Topic: Front Shoulder Harness Delete

[ruppstang]

I was given a 1968 Marti report that in the options listed Front Shoulder Harness Delete. I have not see this before, have any of you?
Also the DSO is 89 Transportation Services Ordering  Services. I am not sure what that is.

[jwc66k]

DSO 89 (and 80 thru 88) is an internal Ford ordering code possibly used for Ford management. Other 8x codes are government, testing and other orders not intended for (initially) commercial use. Is there a destination address on the Marti report?
Jim

[ruppstang]

Just a Dealer number 89210J. It was a basic Marti Report.

[J_Speegle]

Just a Dealer number 89210J. It was a basic Marti Report.

Wonder what a full report would provide some close numbers I have on file include the following. Especially what would be shown under Type of Order. Have some interesting ones marked Testing and or Styling Purposes

DSO - 89  Home Office Reserve Ordering District
Type of order - Company Lease Plan         
Dealer - 89280J  Ford Motor Corporation COB Room A-5 Dearborn MI 48121
NOTE: since yours has the seal belt option I double the two are related

DSO - Home Office Reserve Ordering District
Type of order - Special Purpose Vehicle     
Dealer - 89207K  Ford Motor Corporation RM 247 17101 Rotunda  Dearborn MI 48121

[NEFaurora]

Weird Option...

I've never seen that one either!  Definitely strange...!  Though nothing out of DSO 89 or DSO 90 would surprise me... since those were Ford Corporate DSO's along with 80 thru 88.

Kind of funny...especially in '68 when Safety was one of Ford's paramount "Better Ideas".  I find it strange to delete or Omit a part such as this.  I guess that the new '68 Shoulder harnesses were not Federally mandated yet.....though they were installed.  Strange!

Does it say on the Marti Report where the car was delivered to???

Either way, A great story to the car's history.

)

Tony K.

[J_Speegle]

Does it say on the Marti Report where the car was delivered to???

Since it was just a standard report all that is on the sheet is the dealer number and since  it appears that its likely an internal use number rather than a resale dealership its part of the puzzle at this point

Reply #2
"Just a Dealer number 89210J. It was a basic Marti Report."

[ruppstang]

Here is the Marti report.

[jwc66k]

There might be better info on a deluxe Marti report, like who ordered the car thru DSO 89210J. I see that Jeff knows where it it (see above).
Another look at Jeff's post shows that it's a lease car. For reference: employees at Ford Aerospace in Palo Alto at pay grade 8 and up (they were usually engineers and management at that pay grade), had a benefit of leasing any Ford product (big trucks excluded) for a real low price. This benefit extended to all Ford, Ford Aerospace and other Ford subsidiaries. As a San Jose build, it's possible the car went to any one of the West Coast facilities. Are there any service stickers left on the door?
Jim

[67gtasanjose]

Here is the Marti report.

NICE!
How you special order a "SLEEPER"!
Surprised is didn't have disc brakes and HD suspension so whoever made up the order sounds to be somewhat old-school in '68. I bet it screams! (I put together a 67 fb using a J-code, 4 speed 3:00, so I know first hand how well it would have run! Mine had drums and std susp. too!)

[J_Speegle]

Since its was/is a San Jose built car it tends to change or limit the possibilities IMHO since cars destined for testing, styling and so on were typically built at Dearborn from what I've seen and collected.

[stangerdude]

I will answer the first question and let others decide the DSO number issue. Yes, I have seen a shoulder harness delete car before. I briefly owned a very original 68 coupe that was missing the shoulder harnesses which I thought was strange. It did have the original headliner with no holes for any of the shoulder belt hardware. This was many years ago  before Marti got his Ford info. I though possibly San Jose had run out of items related to the shoulder harnesses and let the car roll down the line anyway but now I know it was possible to have them deleted. This car also had the clip on seat back panels with map pocket most likely from a Cougar XR-7 (??). that were on the car from day one. The interior was completely original and mint and one of the best driving 68's I have owned. someone needed it more than me and offered an obscene amount for it. Still kick myself for letting that one go!

[midlife]

I may be wrong, but I believe the shoulder belt harnesses were mandated by the Feds as of Jan 1, 1968.  I suspect that Ford simply planned ahead and decided to include those harnesses in all of their cars when production of 68 vehicles began.  Thus, there may have been a period of 4-5 months when one could order the car with the shoulder harness deleted and still not violate the law.  The Dec. build date may support this hypothesis.

[ruppstang]

  As a San Jose build, it's possible the car went to any one of the West Coast facilities. Are there any service stickers left on the door?
Jim
[/quote]

I have not seen the car.