Price Book, and the Showroom Options book as "Rear Grill Ornamentation", "Grill, Lower Back Panel", and "Rear Grill", respectively. On this Forum, it has been generically called "Rear Deck Grill", "Rear Ribbed Panel", and "Ribbed Taillight Panel", among others.  However, Ford's "official" name for this, as noted in the Parts books was "Panel Assembly, Lower Back Applique". The Service Part Numbers for these were C7ZZ-6340584-A (RH), and C7ZZ-6340585-A (LH) for Fastbacks, and C7ZZ-6540584-A (RH), and C7ZZ-6540585-A (LH) for Coupes and Convertibles.

REAR DECK GRILL PANELS
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The "Rear Grill" was only available as a Factory Option, not as an Accessory/ Dealer Option, In order to add this Option for $19.48, one first had to order the Exterior Decor Option (which included pop-open gas cap, wheel lip moldings, rear deck and quarter panel moldings and functional louvered hood with integral turn signals)  for $38.86.  In its "Standard" form, the rear grill would be painted the same color as the body of the car ; but, for an additional $12.95, the "Two-Tone Paint" Option could be added. The "Two-Tone Paint" Option was only offered in Dark Gray Metallic (see more details on paint later). Contrary to the belief of many,  the "Two-Tone Paint" Option did not require the Rear Grill, but could be purchased on its own ; again, only in the Dark Gray Metallic color.

Interestingly, either Ford's initial idea was either to offer the Rear Grill on Fastbacks only, or it was just an out and out mistake, but the early 1967 Mustang Sales Brochure (dated 8/66) noted "...rear grill ornamentation (2+2), ..." ; yet the same brochure clearly has a picture of it on a Convertible. So, if it was, in fact, Ford's original idea for Fastback only, the idea was very short lived. Besides appearing on the Convertible in the early brochure, there was no "caveat" of (2+2) shown in either the Ford Facts Book (which usually was available at Model Introduction time), or in the Salesman's Price Book that I have dated 10/17/66. In addition, the Ford List Price Book dated November 1, 1966 shows the Rear Grills as Service Parts for both Fastbacks and Coupes/ Convertibles.

Like virtually all Factory Parts, Service Parts could be purchased from the Parts Counter ; as noted in the List Price Book noted above,  $15.65 for RH, and $15.65 for LH for Fastbacks, and $14.75 for RH and $14.75 for LH for Coupes/ Convertibles. In each case, they are noted  "Includes Attaching Parts".  However, if one is thinking of adding this Option to a car that didn't have it originally, as these were Service Parts and not an Accessory or Accessory Kit, don't expect to find any Installation Instruction Sheets or Template. The only options here are either to "wing it" based on measurements of the stud locations on the panels themselves and the taillight openings, or find a friend who has this Option and ask them to measure the hole diameters and locations.  This, however, may not be too easy since, according to Kevin Marti's book, "Mustang... by the Numbers (1967-1973)", only 4,180 (1026 Coupes, 2779 Fastbacks, 375 Convertibles) were built with this Factory Option. That is less than 1% of the total of 472,209 Mustangs produced for the 1967 Model Year.

Unfortunately, the Body Assembly Manual Drawing of the Rear Deck Grill (copy attached with major portions of non-applicable areas "X'd" out for clarity), does not give sizes of holes or locations.  Interestingly though, is the "Note" that reads " See Drwg. (C7ZB-6540324) for Size and Locating Dimensions of Holes to Receive Studs of Panel Assy., Items 6 and 7." To date, this Drawing has yet to be found.
While on the topic of the Assembly Manual drawing, here is an interesting "tidbit" ; while it is generally agreed that Part Numbers shown in the Assembly Manuals are Engineering/ Factory Assembly Line Part Numbers, in the majority of cases these are also "Identification Numbers" that are cast, tagged, or stamped on the part ; however, this is not the case in regard to the Rear Deck Grills. For example, on the RH Rear Grill for Coupes and Convertibles, the Service Part Number is C7ZZ-6540584-A, the Engineering Number is C7ZB-6540584, and the casting number is C7ZB-65403A 76 -  C  RH". A similar scenario also appears on the Fastback Rear Grills ; C7ZZ-6340584-A, C7ZB-6340584, and C7ZB-63403A 76 C RH.  Another interesting "tidbit" ; note that5 there is no "dash" (-) between the "76" and the "C" on the Fastback Rear Grill Castings like there is on the Coupe/ Convertible ones.

