69-70 Front Bumper "filler" shields

[TS69GT500]

All the available repro 69-70 front bumper rubber shields have a mildly rough texture as they are made from fiber
impregnated stock.
The rubber shields on my original/never restored/never in an accident 69 GT500 are smooth.
The rubber has gotten pretty hard with age and there is some breakage but it is nothing like the rough stuff being sold.
There is a rubber supplier in NYC on Canal Street (Canal Rubber) with a mind boggling variety of rubber sheet stock.
My last time at Canal Rubber I scored some pretty close to original p/s hose sponge rubber covering.
Some called it "driver grade" not concours but it was a very good match to my original.
Their stock does change and no guarantee some of what you bought in the past is still available.
I no longer live in NYC (now in PA) but will have to make the trip to see if I can score something that matches my original.
Personally I don't care who says "that is not correct" or "as originally supplied by Ford" I try to get as close as possible to what is original on my car.
TonyS
 

[Bob Gaines]

You already posted this in the 69 Shelby category a couple days ago. By your statement you are pretty set in what you believe regardless of what others do or the general consensus is. You didn't ask or seem to want others input or opinion by your tone which might be why there was no reply on the other thread you posted this statement on a couple days back. Since you stated the same thing again some place else begs the question are you looking for an argument or someone to agree with you?   

[TS69GT500]

No Arguments wanted.
When is pointing out differences considered "looking for a beef".

Just wondering if those who present their products as "exact as Factory installed by AO Smith" have done any research to validate those claims.
I've owned my car since 1981 and it's original/unrestored/never in an accident/no paint work as such I use it as a standard, my standard. Not asking anyone to blindly accept my standard.
Nor do I expect anyone to do so.

I had a long time Mustang/Shelby Long Island NY based parts vendor argue with me at a swap meet almost to the point of nastiness that the gas cap on my 69 GT500 should be the chrome pop off type same as on the 68's if you can believe that. I was told my small non vented weathered steel cap was a "cheap parts store part and you better buy the correct cap".

This hobby is getting ever more expensive and it would be nice for suppliers to be a little more accurate.
Not everyone has access to the best/most accurate info.

I lament the demise of Mustang Monthly and the insights provided by genuine experts like Bob Perkins and several others.

TonyS 
 

[Bob Gaines]

No Arguments wanted.
When is pointing out differences considered "looking for a beef".

Just wondering if those who present their products as "exact as Factory installed by AO Smith" have done any research to validate those claims.
I've owned my car since 1981 and it's original/unrestored/never in an accident/no paint work as such I use it as a standard, my standard. Not asking anyone to blindly accept my standard.
Nor do I expect anyone to do so.

I had a long time Mustang/Shelby Long Island NY based parts vendor argue with me at a swap meet almost to the point of nastiness that the gas cap on my 69 GT500 should be the chrome pop off type same as on the 68's if you can believe that. I was told my small non vented weathered steel cap was a "cheap parts store part and you better buy the correct cap".

This hobby is getting ever more expensive and it would be nice for suppliers to be a little more accurate.
Not everyone has access to the best/most accurate info.

I lament the demise of Mustang Monthly and the insights provided by genuine experts like Bob Perkins and several others.

TonyS 
 

Your previous post in two separate sections of the forum was too vague in its intent which is why the question of if looking for an Argument or Agreement.

[Special Ed]

Back 20 years ago or so i sent originals to scott h  ( muscle car research ) over on the cj forum and he made them correctly  as its the same as the rear tag light shield behind bumper and its got cloth strands mixed in rubber i think masticated type or something like that so call him as they were made off my originals so the pattern is correct and use 6 pan head screws.

[Bob Gaines]

Back 20 years ago or so i sent originals to scott h  ( muscle car research ) over on the cj forum and he made them correctly  as its the same as the rear tag light shield behind bumper and its got cloth strands mixed in rubber i think mystic type or something like that so call him as they were made off my originals so the pattern is correct and use 6 pan head screws.

Thank you Ed for supplying the original rough cloth strand impregnated samples of the rubber filler strip used in that front Shelby grill area and the rear license plate light protector to Scott H.back then. It is appreciated. That texture material aligns with what I and many others have found originally used in those areas. For those reading who would like to get those and many other researched to be correct parts  https://www.musclecarresearch.com/ford-parts

[Coralsnake]

Tony,

Do you have one 1969 or several? I noticed a lot of your previous posts are about repainting and replacing parts, is this the same car? Can you account for this "unrestored" car since day 1?

Just trying to figure out what is going on here?

Mr Gaines and Special Ed have looked at hundreds, maybe a thousand cars.

I'm not sure why you feel Bob Perkins would have more insight? Is it because he was in Mustang Monthly?

I know all these guys personally and I would say Mr Perkins specializes more on the Boss cars than anything built at AOSmith. That is not to say he is not extremely knowledgable. I consider him among the very best.

The people on this forum are the most knowledgable on the Shelbys anywhere. Period. Full stop.

If you have an idea on how we can get all the vendors and restorers to agree on everything, I would love to hear that. I am shocked a Mustang vendor would mislead you in order to sell a part. That cant be true.

Its up to each person to decide who is providing accurate information. Everyone does have access to the best information, right here. I have never heard anyone turned away.

