Authenticity to the Extreme: 66 vs. 67

[Dan Szwarc]

I wanted to start this thread for all the 66 and 67 owners out there who have a car with mix and match of parts from either year. I'm not really interested in differences in available colors of paint or tops, but that information is useful. I'm more interested in the design differences either placement of identical items or actual differences in design.

The rules are simple: post an example of something that is different between 66 and 67. Cite both models to be clear about the differences and if the design difference is specific to convertibles or not. Provide pics if possible and try to use the forums "Upload attachment" feature so the pics are permanently archived to this thread. Ultimately, I'm going to write an authenticity manual add-on for the club.

For clarity, it is acceptable to post what is identical, such as sheet metal or mechanical components. Sometimes not stating something is the same is not as clear as only pointing out what is different (does that make sense?).

I'll start.

Grille and headlamp doors (bezels):
66 has 9 horizontal elements. 67 has 12.

66 Grille

grille.jpg (33.68 KiB) Viewed 26847 times

66 has a fairly flat profile, top to bottom. 67 is slightly curved.


Front seat belt retractors:
67s have a wider mouth in the vinyl covering which allows the buckle to seat into the mechanism safely. 66s do not have the wide opening and so the buckle sits on top of the vinyl opening. Releasing the buckle and letting it slam into the retractor damages the vinyl.

66 Front Seat Belt Retractor

66 Front Seat Buckle.jpg (20.61 KiB) Viewed 26826 times

67 Front Seat Belt Retractor

67 Front Seat Belt Retractor.jpg (18.87 KiB) Viewed 26826 times

Seat Belt Buckles
66 has a non-specific radial pattern on the release button on the buckle.

66 Seat Belt Buckle with plain release button

66 Seat Belt Buckle.jpg (23.5 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

67 has a Continental Star with surrounding faux gems or stars.

67 Seat Belt Buckle with Continental Star on the release button

67 Seat Belt Buckle.jpg (16.12 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

Front Fenders
66s have a narrow vertical Continental Star mounted to the fender. 67s do not. The fenders themselves are identical (except for the holes in 66).

1966 Fender

66fender.jpg (7.36 KiB) Viewed 26847 times

CONTINENTAL letters on front of car:
66s have the letters mounted lower on the header panel.
67s are 3/8 to 1/2" higher. The letters used are the same.


Cruise Control units:
66 uses "Perfect Circle" unit that has no vacuum canister.
67s use a different model.


Master Cylinder:
66 uses a single chamber master cylinder. It is the same as 1965 (and possibly other earlier years).
67 uses a dual chamber MC.


Metering Valve (brakes) (below master cylinder)
66 uses a separate metering valve for the front brakes (same as 65).
67s use a new design with smaller components.


Relay Cover (engine bay, left side)
66 uses a single black plastic cover. It is attached by two bolts.
67 uses a two-piece cover. Both plastic, one part is natural colored (white-ish), the other is black. There are small metal clips riveted to one half to help to two parts overlap and stay together.


Armest Panels - Wood Pattern
66 uses a quadrant-based, stripped wood pattern screened onto an aluminum plate.

66 Armrest Woodgrain

66 Armrest Woodgrain.jpg (26.08 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

67 uses a burled-wood look.

67 Burled Wood Armrest Woodgrain

67 Armrest Woodgrain.jpg (22.84 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

Both are as fake as can be. Both designs are susceptible to sun-fading. The color should be a fairly dark brown, more like a typical automotive wood. Only low-mileage, well-maintained original vehicles exhibit the proper coloring.


Armrest Panels - Chrome Bezel
66 uses a squared profile.
67 uses a similar profile, but the edges are rounded.


Door Panel - Pattern, Leather Interiors
For cars with leather interiors, 66 Door Panels are plain on top with a pseudo-floral pattern inside the chromed trim arch.

66 Door Panel (rear)

66 Rear Door Panel.jpg (18.18 KiB) Viewed 26822 times

67 Door panels have a vertical stripe theme on the upper half and have no floral pattern.

67 Coupe Door panel for Leather Interiors

LincolnRight.jpg (24.36 KiB) Viewed 26654 times

Door Panel - Pattern, Cloth Interiors
66 has no floral pattern within the chrome strip (as seen on the leather version)

66 Door Panel for Coth Interiors

1966%20Lincoln%20Cloth%20Interior%20Door%20Panel.JPG (13.76 KiB) Viewed 26651 times

Upper Door Pull
66 has a horizontal door pull with no other trim.

