what are these?

Shipping tie downs. They were supposed to be removed by the selling dealer.

 

Not braging......just pointing out a fact here...... I have owned well over 100 1965 to 1973 Mustangs in the past and MOST still had the Tie Downs on them. Just because they were supposed to be removed does not mean that they were........LOL.
David.

 

heres a pic so you know where they go. (rear of car right and left side rear frame rail. Right and left side of gas tank cut out.
Jim

 

I've had several cars with them and read that they were to be removed and returned for credit;but it was so little and they don't hamper operation,so why bother?

 

The long ones like those pictured were for duel exhaust cars. The short ones were for single exhaust cars. Also the ones with rounded corners like the ones pictured are seen on 68,69,70 Shelby's. The 65,66,67 Shelby's from San Jose used the same long style tie down but the corners were squared off instead of rounded. As mentioned before they were supposed to be taken off and sent back for credit but because it was so little credit most Ford dealers didn't think it was worth the labor so they were left on. A argument could be made that it would be OK to see a squared off early style on - say a 69 Shelby because it could have gotten returned and reused but not the other way around. It would be a stretch. For the most part the squared off long style were dipped in semi black and the rounded ones were bare metal. There are now repros of both styles.

 

Be glad you have them. Have you seen some of the prices people are asking for originals on ebay??

 

I have a late build 67 and mine look rounded off in the corners rather then squared off. Do you mean the top corners where the two mounting bolts are?They were there for a long time. The rust and dirt on them tells me they came with the car and were there for over 30+ years.

Jim

(view pic in previous post)

 

It is highly possible that the different tie downs were regional because of different venders that suppling to different areas . The rounded corner type was almost always seen on the later 68,69 and 70 Shelby's which were produced back east at Metuchen and Dearborn plants and the squared off ones were seen on the early 65,66,67 Shelby's which were produced at San Jose. The rounded corner type could have been used on regular 65,66,67 Mustangs built back east. I am not sure about that because it is not my area of expertice. So maybe they got switched out from a previuos return and somehow made there way back to the San Jose plant . Also it could be a late production switch.I personally havn't examined any late vin number cars that had the rounded corner type on. Not to say it couldn't happen . I hope Jeff Speegle reads this as he is the San Jose authority in my book. I don't normally go by second hand observation. There are a number of different explanations all plausible. My opinion is to leave them off because they were SUPPOSED to be taken off. They don't add anything to the car.If anything they look ugly hanging down from underneath. Even though the factory used them for transport I have found that they cause the nylon straps that most of us use to work loose over miles by the movement of the leaf springs and have to be cinched up. I know many people that use them in the factory way for transport and are fine with it. I just choose to sidestep any potiential problems when hauling a car. It is also hard on the springs to keep them cinched down for long periods and has been known to change ride height. I choose to tie down by the axel tube or someplace that is below the springs that way there is no bounce to work straps loose . I use a fleece lined sleeve axle strap to hook to that protects the paint. If one insists on using them in a show restoration the condition is important.The rounded corner ones were bare metal so they would rust and pit easy and didn't survive well. The square corner ones were dip painted and so had a better chance of surviving in decent condition. If they don't look as good as the rest of the restoration it is better to leave them off rather then get dinged for a poor condition part.