1964-1966 Rear Fender Shields - Verification

[Alan H. Tast]

Here's one that I don't have a definitive answer for. On a hunch today at a small swap meet in my area (one that I helped start 42 years ago), I spied what looked to be a set of '64-'65 fender skirts with one of the light yellow-ivy green colors used in '65. Externally they looked 'right' to me, but I couldn't find any FoMoCo trademarks stamped into the edges of the skirt, and the rubber seals were held in place with a mix of staples and clips that I had not seen before. And, since I haven't really seen, studied or documented the back side of factory skirts/shields and their latching hardware, I wasn't sure what to look for or what they were missing. I ended up picking them up and brought them home, along with a few other mixed NOS parts finds - that hasn't happened for me in a LOOONG time!

Fender shields - exterior view

1

Back side of left hand/driver's side shield

2

Left-Hand/Driver's side shield latch

3

Right-Hand/Passenger side inside rear view

4

Back side of right-hand/passenger side shield

5

Right/passenger side latch assembly

6

I'll have to post pics of the clips and seals in a follow-up message. I want to verify that these are OEM '64-'66 type skirts (and, yes, I know '66s had the anodized trim on the lower edge).

[Scott6T6]

Hi Alan,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those are not '64 - '66 Thunderbird rear fender shields. The design of the "skirts" you found differs quite a bit from those made for Thunderbird's and the latching mechanism on yours is also different. The factory skirts had a FoMoCo logo die stamped in the lower lip near the latching mechanism.
I've included three photos of original rear fender shields so you can compare these to yours. All 3 years were identical in design. Yes, the '66 skirts had the additional stainless steel trim at the lower edge.

[Alan H. Tast]

Scott: as they say, "pictures or it didn't happen." See if you can add them to your post I'm wondering if they're aftermarket, i.e. Foxcraft. Or, for that matter, what are these off of? May need some dimensions off original skirts to compare against.

[Scott6T6]

Alan, that's odd, I had included photos in my initial posting. Not sure what happened to those. No problem, I just went back and added 3 photos.
As you may have guessed, the Navaho Beige skirts depicted in two of the photos are those on my friend Rene's '64 Hardtop.
I can arrange to meet with Rene' and remove one of the skirts to take some additional photos and measure the dimensions if you like.
The rubber seals on the OEM skirts were stapled in place, there were no clips involved.
I also have a friend who has a boxed NOS pair of 1964-'66 skirts in factory primer, but he lives 60 miles south of me. Next time I head down to his place I will get some photos of those NOS skirts.

[cacockrum]

Alan,
Here's a ciuple photos of '66 skirts showing why I agree with Scott. In addition to the obvious difference in the latch mechanism, the shape appears to be different especially in the lower portions of the front and rear ends. Mine appear to have continuous contours at the points where they become narrow, while yours seem to show a discontinuity at those points --- but this could be an artifact of the photography. Also the rubber seals on mine were attached using only staples, while yours appear to be attached using staples and small spring clips. And the slot at the rear end that aligns with the anchor pin is much longer on yours. I no longer have them, so I cannot confirm the FOMOCO stamping, but I have had three sets in the past, all of which agree with these commets.
Art

[Alan H. Tast]

Alan,
Here's a ciuple photos of '66 skirts showing why I agree with Scott. In addition to the obvious difference in the latch mechanism, the shape appears to be different especially in the lower portions of the front and rear ends. Mine appear to have continuous contours at the points where they become narrow, while yours seem to show a discontinuity at those points --- but this could be an artifact of the photography. Also the rubber seals on mine were attached using only staples, while yours appear to be attached using staples and small spring clips. And the slot at the rear end that aligns with the anchor pin is much longer on yours. I no longer have them, so I cannot confirm the FOMOCO stamping, but I have had three sets in the past, all of which agree with these commets.
Art
_MG_1445.JPG

Art/Scott: Concur that shape of the lower portion (especially the 'legs' and bottom arch) plus latch hardware point to a non-Bird application, probably some GM product from the mid-late '60s. Anyone got suggestions what they came off of? Quite frankly, for what I gave for them compared to some of my other finds yesterday like the NOS '58 Ford/T-bird gunsight and two NOS sets of '69 T-bird two-door body side protection trim, along with most of a late '61-'62 Galaxie tripower manifold, carbs and air cleaner (no linkage or fuel log) that will be trading fodder for some M-series stuff, the skirts may end up being a write-off.

[Rt.146]

My 66 has the skirts posted in the first picture, sleek styling, the second picture the skirts look like a barge going down the river, though they do fit nicely.

[cacockrum]

Rt 246,

Can you post a photo of your skirts installed on your car?

[Scott6T6]

The OEM rear fender shields for the 1964 - '66 Thunderbird were of the same exact design all three years. The only difference was the addition of the stainless steel trim at the bottom edge of the '66 skirts. Also, on the '66 skirts, the front mounting pin was re-located to the front lower leg of the skirt to make installation easier. In 1964/65 that front mounting pin was located on the wheel opening lip of the quarter panel. The same holes were utilized, the pin was simply moved from the car to the skirt in '66.

I am not aware of any aftermarket skirt ever being produced for the 1964 - '66 Thunderbird.

Rt 146, I would also like to see a photo of the rear fender shields on your '66.

[Rt.146]

Cacokrum/Scott6T6

Skirts on my 66.

[Scott6T6]

Thanks, Rt146! By the way, I really like the Vintage Burgundy metallic with the white vinyl top on your Town Landau. It reminds me of a Town Landau exactly like it that I used to see occasionally back when I was in high school. A long time ago!
The rear fender shields on your '66 are OEM Ford parts. Identical to what Cacockrum and I pictured in our posts.
The skirts Alan found this past weekend are entirely different, made for another make/model of car.