66 Door Pull (note how it is slightly crooked)

66 Door Pull.jpg (52.17 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

67 has a trim plate behind the door pull to help with alignment of the door pull hardware.

67 Door Pull with Trim Plate

67 Door Pull.jpg (21.58 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

More info: It is common to see 66s with the backing plate behind the door pull. It is likely that this is a add-on done by previous owners. It is not known that any 66s shipped from the factory with this trim plate.


Brake Lamp Bezels
66 uses a horizontal-element design with two vertical elements dividing the lamp into three sections.

66 Taillight Bezel

66 Taillight Bezel.jpg (29.98 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

67 uses a rectangle-within-a-rectangle design which some supporting elements between the outer and inner rectangles.


Steering Wheel Center
66 uses a chrome-surrounded center with a clear lens over a narrow Continental Star. The chrome is brushed along the sides and polished smooth around the top edges on the side and the face.

67 uses a vinyl pad color-keyed to the interior that starts narrow and gets wider as it extends out. It has a chrome ring at the outer edge on the face and a smaller ring surrounding a small lens with a narrow Continental star beneath it surrounded by a jeweled pattern.


Hood Ornament
66 uses a fixed-base hood ornament. It is the same as 1965 (only).

66 Hood Ornament

66 Hoodie.jpg (18.34 KiB) Viewed 26826 times

67 uses a spring-loaded hood ornament. It is unique to 1967.

67 Hood Ornament (Made into a Trophy)

67 Hoodie.jpg (18.44 KiB) Viewed 26826 times

Wheel Covers
66 has a small Continental star stamped into the cover at the center. The spoke pattern on the outside uses an overlapping design new to 66.

66 Wheel Cover

66 Wheel Cover.jpg (27.66 KiB) Viewed 26826 times

67 has a slightly larger star with significantly wider "points" sticking out. The spoke pattern is identical to 66.
It is common to find 67 wheel covers on 66s and vice-versa. This design was used for 68 and 69 as well.

67 to 69 Wheel Cover with Large Star

67 to 69 Wheel Cover.jpg (27.2 KiB) Viewed 26826 times

There are two designs for the outer grippers of both wheel covers, inner and outer. Both are valid for each year. The outer gripper design is typical of production car covers. It was service parts made for replacement when the inner-gripper design was introduced. Both 66 and 67 wheel cover designs were produced with this improved gripper arrangement.


Ford Logo on Sill Plate
66 has a black Ford Logo.

66 Ford Logo in Black

66 Sill Plate Ford Logo.jpg (60.42 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

67 has a blue Ford Logo.

[67cab-dk]

Dan this can be a long thread if we find them all
according along continental lines winter 1967
then there are 643 important cange between the 67 and 66
I will help find some of them when I come to them

[Dan Szwarc]

If you can find the list, that would be great. However, I know how they will take the change in the length of a screw and call it a change. My goal is to catch everything related to appearance, not design. I appreciate any information (and pics) you can provide.

I'm having fun doing this. I found some new ones this weekend (like the front belt retractor change) and decided I should start a thread.

[Dan Szwarc]

Wiper, Heater, & Radio Knobs
66 has a large chrome bezel surrounding the black face of the knobs. The inboard chrome ring of the secondary knob (larger) is wider compared to 67.
67 has a very thin bezel of chrome around the black face of the knob. The inboard chrome ring of the secondary knob (larger) is narrower compared to 66.

66 Knob

66knob1.jpg (15.46 KiB) Viewed 26656 times

67 Wiper, Heat, or Radio knob

67 Knob.jpg (18.81 KiB) Viewed 26836 times

[Dan Szwarc]

Seat Fabric Pattern- Leather
66 seat patterns for leather use a vertical stripe pattern with a 4" horizontal element breaking it up about 60% up the seat back. The seat bottoms are simply striped.

66 Front Seat Leather pattern

66 Front Seat Pattern.jpg (93.11 KiB) Viewed 26832 times

[Dan Szwarc]

Brake Pedal
66 Brake pedal pads are visually identical to 67 brake pedal pads. 66 pedal pads trim are different in both design and appearance from 67.
66 brake pedal pads have a stainless bezel that has a tapered, flat surface, with a subtle radius between the flat areas.
67 brake pedal pads have a more rounded trim bezel without the flattened face.