ATTACHING HARDWARE/ PARTS

According to the Assembly Manual, the following attaching parts are to be used with each Rear Grill half (applies to both Coupe/Convertible and Fastback grills) :

   4 - C7OB-63424A50-A , Seal, Lower Back Panel Molding
   4 - 376423-S100, Crown Nut (for studs cast into Rear Deck Grill)
   6 - 377523-S100, Nut and Washer Assy (for studs around taillight openings)
   6 - 381680-S36, Stud, Install to Dimension Shown

Looking at each, one at a time ;

The seals (8 total required) carried a Service Part Number of C7GY-63424A50-A. As shown in the Assembly Manual and in the picture of an installed one attached, these are a medium hard rubber, truncated trapezoidal solid (for you geometry nuts), with a hole in the middle for the stud cast into the Rear Grill Panels to pass through.
I have never run across any of these as Service Parts, nor have I found these being reproduced. Thus, 5 or 6 years ago, using an original seal, I purchased some similar square, rubber cord material and made an oak jig in order to make my own. I made several sets for myself and a friend, and have no more material remaining. As I do still have the jig, I suppose that, if warranted, I could make some more.

The 376423-S100, Crown Nuts (8 total required), carry a "standard" Hardware Part Number, however, they do not appear in my 1961, 1965, 1966, 1969, or 1975 Standard and Utility Parts Books. Luckily, AMK's "Guide to Ford Fasteners" book does list them as a stamped metal, acorn and flange type, #10, self-threading, nut (see attached illustration).

I have not come across a source for these either. AMK does list a "Taillight Panel Moldings Kit", but the contents' description notes "Stamped Acorn Nuts". These are not correct if they are, in fact,  just "Stamped Acorn Nuts" and not "Stamped Acorn Flange Nuts". My "guess is that they are just "Stamped Acorn Nuts", as AMK does not list a separate "Stamped Acorn Flange Nut" in a #10, self-threading nut.  AMK does show a self-threading "Stamped Flange Nut", but in only a 1/8" size.  As the 1/8" size is considerably smaller than a #10, I, personally, would be hesitant to use it on a stud on an original panel, for fear of breaking the stud off of the panel.

The 377523-S100 Nut and Washer Assy (12 total required), also carries a "standard" Hardware Part Number, and does appear in the 1969 Ford S&UPC(picture attached). It is noted as an 8-32, Stamped Steel (PAL type) nut with an 11/32" hex, and a flange diameter of 15/32"(picture of actual fastener attached).  However, it appears that there may be a controversy if these were, in fact used (see pictures attached previously Posted by 67gta289). Although, it is hard to say that there is a controversy based on just one picture of an original, known Factory Rear Grill Option's fasteners taken from inside the trunk. On this picture, the fasteners used on the 12 studs around the 6 taillight openings, appear to be solid, high profile (2 to 3 times the height of a standard 8-32 nut), flange nut. Yet, I can find no such fastener shown in 8-32 in any of my Ford Standard and Utility Parts Catalogs, nor in AMK's "Guide to Ford Fasteners". Possibly these were "Factory Only" and not available as Service Parts (or the ones shown in the one original picture are just incorrect, and they should be those noted in the Assembly Manual).

Therefore, if anyone has a 1967, of any model, with a known Factory Option Rear Grill, please furnish some pictures of its fasteners from inside the trunk of your car.

The 381680-S36 Studs (12 required), are listed as  8-32 Studs, 2-1/4" overall length. with      2-1/16" threaded, and with a zinc dichromate finish (illustration from Assembly Manual is attached - note that the fastener shown with the stud appears to be the "high profile" type noted above, even though the hardware Part Number notes otherwise ?).
The next question then arises ; "are the same as the studs on the "standard" chrome taillight bezels" ? Unfortunately, since the studs are included as an "assembly" on the standard chrome bezel, there is no separate Part Number given for "just the studs" on the standard bezels. However, taking a standard bezel, and removing its studs, reveals that the studs are identical, including the finish (picture attached of standard bezel with studs).

