Topic: 1966 convertible top switch

[carlite65]

took in a 66 conv. today for cleaning detailing. this car has the convertible top switch mounted just to the right of the ashtray. it appears to be factory installed. i have never seen one in this position. anyone care to comment please.

[CharlesTurner]

Never seen one there, would have to have a pretty strong case of explaining it for folks to accept.

[carlite65]

the owner says that his brother also has a 66 with the switch in the same place. i'm going to investigate and see if this was a manual top car to begin with & was converted somewhere along the line.

[CharlesTurner]

There's lots of stuff to check...  Look for marks where the manual clamps might have been bolted down to the rear of the quarter areas. 

[C5ZZKGT]

converted from a manual top would be my guess, and the switch you describe sounds like may be a '67-'68 unit.....got any pictures we could see??

[NEFaurora]

Yeah, Never seen this one... Sounds like a Manual to Power conversion to me... Whomever it was who installed it, Did'nt do much research as to where the switch went..lol..

Tony K.

[carlite65]

here is a pic of the top switch. still have not done any further investigation in this area.

[C5ZZKGT]

WOW!!!!! It looks like a correct '65-'66 switch but its sure mounted (dash cut) in a weird non original place! I thought originally that you were talking about a switch that was mounted on a bracket under the dash.....

[carlite65]

the owner tells me his brother has another convertible with the top switch in the same place. this car has a late august 65 build date according to the repop door tag. very little about this car is correct.

[CharlesTurner]

Think we would have seen a few of them by now if it was a sporadic assembly line practice at one point during the year.  I'm guessing they have the only 2 like that!

[carlite65]

i gotta pull the heater box later this week for a motor replacement. going to check the wires then.

[carlite65]

got under the dash today & had a look at the switch & wiring. i am not that familiar with exactly what it should look like. so here is a picture of what i have in there now. is the wiring original?? are the fasteners original?? what about the backing plate?? comments please.

[Ivygreen65]

Looks like the right switch and the right wiring in the wrong spot. 

[Twilight65]

Heres a pic of my 66 removed from the dash. top of picture is top of switch. Looks a little different.

Dave

[NEFaurora]

That switch was obviously added within the last few years.. There is like no oxidation on the backplate... No way that was originally done like that.. There should be at least 45 years of dust/dirt/sand in that area...

If that is original, I will eat my shoe.


You think that it's any surprise that his brothers convertible has the switch in the same spot? That's because it was done by the same backyard restorer...lol.. 

Tony K.