Tough call, I like the clean interior look however the console has a real '60s flair to it. I have had many options to buy consoles over the years but never pulled the trigger.

 

I have one of each. My Sprint 200 HT obviously has a console & my FB does not. After purchasing the FB in `06 I was under it one day & did see all the holes along the DS tunnel for a console. I like `em both ways !!

 

It's what every you like, I have consoles in both my 68,s But that is what I wanted, It;s your call. There is NO right or wrong.

 

I really like the look of no console for a '66. It is definitely the cleanest look you can get.

Yes, I have a console, but the only reason I made one was because I grafted in a different trans hump and am going to have to split the carpet and needed a console to cover it. I have never been a fan of the look of the '66 console though to begin with...the 67+ consoles on the other hand look great.

I am going to be honest about my thoughts on the '66 console....it looks like a cheap piece of plastic glued to the floor, it just does not flow well or make any effort to match the interior in either materials or in aesthetic.

That being said, consoles do have some practicality depending on the design. The '66 console IMO offers nothing except a cubby. The '67 console is essentially the same but the design is far more pleasing to the eye. As for me....I designed mine with practicality in mind, an armrest was a must...as was a storage cubby under the arm rest with USB and standard 12v cigar type ports....a switch panel within reach of my fingers for low/high beam and cruise control...as well as a light at the back used a courtesy light for the rear seats, cupholders, and of course a space to hold extra gauges. To avoid looking like a cheap piece of plastic, I made it out of fiberglass and covered it with vinyl.

Anyway, in my view(remember, I care nothing about originality in my mustang so my view is different than a lot of owners) you have three options....a clean look, originality, or practicality. The only thing the factory console has going for it is originality. In the end though, my view doesn't matter(nor should it), its your car so you should google up different convertible interior pictures with an without consoles...with and without aftermarket or custom consoles, etc and find what you like best.

 

I have and like both with and without. On a convertible, I would install it because the top of the tunnel is one of the first parts of the carpet to get sun faded.

 

For an AC car I think it looks better without it. But then again, I'm a guy who would have rather had a bench seat. Can you even access the console compartment with the AC?

Having said that, at some point I will build my own console with an armrest, cupholder, open cubby space and maybe some guages.

 

For an AC car I think it looks better without it. But then again, I'm a guy who would have rather had a bench seat. Can you even access the console compartment with the AC?

There is no compartment with the under dash AC unit. So the only thing the console does is give it a different look and a place to rest things ( that get thrown around on twisty curves).

@BlakeTX has an interesting point about the sun fading the carpet. Up here in MA it may not happen as fast as down in TX, but something to think about.

I think I'm inclined to not install it at first. The holes are there if I want to drop it in. I just have to punch thru the new carpet and sound deadener. I have to say I'm digging the cleaner look form pics I've seen.

Thanks everyone.

 

I like the consoles. In my opinion it just looks too empty without one. Never liked the look of the shifter just popping up through the carpet all by itself. But like they say, it's your car, do what makes YOU happy.

 

I always liked the console. After seeing many '65 through '68 without a console, I always thought it looked like there was something missing. So when I ordered my first Mustang, a '69 coupe, I went for the console option. My '65 convert has no console and to me it looks like something missing. I know I can buy one, but just don't feel like spending that much money. They are not cheap,

 

I like the looks both ways. I will say that with an under mount AC there is a gap between the unit and console that some find unfinished looking.

 

On a side note - anyone here ever add a console to a non-console car? Do you have to add a bracket to the trans tunnel or does it just screw down?

 

I added a console to my non console 66 fastback. My car has the 66 AC unit so the shorter console does not use the front bracket. AC cars just had a chrome console the that sat on the front end of the console and into the floor.

I believe the non AC cars got the longer console with the cubby that uses the bracket to attach the front of the console to the floor.

 

Chrome bracket that is that sat over the console and screwed to the floor.

AC cars just had a chrome console the that sat on the front end of the console and into the floor.

 

If you do decide to go with the console make sure to melt the mount holes through the carpet with a almost red hot 10 penny nail.
The burned hole will prevent the carpet pile from unraveling when you put the screw in.

 

If you do decide to go with the console make sure to melt the mount holes through the carpet with a almost red hot 10 penny nail.
The burned hole will prevent the carpet pile from unraveling when you put the screw in.