[196667Bob]

SUMMARY OF REAR DECK ORNAMENTATION FINDINGS - PART II


PAINT

While, neither my original "1967 Only" or 1965-72 Master Parts Catalogs, have a separate “Paint” Section", my 1960-68 MPC does. In the “Exterior Paint (Acrylic Enamel)” Section (all Ford Exterior Paint was Acrylic Enamel starting in 1966), is noted “Dark Gray Metallic, Code 5, Part Number AR60 1988 (Mustang two-tone, lower back panel)".  This color  code, "AR", actually stands for Acrylic Lacquer.
What makes this interesting is that, as noted above, beginning in 1966, all Fords were painted with Acrylic Enamel (AE), yet the two-tone Dark Gray Metallic is noted in the "Exterior Paint (Acrylic Enamel)” Section as “AR” (Acrylic Lacquer).  It is my personal opinion that Ford, not wanting the two-tone back panel to be "glossy" like the body paints, went to the Acrylic Lacquer, which in its unfinished, un-rubbed out, un-buffed state exhibited a "semi-gloss" or "semi-flat" appearance.  I cannot think of another reason for this being done.

In order to get a "better idea" of what the Ford Dark Gray Metallic noted looked like, I had my DuPont jobber mix up a pint. Of course they don't do Acrylic Lacquer anymore due to all of the Fed regulations, so using the Ford Code for the Acrylic Lacquer, they mixed it in Chroma Premier (basically an Acrylic Enamel) ; to this I have to add a "flattener" in order to do away with the gloss look.  A couple of years ago when a similar topic on VMF led to someone bringing up the color issue, a member replied that, to him, the SEM Dark Titanium Metallic, Part # 39263, looked very close to the original Ford Dark Gray Metallic, Code 5, AR60 1988.  I obtained a spray can of the SEM, and painted two sample pieces in order to compare the colors. Not wanting to mix my  high $ pint of mixed paint yet, I just brushed my sample right out of the can (no flattener), which I felt would be adequate for color comparison. As you can see by the attached pictures of the two samples, the SEM paint, although close,  appears (at least to me) to have more black in it, and not as much metallic as the Ford Code mixed paint, which also appears to have more gray in it.

I have also attached a picture (previously Posted by Jeff_S) that shows how the two tone paint was applied to the body. While this picture is of a car that previously had the rear grills (as evidenced by the additional holes in the sheet metal taillight panel), a car ordered with only the two tone Option (no rear grills), would have been painted in the same manner.

 Of course if you're car didn't come with the two-tone option (or if you are adding the Rear Grill and don't want the two-tone Option), your grills will be the same as the color of your car, and you won't have to worry about the Dark Gray Metallic.

I trust that this will give all of those interested, a better understanding of the 1967 "Panel Assembly, Lower Back Applique".

And hopefully, we will get some responses with pictures of the taillight area inside the trunk, which show the original fasteners that were used.

Bob

[67gta289]

Excellent work Bob, thanks for sharing.

[J_Speegle]

Thanks Bob - seems to summarize the thoughts and findings so far. Been following this option for decades - and unfortunately so many have been added and swapped it's lead to allot of random findings and "evidence". Such a rare option - especially with the tutone option on top of it all.

Did we ever figure out (yet) if the offering was limited to a part of the production year as far as you recall?

[196667Bob]

Jeff : I don't believe that anything definitive has ever been documented. For those reading this who wonder why this question has arisen, it is because that the manufacturing plant that produced these castings, burned down, and the molds were destroyed. This would pretty well explain why this Option wasn't offered for 1968 (as well as the fact that I noted that very few were ordered on the 1967 Models). However, the question has long been asked if this loss affected this Option being available for the entire 1967 Model year.

To this question, I can only offer the following documentation :

      1) This Option was shown a available in the 1967 Mustang Sales Brochure dated 8/66.
     
      2) This Option is listed in the Ford Saleman's Price Book dated 10/17/66

      3) This Option once again is shown as available in the 1967 Sales Brochure dated 4/67.

      4) Page M7-8500-3(dated 4/05/67) of the Body Assembly Manual, shows the Assembly Line installation details of this Option.

      5) The Salesman's Price Book dated 5/29/67 continues to show this Option.

      6) The Service Parts for the panels are all listed in both the November 1, 1966, and the May 1, 1967 Ford Suggested List Price Books. I do not have any Ford Price Books
          beyond those.