The 66 brake pedal pad is bolted to the pedal arm. The pad consists of a steel plate with the rubber molded to and around the steel. The rubber is not removable.
For 67, the rubber portion of the brake pedal pad is removable from the brake pedal assembly as it is stretched over the pedal assembly.

66 Brake Pedal Pad on top, 67 brake pad on the bottom.

Brake_Pedal_2.jpg (17.22 KiB) Viewed 26818 times

[67cab-dk]

rear view mirror
1966 is chrome-plated metal

mirror66.jpg (28.86 KiB) Viewed 26807 times

1967 is padded and plastic coated

13_1.jpg (28.7 KiB) Viewed 26807 times

high beam indicator
1966 is red
1967 is blue
Dash pad
1966 is Three pieces
1967 is one piece and more padded

[Dan Szwarc]

Dash pad
1966 is Three pieces
1967 is one piece and more padded

More info: 66 top dash pad only covers the top of the dash. Two separate pieces form the lower outline of the dash around the dash warning indicators.
67 dash pad is molded in one piece and envelopes the drivers dash with slightly more side projection to reduce sunlight entry.

Need pics.

[AnthLinc]

Here arte some of the odd stuff that I have noticed over the years. I has more 1967 Lincoln than 1966's. Sorry I do not have pictures.
Visor bracket (studs that mount the swivel to the chrome bracket). I don't have pictures.
1966 has a squared tip
1967 is round tip

Convertible trunk trim cover for the deck pump
1966 has a two piece unit
1967 had a one piece unit

Tailamp harness
1966 has no circuit breaker
1967 has a circuit breaker

Dash grilles
1966 Will only fit for this year
1967 The edge to the left is cut at a slight taper. There is a brake light installed in the panel too.

A-Pillar (interior)
1966 Chrome A-pillar
1967 Padded A-pillars

Carpet Welts
1966 Has a material type of welt around the carpet on the doors and kick panels
1967 Has a different vinyl type material

Power Steering Lines to Wiper Motor
1966 has straight hoses to the box, wipers & pump
1967 There is a junction block to the rear of the valley pan where the steering hoses all tie into place.

Fresh Air Flow (rear area of front doors)
1966 Has no additional holes in the front doors
1967 Has holes in the upper door above the latch with a rubber flap.

Cowl area flat metal ridge
1966 Does not have this
1967 has a flat 1"by 4" metal ridge just above the cowl mounted hood latch area. All 1967's have this. This is a 1967 Engine compartment below you can see the flat edge to the right of the passenger side bolt on reinforcement bracket.


Overflow Decal
1966 Silver with black letters
1967 Silver with black background on bottom

Emergency Brake pad and chrome
1966 Pad is tapered at the bottom
1967 Pad is tapered to the top

Arm Rest Pads (interior)
1966 Squared corners
1967 Round corners

Headlamp Switch - Location
1966 Longer unit located on left side of lower dash.
1967 Shorter unit located on left side of HVAC controls of the upper dash.

Cruise Control Switch
1966 Slide with a spinner wheel
1967 On / Off button type

AM 8 Track Radio
1966 Star emblem in the 8-track flap is raised
1967 Star emblem is recessed

[Dan Szwarc]

Power Steering Lines to Wiper Motor
1966 has straight hoses to the box, wipers & pump
1967 There is a junction block to the rear of the valley pan where the steering hoses all tie into place.

I have a TSB for this. There is a "surge bypass" valve that might be installed on 66s if the owner complained of noise. The surge bypass was installed by default on all 67s, but some 66s will have them from service. Since it is a Ford authorized repair, any 66 with or without this bypass is still technically correct.

[Dan Szwarc]

Cowl area flat metal ridge
1966 Does not have this
1967 has a flat 1"by 4" metal ridge just above the cowl mounted hood latch area. All 1967's have this. This is a 1967 Engine compartment below you can see the flat edge to the right of the passenger side bolt on reinforcement bracket.

Are you referring to this area here?

[AnthLinc]

That is correct. My photoshop is not working.

[Dan Szwarc]

I have an early 67 conv in my yard (sn 480 005) that does not have this bracket.

[gradyjacoway]

Dan,
What about the 66 and 67 steering wheel and center piece ?

Grady

[66Lincoupe]

Was the floral pattern on the doors in '66 only on the sedans? My coupe does not have a floral pattern it has a basketweave vinyl design which I prefer over the floral motif (No rust on the car, but the sun does no favors to soft stuff):

Sunbeaten AZ interior

InteriorLeft.JPG (191.04 KiB) Viewed 26738 times