Topic: Correct antenna base for a 68

[68 S Code]

I've seen the round base and the rectangular base. Which is correct for a Dearborn car. I could swear it was rectangular one but saw the round on a unrestored car built in may 68.

[CharlesTurner]

The general consensus is that it should be a round base for '68.  This has been debated for many years.

[Laurie S.]

And then there is my oddball original June-built Dearborn car with the rectangular base, although I know it's not alone.

[68 S Code]

I could swear my July Dearborn also had rectangular. I'll look at old pics of the may San Jose 68 I once had but also seem to remember rectangular.

[ruppstang]

My 68 fastback 7-12 -68 Dearborn car had a rectangular when I got it too. I decided not to swim upstream and put on a round one. I really feel that there were a lot of the rectangular ones used. Marty

[68 S Code]

Marty both our cars were built the same day at the same plant and both came with rectangular bases when we got them. Mine was that way in 82. Don't know when you got yours. I may do like Laurie and stick with the rectangular. Looks like a undocumented change may have happened late in production year 68 at Dearborn. I'll look at the old pics though.

[gtamustang]

Just remember this, the factories never installed the antenna on the cars. The bagged antenna was left in the trunk of the cars.Antenna installation was part of dealer prep. So is it conceivable that a late 68 Mustang had a rectangular base antenna? Sure, but you better have a picture of your car on the dealership lot to prove it!

Regards,
Pete Morgan

[68 S Code]

Well if the part was provided and placed in the trunk I can't imagine why any dealer would make life difficult for himself and install a part that wouldn't even be available to him.

[Laurie S.]

Well if the part was provided and placed in the trunk I can't imagine why any dealer would make life difficult for himself and install a part that wouldn't even be available to him.

Exactly!!!

[68 S Code]

I've been giving Petes comment about the antenna not being installed at the factory. What part wasn't installed? The entire assembly or just the mast? Seems odd that the factory would expect the technicians to crawl around under the dash to make connection, feed cable through fender and bulkhead which was non accessible due to rear splash shield. The fender also has stiffener in there blocking access. The antenna base also has this small grounding strap. Looks to me like this would be very costly for the factory to pick up the tab once its out of their hands. Who has a picture of truck delivering new cars minus antennas? I'd like to see this photo. However if all they did was slip the mast on the peg well I could believe that one.

[CharlesTurner]

The whole antenna, including the cable were typically in a paper sleeve in the trunk.

[ruppstang]

We had the MCA judges meeting at Bob Perkin's Shop two years ago and he has several cars that were not dealer prepaired and the whole antenna was in a bag in the trunk with hub caps,mats ,etc.
One thing that happened was the dealer could save money by not ordering the radio from the factory because he could get a better deal on them direct. Mine had the rectangular base and radio was on the Marti report so that did not happen with mine. Marty

[68 S Code]

So the way I'm understanding this is that antenna in the trunk was if car was ordered as a radio delete? That makes sense. The only reason for not installing the antenna would be as you said a delete. If the car came with a radio than it made sense to place the mast in a sleeve and install it at the dealership. But to go through the complete install of the antenna on a car with a radio was an engineering mistake. I'm not too good with the search feature but this question can be verified. A year ago the LIFE magazine pics from the strike article were posted on this site. There was a shot of 68's sitting in a lot awaiting delivery. I believe front and center may have been a cougar. Do the cars in the holding lot have antennas mounted less the mast or is there just a hole in the fender?

[CharlesTurner]

Only cars with factory-installed radios had the antenna in the trunk and there was no hole made in the fenders at the assembly plant.  Radio delete would have nothing unless a dealer had some pull and asked for some.  Wheel covers were also put in the trunk as well as other dealer-prep items, including hang tags and paperwork.  It must have been a long-standing policy not to install antennas at the assembly plant.  Most likely due to the likelihood of them getting damaged or broken off.  I'm not sure if all other Fords followed the same policy or not.  I suppose power antennas would be installed.

[Bob Gaines]

Only cars with factory-installed radios had the antenna in the trunk and there was no hole made in the fenders at the assembly plant.  Radio delete would have nothing unless a dealer had some pull and asked for some.  Wheel covers were also put in the trunk as well as other dealer-prep items, including hang tags and paperwork.  It must have been a long-standing policy not to install antennas at the assembly plant.  Most likely due to the likelihood of them getting damaged or broken off.  I'm not sure if all other Fords followed the same policy or not.  I suppose power antennas would be installed.

+1 . Bob