      7) Unfortunately, the Ford OSI (Obsolete-Superseded-Interchange) books are of no help. I looked through every tear from 1967 through 1979, and none of the four Part
          Numbers ever appears. It looks like this one of those cases where a part, instead of being noted as "NR" (Not Replaced - Obsolete), just disappears.

      Finally, not to say that none exist, I have never come across a Special Service Letter, Memo, TSB, etc. that addresses the status of the panels.

That all being said, it appears to me that this Option was available throughout the 1967 Model year. Between extras produced for Service Parts, and the minimal desire to add this Option, Ford probably had enough to accommodate the demand.

Bob

[carlite65]

'That all being said, it appears to me that this Option was available throughout the 1967 Model year. '

i disagree. iirc there was a fire that destroyed the plant and tooling before the model year ran out. it was not replaced.

[196667Bob]

'That all being said, it appears to me that this Option was available throughout the 1967 Model year. '

i disagree. iirc there was a fire that destroyed the plant and tooling before the model year ran out. it was not replaced.

You of course have every right to disagree. However, there are two types of disagreement ; "subjective" and "objective". Since you have provided no documentation, I would then assume that your disagreement as subjective.

While my belief that this Option was available throughout the Model year may also be considered subjective, it is based on documentation and logic. Specifically as follows :

    1) While I have heard about the fire at the plant that manufactured the panels for Ford (as I noted in my opening Reply to Jeff above) for years, I have never seen any
        documentation as to if this actually occurred, or if it did, when it occurred.

    2) If the fire did, in fact occur, and before the end of the Model year, it would seem logical, especially since they were offered for all three Models, that all three Plants would
        have been supplied with a good quantity of the panels prior to the beginning of the 1967 Model run. After all, these were not manufactured after an order was
        placed, but taken from an inventory at the Plant. My guess is also that Ford projected a lot more than 4180 of the 68,350 buyers of the Exterior Decor Option would purchase
        these.

    3) The fact that this Option still shows up in the April 1967 Sales Brochure, as a Service Part in the May 1, 1967 Ford Suggested List Price Book, and especially in the May 29,
        1967 Salesman's Price Book, suggests that it was available at least as of May 29, 1967.

    4) Finally, as the panel were available as Service Parts as early as November 1, 1966, and until at least May 1, 1967, it stands to reason that a quantity of inventory was
        available at both Plants and at least the Parts Depots.

So, while my supposition may also be considered somewhat subjective, it is based on information that was printed at the times noted.

Bob

[J_Speegle]

    2) If the fire did, in fact occur, and before the end of the Model year, it would seem logical, especially since they were offered for all three Models, that all three Plants would have been supplied with a good quantity of the panels prior to the beginning of the 1967 Model run. After all, these were not manufactured after an order was placed, but taken from an inventory at the Plant. My guess is also that Ford projected a lot more than 4180 of the 68,350 buyers of the Exterior Decor Option would purchase these.

Just a comment about this particular item. Since no one knew (if and when it took place) the fire was going to take place there would have been no effort to increase production or store additional inventory at the plants. Plants had no provision for extended storage and order inventory based on possible need. Not a hot item - likely not many kept in stock. If your figures are correct basically you have 1400 per plant so 100 units a month. Sure that by the 6th month of production someone realized these were not selling well so they may have ordered more in the beginning and less in the last half of the year.  Extra inventory went into the parts departments of Ford

Not a big deal or point just a discussion.   

[67gta289]

I have a copy of a Marti report from 7R01A230*** ordered June 7, serialized June 21, scheduled July 10, actual July 13, released July 15, sold October 31.  It has the lower back panel grille option.

As always one piece of information does not a rule make, but added to other documentation it certainly falls in line with the option being available for the whole model year.

[J_Speegle]

For the earliest I have an Aug 22 1966 completed car at San Jose. With the tutone (Gray rear panel treatment) paint package. Loaded big block fastback - was ordered as a introductory show car.

Don't have any late Marti's (compared to John's July)  with the option

[196667Bob]

John and Jeff : Thanks for taking the time to dig into your archives of Marti's to come up with those dates. While not covering the complete Model year, I believe that they are close enough to the beginning and end to support the likelihood that this Option was available throughout the Model year.

Bob

[Horsman]

Here is my 67 K with the grey back panel paint option.  Build date 3/2/67 from Dearborn