Since a lot of the GT's were dealer optional upgrades I wonder if they included the GT emblem on the fender? Fastbacks especially although I've seen a number of coupes with the GT emblem but never on a fastback.
LesMoney
'65 GT fastback badging.
Since a lot of the GT's were dealer optional upgrades I wonder if they included the GT emblem on the fender? Fastbacks especially although I've seen a number of coupes with the GT emblem but never on a fastback.
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What do you mean “especially fastbacks”? Source?
There were probably many GT options sold at the dealer level, but I would guess that few were ever outfitted 100%. Even if it were equipped with every GT option at the dealer, does that make it the same as a factory GT? I’d prefer to avoid that semantic minefield.
There were probably many GT options sold at the dealer level, but I would guess that few were ever outfitted 100%. Even if it were equipped with every GT option at the dealer, does that make it the same as a factory GT? I’d prefer to avoid that semantic minefield.
I saw the attachment. It references GT accessories - the OP referenced “GTs”, which I take to mean cars equipped with the Performance Image Option (GT package). I often hear about “dealer prepared GTs”, but have yet to ever see anything close to an original example. Foglights and exhaust trumpets don’t make a car a GT. If you do the math on the cost of making a “dealer GT”, including the disc brakes, suspension changes, steering box, new fenders and emblems, etc, etc, etc, plus the labor to change it all out, you could almost buy 2 new factory equipped GTs off the lot. The urban myth of the dealer GT remains just that.
That’s why I asked for elaboration.
That’s why I asked for elaboration.
The attachment references "design" your GT, not implying the dealer could toss on a few cosmetic items, and it is a GT, but DESIGN (special order) one from the factory.
Same as buying a stack of ribbons off ebay, makes you a combat veteran.
Same as buying a stack of ribbons off ebay, makes you a combat veteran.
The biggest issue with the GT badging on fastbacks is removing the existing "Mustang 2+2" badging.
I have never seen a documented "dealer GT". I have never even seen a documented partial GT conversion, even in a magazine or internet page.
Naturally, a lot of people did it on their own. Back in the 70's it was no problem to find GT's in junkyards, and a lot of those parts found their way onto my friends' cars.
Naturally, a lot of people did it on their own. Back in the 70's it was no problem to find GT's in junkyards, and a lot of those parts found their way onto my friends' cars.
We've covered this subject at least twice before on the VMF.
I'm not dragging up the photos again. I saw one done at the
dealership body shop level. It was very obvious that they had
a factory GT right next to the car when it was being "updated."
It also helped that it was an actual factory '65 K to begin with.
I don't know what they did to make the 5-dial instrument
cluster fit.... I didn't scrutinize because I didn't know the dash
was different at the time.
The body shop did not bother to remove the rocker moldings
or the quarter trim. Other than that and the fact they didn't
update the 8 grand rally pac to the low profile unit, the car
was spot-on.
So, there's at least one "dealer" GT running around.
I'm not dragging up the photos again. I saw one done at the
dealership body shop level. It was very obvious that they had
a factory GT right next to the car when it was being "updated."
It also helped that it was an actual factory '65 K to begin with.
I don't know what they did to make the 5-dial instrument
cluster fit.... I didn't scrutinize because I didn't know the dash
was different at the time.
The body shop did not bother to remove the rocker moldings
or the quarter trim. Other than that and the fact they didn't
update the 8 grand rally pac to the low profile unit, the car
was spot-on.
So, there's at least one "dealer" GT running around.
At the time they were being sold, everything that was part of the Performance Image Option (PIO) group was available over the Ford parts counter.... except the rear subframe anti-crush inserts and rear floor reinforcement weldment for the dual exhaust hangers.
Yes, to do a "factory" job you would need to replace the grille corral & bars, rear valance, instrument cluster and instrument cluster harness, oil pressure sender, alternator/regulator harness, engine compartment harness, stabilizer bar & bushings, steering box, springs, shock absorbers, fuel cap and also deal with the issues unique to the hardtop/convertible which would be the removal of the quarter trim and filling the holes and, potentially for any of the body styles, the removal of the rocker panel mouldings/holes and front fender emblems/lettering and bumper guards/brackets.
Yes, to do a "factory" job you would need to replace the grille corral & bars, rear valance, instrument cluster and instrument cluster harness, oil pressure sender, alternator/regulator harness, engine compartment harness, stabilizer bar & bushings, steering box, springs, shock absorbers, fuel cap and also deal with the issues unique to the hardtop/convertible which would be the removal of the quarter trim and filling the holes and, potentially for any of the body styles, the removal of the rocker panel mouldings/holes and front fender emblems/lettering and bumper guards/brackets.
I noticed the article says "November 1965" and the plate in the top left photograph says "1966" so I assume this advertisement is specifically for 1966 cars which already had a 5 cluster dash? Changing from a Falcon style harness to the 5 cluster harness would be a huge task no?
I think Kelsey Hays disc brakes would need to be on this list along with the disc pedal and disc specific fruit jar.
Didn't mean to start an argument about the attributes of a factory versus dealer upgrade GT. My primary question was if the GT badge was actually installed on a '65 fastback because I have never seen one. Possibly on a '66 but I didn't know if they put them on the '65's.
Regardless of the components installed by either the owner or dealership to make it look like one, the car is still not a GT, IMHO. Substituting a commonly used term today for the word "Dealer", we would probably refer to it as a "GT clone". If you read the ad, it's a list of parts a person could purchase to make their car appear more "GT like". It starts by stating "Design your own Mustang GT", not "We can convert your Mustang into a GT".
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...and yes as the fella from Vermont has pointed out; the 2+2 Mustang badge removal would require a patch and paint at the very least. Assembly line GT suspension, lowers the car, is another item often over looked/omitted when doing the conversion. Brian
The attached is a picture of what Virginia Classic Mustang purports to be an accurate restoration of a "carryover" 66 Shelby GT. There is no GT badge on the side of the car but there is a badge on the rear stating it is a 350 Shelby GT. I had a '65 GT coupe that did have a badge but a later fastback had no badge and yes the '65 emblem was much nicer than the '66.
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How about mine as an odd example. It is NOT a GT, but it was optioned with :
Disc Brakes
Power steering
A code 289
Dual exhaust
deluxe interior/decor group
Special Handling package
AC
Emergency Flashers
Remote mirrors
Console
Am/FM radio (it had the rear speaker and reverb switch tied up under the dash)
I bought it from the second owner. Who bought it from his brother in '77 who had purchased it new in early '66 from a dealer in California.
Sadly, the previous owner got scooped by a shop that did a lot or service on it in the 70's and 80's and it 'lost' the Am/FM and the console. Probably when the carpet was replaced and the seats re stuffed. I've since replaced both!
It surprised me to see the better springs and sway bar when I started disassembling the suspension.
Lots of cars got the trumpet exhaust and fog lights at the dealerships and afterwards..
Disc Brakes
Power steering
A code 289
Dual exhaust
deluxe interior/decor group
Special Handling package
AC
Emergency Flashers
Remote mirrors
Console
Am/FM radio (it had the rear speaker and reverb switch tied up under the dash)
I bought it from the second owner. Who bought it from his brother in '77 who had purchased it new in early '66 from a dealer in California.
Sadly, the previous owner got scooped by a shop that did a lot or service on it in the 70's and 80's and it 'lost' the Am/FM and the console. Probably when the carpet was replaced and the seats re stuffed. I've since replaced both!
It surprised me to see the better springs and sway bar when I started disassembling the suspension.
Lots of cars got the trumpet exhaust and fog lights at the dealerships and afterwards..
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