Need a Rally-Pac Referee!

I'm not certain, but wasn't all 65's left black? I don't think they started the color matching until 66 with the low profiles.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Doug Whisenant

[color:red]VMF Exchange Board</font color=red>

Doug, I think that agrees with the restorer. For the moment, I'm leaving it black unless one of the MCA judges who frequent the site tell me otherwise.

BP
1969 Mach 1
1965 A-Code Convertible

I am no MCA judge(I just want to get rid of that stranger heading!), but I thought I remember reading that if the car came from the factory in 66 with a rally pac, it would be painted to match, if it were dealer installed, as no doubt many were, it would be black.Or maybe it had to do with standard vs deluxe interior?, I give up.

1967 S code GT Deluxe Coupe 65B
1966 Convertible 76B 289 4 speed
1964 Fairlane 500 2DR HT-the new project
1986 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 the "beater"
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1573428&a=11959254&p=43023698.jpg

Here's a paragraph out of the Mustang Recognition Guide,

"When the GT Equipment Group and Interior Decor were introduced in 65(mid year production) a low profile version was offered as an extra cost option, to accomodate the 5 dial instrumentation in the new option groups. The Rally-Pac with the "RALLY-PAC" logo in the center is painted a black wrinkle finish, while the low-profile version is painted either black or color keyed to the steering column in Interior Decor equipped models.

To me it sounds like, the first model has always been black and the low profile is black or color keyed to the colomn. But it doesn't sound like you can have a black low profile one in a car with the deluxe interior option, unless the interior is black as well.

Doug Whisenant

[color:red]VMF Exchange Board</font color=red>

According to the Mustang Recognition Guide (p.35): “When the GT Equipment Group and Interior Décor were introduced in ’65 mid-year production, a low-profile version was offered…the low-profile version is either black, or color-keyed to the steering column in Interior Décor equipped models.” It also states (p. 74): “All early style Rally-Pacs were painted camera case black, while the low-profile version used in all ’66 Mustangs may be either black, or color-keyed to the steering column.”

Bottom line: it can be either black or color-keyed, it’s your choice. I’ve seen most at shows color keyed, but I’ve also seen several that were black.

Cheers

Rich
1966 Mustang GT convertible

Hold on a second...it really is not your "choice". If you have the early style dash panel with a high profile RP then the RP is black. If you have a 5 dial instrument panel then it is colour keyed to your interior.

Sorry to be picky but don't want any confusion

Paul
1965 Mustang 2+2
1989 Mustang GT Convertible
MCA #27261
MCA certified judge for 65's and late models

i've been around and around about this with some other MCA judges. i am of the belief that the low profile became available when the pony interior was first offerred in '65. on my fastback, i have the low profile and it is matched to the painted color of my dash(white). i know that my car came with a rally-pac originally but I was never able to verify which type. the PO said that he sold the original one and thought it was painted white but wasn't certain.

here is my suggestion, if you have a low-profile paint it the dash color. iirc, there were only a couple colors like red, white, black and blue. if you have like an aqua interior, the RP would be black.
if you have the high profile, it's always painted black.

Charles Turner
MCA Gold Card Judge(64.5-65, 66)
'65 Fastback
'00 GT Conv, triple black


Check out my 65 [color:blue]fastback!</font color=blue>

When the changeover was made in April '65 to the mid-year updates, the Dearborn plant was still putting the high profile on all the cars and the other plants, who were getting more updated parts from the vendor, were putting the low profile unit on the cars. When the last of the H/P Rally-pacs were installed at Dearborn, then they started using the L/P Rally-pacs on the GT cars.

I ran into this with 2 cars I owned, a April '65 GT coupe (H/P) and a June '65 GT fastback(L/P). Both came from the factory with the units, and both were Dearborn cars.

SWMBO's Mustang is a Dearborn car that was originally Ivy Green with a black Pony Interior (according to the door plate). I have a receipt from a PO showing that the Rally-Pac (which is a 6000 RPM, high-profile model) was purchased from Dallas Mustang Parts in 1992. I don't know if the PO was dressing the car up or replacing a broken RP, although I suspect it was the former.

Based on the various messages, I'm going to leave this RP black. Thanks to everyone who responded.

BP
1969 Mach 1
1965 A-Code Convertible