Topic: 1970 Boss 302 Decor Interior Radio Bezel Discussion

[Bossbill]

NOTE: The first 19 posts were originally part of another discussion. Since the discussion started to focus on one particular detail I thought it a good time to separate these from the original thread

To piggy-back on Doug's post...

Back around the time I got the Shelby I also purchased a Boss 302.
It has all the exterior adds (shaker, slats, wing, wheels) as well as a 63B code deluxe interior coded EA.

As per the Farr book:
"The Decor Group included knitted vinyl seats or spectrum 'blazer' cloth seats (vermillion or ginger colors only), deluxe 2 spoke steering wheel (with woodgrain insert), woodgrain instrument appliques and molded door panels with woodgain inserts and courtesy lights. [ed:skip exterior color section] The Boss 302 Decor Interior option  was very similar to the Mach I interior, but did not include a clock or woodgrain radio molding. [ed:the clock could be ordered and would be round with Decor Group]."

My car has this interior with the three woodgrain buttons (each front) and two for each side of the rear seat. It has the no-woodgrain radio bezel and molded door panels.
It also has its crappy original no toe pad carpet!

The only difference is that mine has the optional 3 spoke rim-blow.

If I read the NPD catalog right, each Decor button is $17 !

[HDAshmore]

Boss Bill,

Thanks for the confirmation.

Couple of things I've now learned or still scratching my head on.

I did not know the clock did not come with the Wood grain dash pieces.  I would of put one in without thinking twice.

Wood grain insert in two spoke is another learned bit.

I also did not know the radio bezel would be camera case vice woodgrain as mentioned by both you and Doug..  My Boss does not have a radio listed in the Eminger or window sticker, no antennae hole in fender, so I believe mine is a radio delete car.  However I spent the money on wood grain radio delete plate already so may have to do some thinking on that one. 

This is where assuming gets me in trouble and shows how research, friends, experts and survivors lead you to closer to the real truth.

Thanks all,
Dan in Kansas

[J_Speegle]

Couple of things I've now learned or still scratching my head on.

I did not know the clock did not come with the Wood grain dash pieces.  I would of put one in without thinking twice.

If the gauges had the woodgrain (70 Boss Deluxe interior packages)  so would the passenger filler or clock panel as well as the heater/radio surround

I also did not know the radio bezel would be camera case vice woodgrain as mentioned by both you and Doug..  My Boss does not have a radio listed in the Eminger or window sticker, no antennae hole in fender, so I believe mine is a radio delete car.  However I spent the money on wood grain radio delete plate already so may have to do some thinking on that one. 

You correct in that the shipping invoice and the Marti report (as well as other documents) would have the radio and type of radio printed on them if your car was ordered without a radio. My Boss is the same

[hopey]

If the gauges had the woodgrain (70 Boss Deluxe interior packages)  so would the passenger filler or clock panel as well as the heater/radio surround



You correct in that the shipping invoice and the Marti report (as well as other documents) would have the radio and type of radio printed on them if your car was ordered without a radio. My Boss is the same

Jeff, are you sure about the radio woodgrain surround? There are several threads over on the BOSS site plus two owners in this thread that their deluxe interior had the standard black radio surround. My car is also deluxe interior and has the same black radio surround.

[J_Speegle]

Jeff, are you sure about the radio woodgrain surround? There are several threads over on the BOSS site plus two owners in this thread that their deluxe interior had the standard black radio surround. My car is also deluxe interior and has the same black radio surround.

Ones I have pictures of do. Of course you have examples where radios were not ordered with cars and added to the cars at the dealerships, panels being replaced over the years and other things like possible supply issues if the examples without the wood grain were all built at the same plant at the same or about the same time. Also we have the great IMHO possibility of cars being changed over the 50 plus years especially higher valued and performance based cars.

Don't understand why Ford would design an interior using the woodgrain and not use a radio plate they were making and installing on other cars with the same wood grain on doors and dashes as they did the previous years.

[Bossbill]

I found it interesting that Farr mentioned the camera case center too.

Perhaps the no radio center came in camera case only?  Is the radio block off part of the center a separate piece? Or a one piece like the 67?

[hopey]

Ones I have pictures of do. Of course you have examples where radios were not ordered with cars and added to the cars at the dealerships, panels being replaced over the years and other things like possible supply issues if the examples without the wood grain were all built at the same plant at the same or about the same time. Also we have the great IMHO possibility of cars being changed over the 50 plus years especially higher valued and performance based cars.

Don't understand why Ford would design an interior using the woodgrain and not use a radio plate they were making and installing on other cars with the same wood grain on doors and dashes as they did the previous years.

