Topic: 1965 rally pac

[rodster]

I notice a mark around my steering column that could indicate there was a rally pac installed at one time. Is there any way to look at the wiring under the dash to tell if it was factory installed?

From what I've researched, the 65 should have a low profile but I could not find a definitive answer as to whether it would have been black or color matched to the interior.

Also, the rally pac was not included with the GT option or the pony interior option correct?

Thanks...

[CharlesTurner]

Rally-pac's were standalone factory or dealer options and not grouped with any other option.

The behind-the-dash harness for a rally-pac is just an auxiliary harness that plugs into the main harness.  So, even the presence wouldn't necessarily confirm your car had a rally-pac when new.  Although, if the wiring was original FoMoCo and appeared to be un-tampered, the probability would be higher.

Since these were commonly dealer-installed, we see variants in the types of interiors.  Generally, the high-profile style rally-pac was used with the falcon-style instrument cluster and was always (supposed to be) black crinkle finish.  The low-profile was most typically used with the 5 dial instrument cluster, found on GT standard interior or deluxe interior cars (that were GT's too.)  The low-profile could be color-coordinated to the steering column color or simply black.

[steve_f]

Charles,

Was the plain bridge high profile Ford rally pac always dealer installed or was it ever used at the factory, May 15, 1965 San Jose in particular?  I assumed that since mine was not the Mustang labeled one that it wasn't factory.

Steve

[rodster]

Thanks for all of the info Charles.  I'll take a look around under the dash and see if I can find an auxiliary harness.

[CharlesTurner]

Was the plain bridge high profile Ford rally pac always dealer installed or was it ever used at the factory, May 15, 1965 San Jose in particular?  I assumed that since mine was not the Mustang labeled one that it wasn't factory.

I guess you're referring to the version that does not have 'RALLY - PAC' in the middle?  If so, I have never been able to find any concrete evidence one way or the other.  It is generally accepted that the factory-installed one had 'RALLY - PAC' and dealer-installed was blank with 'FORD' on the tach.  Although, both varieties were sold through Ford parts counters.

[rockhouse66]

You might look for the little hole for the sheet metal screw that retains the bottom of the wiring harness cover, way down towards the bottom of the dash near the column, as another clue that it might have had a Rally Pac installed.

[CharlesTurner]

You might look for the little hole for the sheet metal screw that retains the bottom of the wiring harness cover, way down towards the bottom of the dash near the column, as another clue that it might have had a Rally Pac installed.

Yes, for the low profile, only.

[steve_f]

I guess you're referring to the version that does not have 'RALLY - PAC' in the middle?  If so, I have never been able to find any concrete evidence one way or the other.  It is generally accepted that the factory-installed one had 'RALLY - PAC' and dealer-installed was blank with 'FORD' on the tach.  Although, both varieties were sold through Ford parts counters.

Thanks Charles.  Yes the blank bridge with FORD on the tach is the one I have.  Would I have to remove it then for a concours restoration?  How many points would I lose if I kept it on?

Steve

[rodster]

You might look for the little hole for the sheet metal screw that retains the bottom of the wiring harness cover, way down towards the bottom of the dash near the column, as another clue that it might have had a Rally Pac installed.

Could this be the hole you are talking about?  Never noticed it until you mentioned it! 

[rodster]

Here's what first gave me a clue a rally pac might have been installed at one time. Funny how you can look at a car for hours and still not notice some things. My eye is becoming more trained tho'! 

[rockhouse66]

Could this be the hole you are talking about?  Never noticed it until you mentioned it! 

Yes, that's the hole location I was talking about, but I think Charles is saying a '65 would not have this?  I am not very familiar with '65 Rally Pacs; mine is a '66.

[drummingrocks]

Yes, that's the hole location I was talking about, but I think Charles is saying a '65 would not have this?

The high-profile design (used with the '65-style Falcon speedometer) wouldn't have had the metal wiring gutter.  On these rally pacs, the wiring just feeds down below the dash.  The metal wiring gutter was only used with the low-profile rally pac (used with the 5-gauge speedometer).  Thus, only a low-profile rally pac would've had a screw in the bottom of the dash.