Topic: 1967 Remote Control Mirror Control Knob

[196667Bob]

While on the Subject of 1967 Remote Control Mirrors (see recent Post by Fastback2013), I've been curious about the Knob that controls the Remote function. While most seem to be exactly like the one in the first picture attached (borrowing it from Fastback2013's Post), are a long tapered type Knob; however, mine (shown in the next two "not so great pictures), is a straight shaft with a "ball" on the end. I have seen quite a few others like this, so I know that mine isn't just a "freak".

Does  anyone know the "skinny' on this ? Was it an Early 67 thing (mine was built on January 31) ; a Plant variation (mine was built in Dearborn); a "Running Change"; or ?

Thanks,

Bob

[ruppstang]

The strait one is 67 and the ball one is 68. Many of the interior pieces were updated in 68 to make them safer. The mirror knob was one.

[196667Bob]

Marty : True; I understand that. However, the original Owner of my car notes that nothing was replaced; my Dad (the Second Owner), nor I after him never replaced it. Then there are the half dozen or so pictures that 67gta289 has of '67's showing the same knob.

Still the ?

Thanks,

Bob

[Bob Gaines]

Marty : True; I understand that. However, the original Owner of my car notes that nothing was replaced; my Dad (the Second Owner), nor I after him never replaced it. Then there are the half dozen or so pictures that 67gta289 has of '67's showing the same knob.

Still the ?

Thanks,

Bob

Most likely he forgot after 50 years. If there was a transition in 67 (possible very late) Jan 67 build would be way to early for the 68 detail. I  have seen far too many cars in later production(after Jan67) that had the typical 67 knob. The 68 style was on the vast majority of service replacements.Maybe Jeff Speegle has some pictures he typically labels them with vin and sometimes build date.

[67gta289]

I did a survey a while back and came up with examples of both styles for 67.  Refer to the attached file.

[Bob Gaines]

I did a survey a while back and came up with examples of both styles for 67.  Refer to the attached file.

I think your findings may be tainted. I am not skeptical that you could come up with both styles in 67 . Unless i am missing something It could just as easily be explained that the examples you found of the ball end style on a 67 car had been replaced instead of being untouched? I have changed my point of view before in light of new evidence . I myself would need more  evidence before I change a point of view that I have had for a long time because of personal observations. That is just me .Others my think differently.

[196667Bob]

Bob : Thanks for your insight.

John: Thanks for sharing your survey. At least I know I remembered correctly seeing the pictures and am not "crazy" ??

Let me just throw this out - is it possible that there could have been a "Safety Recall" notice to Dealers whereby they were told that if a car were brought in for Service they were to replace the "old style" remote Knob with the "Safer" (?) "Ball type" ? I haven't seen any reference to this in my TSB's, but maybe it wouldn't be. Just trying to justify so many that appear in John's "Survey". It would be interesting to see if the same thing is seen in Full Size Fords, Fairlanes and Falcons since the same mirror was used in them.

I just find it hard to belive that, even in the small sample size, so many required replacement. Just my opinion.

Bob

[Bob Gaines]

I just find it hard to belive that, even in the small sample size, so many required replacement. Just my opinion.

Bob

You are forgetting that during 50 years a lot can happen.

[67gta289]

I think your findings may be tainted. I am not skeptical that you could come up with both styles in 67 . Unless i am missing something It could just as easily be explained that the examples you found of the ball end style on a 67 car had been replaced instead of being untouched? I have changed my point of view before in light of new evidence . I myself would need more  evidence before I change a point of view that I have had for a long time because of personal observations. That is just me .Others my think differently.

Bob, all I really did was go through pictures of what are, to the best of my knowledge, unrestored cars.  As you stated, unrestored does not mean untouched.

I'm not convinced either way, but I would say that at this point I'm intrigued.

Attached is a chart based representation of what I found thus far.  Please note that the timeline represented is not perfect.  All I have is the VIN, not the build dates.  A Dearborn 124 car may have been built before a San Jose 120 car for example. 

Some observations from the chart:

1. Dearborn has only one, so it would be easy to write that off as a post.  However, I did inspect this car in person and it was very original, in very rough shape, and not even a repaint in the door jamb areas.  The door tag was in place, matched the inner fender, and was never removed.
2. Metuchen has none.  But I only found 4 cars with clear enough pictures of that area of the interior to report on.
3. San Jose has 28% ball style, and all except one are "first half".  But again the sampling is small.

