Original KONI Shocks

Hi,
Like to tell you guys an incredible story about my KONI Shocks.
Got two front ones dated 4-65 in a trade and found out that the number
didn't match my current ones, 82-1326 instead of 82-1388.
An email to KONI in Holland solved that issue. Shelby 65 used 82-1326
in the front and 82-1327 in the rear and in 66 they changed to 82-1388
and 82-1389 respectively (if ordered, option you know). Never too old to learn something new.
Now the only problem was to find correct rear ones.
I remembered a box with several pairs of older KONIS that's been in my
garage for about 18 years. Found the box and there were two dirty
82-1327 rear ones dated 4-65. Don't remember where I got them
but they may have been on my car when I bought it in 1988. Simply don't
remember. Had a paint shop mixing the darker red color and a friend
painting them for me. Yesterday I put on the KONI wing decals and managed
to destroy two of them but I am very happy with the final results.
/Texas Swede, 5S275

 

Texan,
Are both your rear Konis 82-1327 and what month in 65
are they stamped with? Seems odd that the studs are different
if everything else matches. If you are going to paint yours
I can probably get the paint mixture formula from the paint shop.
/Texas Swede

 

Great, What's your car's serialnumber?
Probably between 250-450, correct?
If your front shocks need fixing, don't send them to
Koni America. A friend of mine with a 65 did that and
when he got them back they had cut off the upper
bushing loop and welded on the current type instead.
The old ones, bushing loop, bushing and bolt pin are very different
and Koni probably don't have that type of specific bushing anymore.
Hopefully, your's, like mine, only need a good cleaning, painting and
new wing decals. Again, if you need the paint mix write me a personal
email and I will try to get a print out from English Paint in Richardson.
These shocks 1326,1327 are specific to the 65 Shelbys and, in my opinion,
as important as the tach, oil pressure gauge and so on.
Texas Swede

 

Snakepit,
If your shocks are the newer type, 82-1388 and use
bushings that protrude out of the bushing loops on both
sides, Mustangs Unlimited has them. They would not fit
the 82-1326.
/Texas Swede

 

Hi,
Sorry, but I don't have any 1326, 1327 with original
decals. What was left of them were taken off in the
cleaning process. Have a pair of 1389's dated 4-70
and believe it's the original decals on them and they
are very close to the ones I bought from Koni.
The new ones that Snakepit shows are quite different
from the new Koni ones. Especially on the left lower side
where the green stripes are much wider on the Koni decals.
I did my very best to place the decals in the correct spots
by measuring from the August 1965 Hot Rod magazine where
they show all four shocks.
As regards the front bushings, they (Mustangs Unlimited) says
they are for Konis, i.e. the later type of loops, not 1326 in 1965.
/Texas Swede

 

Thanks for all the great pictures.
The pictures of the original 65 decals that Texan posted
are, in my humble opinion, quite close to the current
decals that Koni sells. I certainly feel good about using them.
They cost $1.25 each in comparison with the $3.95
Mustang vendors charge and are probably better.
Ordered another 20 last week and got them within 3 days.
/Texas Swede

 

Koni's web address is www.koni-na.com and when I bought
20 on 4/24 the cost was $1.25 each, i.e. $25.00 plus $5.00
shipping and handling. However, just looked at their web page
and the price has gone up to $2.00 each. Probably from 5/1 and
maybe because I have bought 40 of them the last couple of months
and maybe they are running short.
Good luck.
Texas Swede/ Bo