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1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1968 Mustang => Topic started by: 68 S Code on October 10, 2011, 09:37:27 AM

Title: Decal placement
Post by: 68 S Code on October 10, 2011, 09:37:27 AM
Applying some of the final decals at he engine compartment and body work. I have a few pics before I stated this project and I had the F on the passenger side cowl above the firewall, and a special one on the drivers side which I need to have custom made. The question is for the B which must have come off and the E. I've seen Bob P's 69's with the E on the drivers shock tower near the shock perch. Would this be correct for a 68 Dearborn car? My car had the P on the driver doors Jamb up high near the A pillar. Final big decal is the tire pressure info. Bob said on the passenger side door but where. Door jamb, actual door above the latching mechanism? I thought I remember seeing this in the glove box liner but it's been so long that I can't say that for sure.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Laurie S. on October 10, 2011, 04:00:06 PM
My June 2nd built Dearborn coupe has the tire pressure decal in the glove box.  I am the original owner:

(http://www.tucsonpony.com/glove1.jpg)
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 68 S Code on October 10, 2011, 05:53:01 PM
Thanks Laurie. I found my original glovebox liner an hour ago and it too had remnants of a silver decal. Doesn't look anywhere as nice as yours. Thanks for confirming.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 68 S Code on October 18, 2011, 01:41:39 PM
Laurie, here is a pic of the original decal in my glove box. Not much left and it is alsmost entirely unreadable. I can make out a "p" and a black boarder lines at the edge. The issue I have is that it may not be the same sticker you show. I have an Osborn reproduction of that decal but it seems much larger than the glue marks left behind of the decal I have. Also if you look at the right and left hand edges they are pretty straight so the decal looks to have been much narrower.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Laurie S. on October 18, 2011, 04:01:24 PM
Yep, that's pretty bad shape--just what was happening in your glove box?   ;D

I wouldn't use any Osborn decals, they often are the wrong size, shape, lettering, etc.  Check out ECS Automotive decals, they are much more accurate.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 68 S Code on October 18, 2011, 05:13:57 PM
I ordered a set from Dave but it kooks like this one was not part of the 68 package set. May have to order separately. Problem with glove box was that it sat on a shelf in another garage for 25 years with miscl junk in it. I used another nicer one in restoration. This one has the remnants of a decal though. I Sid notice the pic I posted could be blown up so I will look at it closer.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Laurie S. on October 18, 2011, 10:57:29 PM
Yes, there are several that have to be ordered as single items.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Bob Gaines on October 18, 2011, 11:43:46 PM
Laurie, here is a pic of the original decal in my glove box. Not much left and it is alsmost entirely unreadable. I can make out a "p" and a black boarder lines at the edge. The issue I have is that it may not be the same sticker you show. I have an Osborn reproduction of that decal but it seems much larger than the glue marks left behind of the decal I have. Also if you look at the right and left hand edges they are pretty straight so the decal looks to have been much narrower.
The Osborn stickers and decals are not too faithful to the original specs in identical dimensions as well as fonts etc.  ECS has ones that are more spot on. I am not sure if they reproduce one for your application but you can google their website and see. NPD carries them in a different section from the cheaper Osborn offerings. Bob
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 68 S Code on October 19, 2011, 10:35:25 PM
Thanks Laurie and Bob. I will look through ECS catalog. Hard to imagine that the Osborn decal would be that far off in size. Looks like the one laurie posted at first glance. Bit I'm sure it's off in the details. The one I have just looks smaller because so much is gone.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 67gta289 on October 20, 2011, 08:35:56 AM
I grabbed a picture of an original "vehicle safety act" sticker from a 68 trunk, which is attached.  Compare that to the ECS equivalent, also attached.  Looks like some additional "fine print" in the lower right hand corner on the ECS version.  Could there have been different versions of the sticker, modified over time, and ECS reproduced one different than in the original pic?
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Scott Fuller on October 20, 2011, 09:42:00 PM
I don't believe the bottom one is original.
Every original one that I've ever seen has the C8 part number like the ECS one.

Scott
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Bob Gaines on October 21, 2011, 12:39:36 AM
I don't believe the bottom one is original.
Every original one that I've ever seen has the C8 part number like the ECS one.

Scott
+1. Bob
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 67gta289 on October 21, 2011, 07:57:30 AM
The only thing is that this car is sitting in a junk yard with a 1972 license plate on it.  I would not expect it to be anything other than original in an case like this.  Next time I'm there I'll get the VIN and clues to the build date from sheet metal (driver's door gone).  Perhaps something as simple as a running change.

Comparing these two to the equivalent sticker shown in the NPD catalog, that one does not even come close.  John
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Scott Fuller on October 21, 2011, 05:30:13 PM
John,

I have ten original paint/unrestored 1968 Mustangs.  I just checked every one of them and they all have the same sticker with the part number in the bottom right corner. 

It's unlikely (in my opinion) that the one without the part number is an original.  It looks exactly like the older reproductions that were available in the early 1990's.