Jeff,

Not sure I understand either, although we do know Shinoda wasn?t a fan of ?dress up? accessories.

Back in 2003 there was an owners survey on that other forum, the majority (approx 2/3) including many original owners commented that their BOSS 302 with the deluxe interior had the black camera trim with original AM radios or 8-tracks. Furthermore in addition to the previous comments about Donald Farr?s book, there are interior photos in his book showing the woodgrain instrument and passenger panel but camera case black radio surround.

I did have a look at the photo gallery of unrestored examples here, but there are no interior BOSS 302 photos that I found.

Mine came equipped with AM radio if that is of relevance. Maybe FM radio got the woodgrain?

[Bossbill]

Ignore my previous ramblings. I hadn't done my homework.

The no radio center is one piece.
If you had a deluxe dash it would be woodgrain.

There were dealers that liked to order cars without radios so that they could add them and net the profit.
Perhaps when they added radios they used the std radio bezel? Could be more of them were available.

Maybe someone has a dealer add-on kit to show?

[HDAshmore]

Team,.

Good evening.  I'm glad I asked my question and conversation has evolved.  I have yet to double check my Marti report and Eminger.  But, if I understand the dominant responses so far.  My reports would have to show a clock as an option, otherwise woodgrain passenger side dash panel without clock.  Then my radio delete plate would be camera  case finish.  Despite the fact the dash inserts, two spoke wheel and molded door pads all contained woodgrain inserts.  No exception for radio delete panel to be woodgrain? I will verify my reports by this weekend when I can get them out.

Thanks all,
Dan

[J_Speegle]

............................  Then my radio delete plate would be camera  case finish.  Despite the fact the dash inserts, two spoke wheel and molded door pads all contained woodgrain inserts.  No exception for radio delete panel to be woodgrain? I will verify my reports by this weekend when I can get them out.

Don't believe that the camera finished radio trim plate was the conclusion if we're talking about what was typically installed at the factory.  Believe I can produce a fair number of woodgrain examples but your car and choice

[DougDyar]

There were dealers that liked to order cars without radios so that they could add them and net the profit.
Perhaps when they added radios they used the std radio bezel? Could be more of them were available.

I thought about this possibility, as well. Except my car was built with an AM radio, not dealer installed. And with the black camera case radio bezel, verified by both previous owners.

[J_Speegle]

I thought about this possibility, as well. Except my car was built with an AM radio, not dealer installed. And with the black camera case radio bezel, verified by both previous owners.

Just noticed what a very late (in the production year) your car was. Will look through my pictures carefully and at other color combinations to see if there might have been a supply issue or a change in what they were installing at Dearborn.  We'll see what this produces


HDAshmore - When was your car completed at Dearborn? Sorry if I missed it in an earlier post

[Bossbill]

Mine is a late car as well.

[J_Speegle]

Hope this helps the OP since we've kind of taken a focus on late built cars for the moment.

Going to withhold the use of the word "discovery" at this point given the small number of the sampling of both the woodgrain and the black camera finishes for the radio bezel on the cars in the discussion.  It is interesting that at least at this point it appears that there is a possibility that there may have been a change late in the year at Dearborn on these cars. Unfortunately we don't have any real build dates for most examples but at this point in the study we're focusing on what possibility took place rather than an exact date of the change

EXAMPLES+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

0F02G181xxx - Wood grain




0F02G190xxx - Black ADDED since the original posting




0F05M193xxx - Wood grain




0F02G194xxx - Black

0F05H200897


0F05H2008xx - Wood grain Also in the unrestored picture section. Since we know that cars were not built in sequential order having a few higher digit cars with a possible earlier feature than an earlier VINed example is not unusual. Car was ordered with an AM radio according to the buildsheet.




0F02G203277 - Black - Real build date June 22, 1970 - DougDyar


0F02G206xxx - Black Was ordered with AM radio according to the Marti report




For earlier cars I've got unrestored examples with the wood grain bezel found on the following cars.

0F05H1118xx
0F05M1201xx
0F05M1265xx
0F04H1274xx
0F05R1275xx
0F02G136xxx (Added since the original posting)
0F02Z1409xx
0F05R1631xx
0F05M1769xx


Of course there are many restored examples but left them out of the survey as usual

[HDAshmore]

Team,

My B2 was Dearborn 25 March 1970 build date.  Confirmed on build sheet Coded EA.  Once again, RADIO DELETE, if that may make a difference on Wood grain or not?  Also, to add to the mix it came with a console from the factory.  Decore group option.  So, would the console insert be woodgrain or camera case or are all inserts the same?

Interesting thread so far and thanks for all the insight and analysis so far.

Dan in Kansas