I have a soldering iron with a small stick that burns thru the carpet and the rubber sound deadener. I've cuased a run in the carpet before!

 

Putting in an orig console adds a bit of classic ti the interior look in my opinion.
I added and orig console to my 67 vert, love goes look.
When I restore my 66 vert, will do the same

 

Even though I went all-original on my convertible since it 'had one from the factory', I have to say its only purpose is to put another interior light in the car (no dome of course). Since I have AC there's not even a cubby. Slick and hard, it's a bear to take in and out for a carpet change, NO FUN to get to the Autos shifter light indicator. I did hide 2 USB charging ports in the ashtray for the rear passengers.
For a modded car I would never put that thing in. And probably get one of those nicer storage/armrest/cupholder deals for cruising.........

 

And probably get one of those nicer storage/armrest/cupholder deals for cruising.........

My wife bought me one of those and it doesn't fit over the console. One more reason to try it without. Also since I placed dynamat under the new carpet, I'd have to locate those holes for the console from under the trans tunnel. It's not easy to get a pick thru the tunnel, dynamat, then carpet without pulling the drive shaft. It's even harder to get to the holes for the front console cover.

 

Keep in mind that with a console, you have no room to place your Boom Box!
That was how I listened to music in the 80s in my 67. That badazz AM radio with that kicker in the dash just didn’t do much for a kid.
In all seriousness…actually that was being serious… I have looked at mine consoleless for so many years that when I see one with a console it just looks strange to me. Almost like it gives the car a “newer, more modern” feel, which is not what I think of when I see one. Yes, I do understand that it was the go to back then.
Personal preference my friend. You do you.
Troy

 

My first car was a candy apple red 66 coupe back in the mid 70's that had a console and 6k tac as the only options. I liked the look and have even added the console
to some of my 65-66 cars through the years. Now, my 67 coupe has an upper and lower console and I love that too!
Ron

 

The poll represents my personal opinion as well. My 65 did not have one. It drove me nuts not having an arm rest, cup holder and storage compartment. Next to the Flowmaster series 10's I put on the car, the center console is likely my fav addition. I got the CJ leather full length.

 

depends on the use. I love the look they have without a console but hate when there’s no place to put a cup of coffee. I plan on driving mine extensively so a console was a must. Love having it.

 

Both of mine have consoles. Would not have it any other way. I always have a great place for the seat belt buckles...and a console to hide my garage door opener and cell phone charger (when not in use).

 

I think they look classy. However my car is far from classy. It’s a bare knuckle type of car. No carpets, wires hanging and I even removed the grill emblem to save weight. So no console in my 66.

 

Agreed. It adds a "civilized" look. If your car's a hot rod, you might want to leave it out, makes the interior a bit more on the raw side.
I've kept my console because. It has the "garage", indents for the seat belts, floor light in the back and an ash tray. I don't think any of it is really very useful.

 

My '66, no console, no A/C, better for the giant tachometer!

 

I love the look of the original type console but in my experience they're next to useless. I had replaced mine with one of those hump hugger ones but I found that the cup holders were too small to hold a coffee cup or a bottle of soda.

I finally wound up building my own and it wasn't as difficult as I had expected. I mocked it up with heavy cardboard and masking tape first then made my cuts, assembled, and had it upholstered with the same material as the seats.

 

The factory consoles are useless other than providing a stopping point when you go into a sharp left-hander. I say ditch it and put the e-brake in its place!

 

I’ll one up you.. no dash pad either! A nod to the GT350r, and definitely gives it a raw, hot rod feel..

Don’t mind the missing steering wheel and gauges.. getting upgrades.

It really all depends on the feel and look your going for.

 

I’ll one up you.. no dash pad either! A nod to the GT350r, and definitely gives it a raw, hot rod feel..
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Don’t mind the missing steering wheel and gauges.. getting upgrades.

It really all depends on the feel and look your going for.

That almost makes me want to remove the "eyebrows" from my dash and skip the dashpad as well.

 

I originally wanted to install a factory console but after driving my friend around and having him comment on how cool it was to see my footwork I have elected not to install one. I might install one of the armrest styles with cupholders though.