Scott
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 67gta289 on October 28, 2011, 01:43:13 PM
More food for thought...

Refer to the picture of the Mustang on its side.  This whole area, known as "the swamp", has cars with license plates from 1971 to 1973 only.  They are stacked close, and there are trees all over.  The only way to get in this area is to walk.  I conclude that this Mustang was put in its current resting place no later than 1973, at ~6 years old.  Thus there would be no reason for someone to apply early 80's incorrect replacement stickers.

This car also has a spare tire sticker with a C7 part number, also included here for reference.

I must conclude that although the majority of original safety act stickers include a C8 part number, that some vehicles made it through the line with this alternative.  The VIN is 8F01C184867.

Are there any other explanations that I might have missed?  Thanks, John
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 67gta289 on June 04, 2012, 07:43:27 PM
Here's another group of 68 fastback trunk stickers from a different junkyard in Mich.  Looks the same as previous posting. John
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 67gta289 on August 23, 2013, 08:54:54 PM
spare tire decal from Dec 66 Dearborn build 67 car.  The previous postings were 68 models with a C7ZB-17093-D decal, whereas this is a -B.  Does anyone know if this -B is reproduced?  I was able to pull the decal off and can reproduce with some cleanup if needed.

Obviously no vehicle safety act on this 67.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Bob Gaines on August 24, 2013, 10:30:40 AM
spare tire decal from Dec 66 Dearborn build 67 car.  The previous postings were 68 models with a C7ZB-17093-D decal, whereas this is a -B.  Does anyone know if this -B is reproduced?  I was able to pull the decal off and can reproduce with some cleanup if needed.

Obviously no vehicle safety act on this 67.
I have gotten them before so I guess they still are available. I think it is a Osborn repro.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: 67gta289 on August 24, 2013, 08:21:44 PM
Thanks Bob will look for that.

Here are decals from a 69 Cougar 9F94S524***.  One repaint.  Not "restored" but has a few replacement parts.  In family for 30 years.

Has the same vehicle safety act sticker with no C8 part number - I just keep finding these things.  Could be me...

Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Bossbill on May 16, 2021, 02:51:34 PM
Yes, this is old.
But that sticker just showed up on an eBay 67 Shelby trunk lid. I'll just type it out since the picture is not legible until you really blow it up:

"Shelby Automotive Inc. certifies in accordance
with Section 108, National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 that this vehicle ..."

blah, blah. Anyone else seen this fantasy piece?
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Bob Gaines on May 16, 2021, 04:53:41 PM
Yes, this is old.
But that sticker just showed up on an eBay 67 Shelby trunk lid. I'll just type it out since the picture is not legible until you really blow it up:

"Shelby Automotive Inc. certifies in accordance
with Section 108, National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 that this vehicle ..."

blah, blah. Anyone else seen this fantasy piece?
Glad you classify it as a fantasy piece in the 67 context. I have not seen that sticker on a unmolested original car. Not that I have seen them all but seen hundreds over the years . If it was a mandated procedure to apply then you would think that there would be some evidence left on at least some. 
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Bossbill on May 16, 2021, 05:34:58 PM
This label also says "Shelby Automotive, Inc".
I thought the company was still called "Shelby American, Inc" through all of 67 when the company name changed in 68 to the decal's "Shelby Automotive, Inc."

In 1983 it was "Shelby Automobiles, Inc." but in 2009 changed to "Shelby American, Inc." again.

I think I got all of that right . . .
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: RoyceP on May 17, 2021, 10:05:03 AM

Shelby Automotive was the Ford division that contracted for all the 1968 - 70 Shelby Automobiles to be built by AO Smith. The name appears on every piece of correspondence between the two entities.


Shelby American produced cars through 1967 model year but existed for several years after that.

This label also says "Shelby Automotive, Inc".
I thought the company was still called "Shelby American, Inc" through all of 67 when the company name changed in 68 to the decal's "Shelby Automotive, Inc."

In 1983 it was "Shelby Automobiles, Inc." but in 2009 changed to "Shelby American, Inc." again.

I think I got all of that right . . .
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: Bossbill on May 17, 2021, 12:46:37 PM
I agree with all that.

But the trunk lid in question is a purported early 67 steel/fiberglass trunk lid with a post 67 Shelby corporate name.
Like the fantasy 390 High Performance air cleaner sticker you called out.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: RoyceP on May 17, 2021, 02:08:35 PM

There were folks like Jim Osborne selling stickers in the late 1970's at swap meets all across the country. We didn't know what we didn't know. Osborne was making a pile of money and the stickers may not have been all that "authentic" at times.

I agree with all that.

But the trunk lid in question is a purported early 67 steel/fiberglass trunk lid with a post 67 Shelby corporate name.
Like the fantasy 390 High Performance air cleaner sticker you called out.
Title: Re: Decal placement
Post by: carlite65 on May 17, 2021, 02:16:08 PM
yep, he was in the printing business and making lots of $$.