If someone asks me where the information comes from, I am willing to show my work

When I approached some restorers in the 1980s they literally told me to pound sand. They didnt want to share information, because they were making money off people holding information close to their vest. Thats not the case today, the details now are above the restoration shops.

Oh I don't recall Mustang Monthly interviewing original Shelby employees, dealers, stories about special cars or concours judges. Thats a shameless plug for a free website with hundreds of pages of accurate Shelby information.

[J_Speegle]

Pete (Coralsnake)  Well stated!!!

[Coralsnake]

Well, I have been on most of the Mustang and Shelby forums and you're more likely to get good information about your gall bladder than detailed Shelby information.

This and concoursmustang excluded,  the cobra jet site is good.

[TS69GT500]

I am only the third owner.
I purchased the car in 1981 from Steve Perry who happened to be the second owner.
Straight up no nonsense truthful individual, and a Huntsville Alabama Police officer.
He gave me a clear description, history and everything mentioned was 100% true.
When I purchased the car it had its original plug wires, shocks, all original suspension, starter, starter solenoid, voltage regulator, drive belts, alternator, radiator, smog etc. I can go on but you get the picture.
And ... 2 original but worn Polyglas F60-15 tires.
Original partially faded paint, black jade.
From my time in the hobby I have found Bob Perkins comments on detailing issues to be dead on accurate in all aspects, both parts and original finishes.
Personally I have a lot of regard for his depth of knowledge.  Again that's just me.
I was never attempting to one up anyone, just stated a fact about my vehicle and I personally believe however you car was delivered that is THE STANDARD for that particular car.

As far as the Shelby/Mustang parts dealer that tried to convince me to buy the wrong fuel cap that story is 100% true. It occured at a Englishtown NJ swap meet back in the late 80's.
He is or was (if he still exists) a NY fast buck BS artist who would do anything to make a sale.
I'm a NY'er (NYC) until recently and honestly was always suspicious doing business with other NY'ers as a significant percentage are BS artists.
I was well aware of the correct gas caps for 1969 Shelbys and just walked away.
Much has been mentioned about differences in Shelby's especially the early cars but later cars must have some differences however minute.
TonyS

[Coralsnake]

I have always liked Journey

[tesgt350]

@TS69GT500 .............. I personally know a Mustang, Shelby, Boss Parts Vendor in Jacksonville Florida who will swear to GOD that the Part he is about to sell you is the Part you are looking for, and it is NOT.  They are out there.  Also, never say never, you are the third owner, not the first, there are several 1967 Shelby's that were in a Train Wreck being shipped from Shelby America and they were repaired.  Anything can happen before the Car gets to the Dealership.  Your Shelby could have broke lose on the Train or Transporter and damaged the Front End just a bit to the point it just needed a Bumper so it was fixed before it reached the Dealer and the Dealer never knew.  It has happened so, never say never.  I have owned well over 150 Mustang so far, many were 65 to 73 but never a Classic Shelby, Love them, know a lot about them but can't afford one.

[TS69GT500]

True, that scenario is possible, not likely though.
Personally the BS vendors just burn my ... and they can shove it.

Great to see individuals like Scott Fuller offering his lineup of dead on accurate repro parts.
The guys at Dead Nuts On also.

[mgreene]

TS69GT500, I have lived my whole life in Huntsville, AL. I can remember two Black Jade '69 Shelbys - one was in a little shed on Newsome Road, the other at a body shop off of Triana Blvd.

[TS69GT500]

Well, don't know what to tell you. After 45 years, possibly I may be wrong but I do have an excellent memory.
I was told Mr. Perry was a Huntsville AL police officer, could it be he lived in a "suburb" adjacent to Huntsville ?
I attended  the Jackson Mississippi Labor Day weekend show back in 1981 when Mark Smith was the SAAC southeast rep.
I was told I'd definitely find some nice Shelby's for sale so I flew down.
Steve Perry's friends brought the car to the show.
I didn't know for sure if Steve's GT500 would be at the show but surprise it was.
I looked it over and saw it was complete, rust free, dead on original with a few dings and some faded paint as Steve mentioned and jumped on it.
I met George Paul and his wife Perri and remember asking George to look over the car for me as a second pair of eyes.
From what I know, George Paul is an elite auto body craftsman in all respects.
Steve P's buddy was in the "car hobby" and offered  transport to NYC for $450 since he was headed to fall Carlisle anyway. I agreed.
The first Friday of October 1981 the Shelby showed up at my home on a ramp truck.

I'm pretty sure Steve was from Huntsville as I spoke to him personally and was prepared to travel there before being tipped off about the Jackson Miss Labor Day Weeknd show.
(also met Andy Harmon, really nice guy, looked like a bad ass Marine who owned an original 427 Cobra and GT40 at the time).
Funny, also met another great guy, forgot his name who told me "no offense but the GT500 you just bought, that faded dark green
reminds me of Army OD green, don't like it,  spent too much time in Vietnam".
I think the guys who eventually started Semo Mustang were there with a drop dead gorgeous 70 Boss 302.
If you remember Pug Ford,  he was there also. 

I still have the T-shirt from that show and Mark  presented me with the "long distance trophy" for longest distance travelled to show.
Great show and fun weekend.
     
TonyS