If the argument is that a lot can happen in 50 years, I would think that a similar percentage would be found across the board.  That is what is really interesting.

It would be interesting to see if there are any 1966 date coded ball style mirrors.  It would also be great to get more data.

Personally I have it easy - my car had the tapered style originally and that is what is going back on.  If I were restoring a 67 that did not have the date coded ball style, I would go with tapered.  To avoid the drama, as you often recommend.

[67gtasanjose]

You are forgetting that during 50 years a lot can happen.

Yes, a lot can happen and (speculation here) if my "New Mustang", while under warranty or during routine scheduled maintenance at my local Ford dealer, had the remote mirror fail, I probably would have had it fixed. I imagine the Service Memo that Jeff shared was because too many mirrors were being "REPLACED" instead of repairing them. Ford probably didn't like that too much on the ones they picked up the tab for.

[ruppstang]

I have two SJ 67s. The first built 11-04-66 and the second built 05-11-67 both have the strait knob. I had two Dearborn 67s one built 07-20-67 the other I do not remember the build date but they both had the strait knobs.
Marty

[196667Bob]

John : If you add mine (which is an earlier Consec Unit No. than the one you listed) to your Survey, it drops the Dearborn sample of "straights" to 78%, which gets closer to the   % of SJ ones.
I have been trying for over a year now, to get some pictures from the original owner (a "still practicing 75 year old Dentist in a Suburb of St. Louis), of the car when it was new. So far, no luck. Either he doesn't know how to scan and email, can't find them, or just doesn't want to take the time (although he seemed pretty excited when I first and subsequently talked to him about "his" car). I  even tried going through his receptionist, thinking she may be able to do the scanning. This is one of those times where having pictures of when the car was new, could be of help. Next time I go to St. Lois to see my Son, I'm going to try to "hook up" with the Dentist, and maybe at least get to look at some pictures he may have. I can only hope.

Bob

[J_Speegle]

Yes, a lot can happen and (speculation here) if my "New Mustang", while under warranty or during routine scheduled maintenance at my local Ford dealer, had the remote mirror fail, I probably would have had it fixed. I imagine the Service Memo that Jeff shared was because too many mirrors were being "REPLACED" instead of repairing them. Ford probably didn't like that too much on the ones they picked up the tab for.

Its obvious that the problem with these was enough for Ford to spend thousands of dollars trying to address the problem

Bob will look though my pictures and offer what I find. As with most surveys I suggest (when you get all the input) you drop all the single car findings from the final results since any factory application of the "odd" shaft would have to fall into a period of others if done on the line. Standard has typically be for three consecutive findings but lets stretch it to just two for the first look

[196667Bob]

Jeff : Thanks. I "assume" (?) when you say "three consecutive findings" you mean 3 consecutive "unit number" findings. Is that correct ?

Bob

[J_Speegle]

John on your chart what does the brown findings indicate in the San Jose column?

Jeff : Thanks. I "assume" (?) when you say "three consecutive findings" you mean 3 consecutive "unit number" findings. Is that correct ?

Unfortunately and since we don't have real build dates for all the examples I think that is the only way you can list them. It will not provide a consecutive list of cars as they were built but I can at the moment thing of a better way





To that end I looked through my San Jose examples for a start. Disregarded any that were restored and ones where there was no picture of that area of the car (picture from the passenger side put the steering column right in the way every time Around a thousand cars whittled down to a few - 29 cars with pictures of the knob installed.

Found only three cars with the round tip control spaced almost evenly through the production year so those don't support a late production thing at this point.

Will get to the others when I find a few more hours to focus on this

San Jose list by number - Enjoy

7R10159x
7R10387x
7R11296x 
7R11073x
7R11298x 
7R12449x
7R1277xx 
7R1467xx 
7R1469xx 
7R14497x
7R15734x
7R1584xx  - Round
7R15988x
7R1755xx - Build date Feb 6
7R1820xx 
7R18300x
7R187106x
7R18837x
7R1927xx  - Round
7R19536x
7R1951xx 
7R2019xx 
7R2024xx 
7R2115xx 
7R21370x 
7R21371x  - Round
7R21382x 
7R21390x
7R22307x
7R23208x