Topic: 73 Q code air cleaner lid

[67foxgt390]

  Hello every one! I recently purchased my dream car a 73 Q code Convertible automatic. Making minor improvements to make it nicer. My question is what would determine whether the air cleaner would have the chrome lid versus the blue painted lid? Mine has the blue lid but I want to put on the chrome lid but want to be correct. Any one know or have thoughts on this? Thanks!!

[J_Speegle]

Looking at original unrestored cars I have pictures of I see both painted and chrome plated lids. Not sure if its a assembly period detail but would, at this point, keep the painted one.   Could always get a second one and chrome it (won't be cheap to do) and you can swap them out as you see fit or depending on what your doing with the car at the moment

Didn't notice until you asked and I looked through my pictures that the Q used both bases. Ones with the vacuum door on the drivers side and those that didn't. The only unrestored 73 Q code I've owned had the base with the door and chrome lid. Sorry don't recall when it was built.  With my limited number of examples its difficult at this moment to say if the chrome lid is related to the base and or when the car was built

3F01Q1461xx





3F03Q240xx

[7173Q4spd]

Jeff,

Did you own the car in the top pic with the chrome lid?

[J_Speegle]

Jeff,

Did you own the car in the top pic with the chrome lid?

No but did own another in the past - unrestored Q code 73 convertible. Bought it when a owner was considering trading it in on a new Ford Escort 
Only had to offer a couple of hundred over what the dealer was offering

[7173Q4spd]

Nice... The reason I asked is that I now own that particular car... I notice you reference a partial VIN associated with the pic, if it matters to you, it should read 146, not 148... Cheers

[J_Speegle]

Yes those details are important and thanks for the correction. Picture of the Marti report was not perfect and many numbers look like others but as you stated the windshield VIN shows the "6"

Great looking and very different - congratulations

[7173Q4spd]

It is still very original, although someone partially repainted it, unfortunately, But many aspects are as it left the factory. I guess you have seen the write up and pictures on the car when it was for sale.. I just got it home in the last two weeks. It is better in person and I will bring it to a higher level in the coming months. With all the talk on these air cleaner lids..., pretty sure this is original to the car and the lid sticker is the original applied at the factory. Of course fr me, it was the 4-speed that attracted me, 1 of 236 Hardtop's in '73... I have two other's, both C-6 car's...