I've heard that 1971 Billboard Cudas got unique side marker lights? Since the billboards were only available in black or white, they had unique side marker lights that had different (sub) part numbers and stated "Black / White". Has anyone else found this to be true?
I just checked mine out after reading this post and found this.....
Those look like the Billboard ones! :clapping:
Quote from: 76orangewagon on March 23, 2017, 01:08:13 PM
I just checked mine out after reading this post and found this.....
Quote from: anlauto on March 23, 2017, 02:08:47 PM
You'll find most 71's have that writing :alan2cents:
I agree with Alan. I have one 1971 original paint Cuda, and another set of rear sidemarker housings from an original-paint '71 Barracuda, and both have this style of sidemarker housings but neither are Billboard cars (ie both still have original paint in body color). As was mentioned above I believe this was just a running change, where for 1971 this new part was cast with these different PNs just to identify the PN change for different applications.
- Wade
Yes, some parts have multiple part numbers cast into them because the same mold was used for making the different part numbers.
In this instance, I think the vendor supplied the black ones and white ones for billboards prepainted, which made assembly easier on the line.
Here's some info from my car notes...
black was matte black, about like the rocker pinch weld black out I think
white was GW3 Sno-White
Cuda's came down the line and were painted with the side marker BEZELS installed only (No reflector or side marker lamp assy YET), and held in place by the galavanized retainers and "acorn" nuts. When it was time for the billboard stripes to be installed on a car so designated, the retainers and nuts were removed and placed on the side. The stripe was applied, and during the application was slit to conform to the shape of the quarter panel. The second step was to push the excess stripe material through the side marker bezel hole in the quarter panel and then be trimmed on the inside. The third step was to install a NEW PAIR of PREVIOUSLY PAINTED bezels in the holes, and using the ORIGINAL RETAINERS AND NUTS, which still have BODY COLOR OVERSPRAY on them, back over the studs on the new bezels. These new bezels actually have the words "BLACK" and "WHITE" with corresponding numbers CAST into them. The final step involved the installation of the reflectors and side marker lamps. The set of bezels that came out of the car were re-shuffled back through the system and re-installed on non-billboard cars.
Most 1970 cars have reflectors with only adhesive on the back side. The line workers simply pulled the cover off of the tape and stuck it in the bezel. This was insufficient over the course of time, and during late 1970 production, the reflectors switched to the 71 style which also have plastic tabs that pushed through holes in the bezels to properly secure them.
Quote from: fc7cuda on March 24, 2017, 06:05:03 AM
I have read this elsewhere and was wondering if you also had any research regarding the standard early vs late side marker housings? By standard I'm referring to the non-white and non-black ones. I would assume their application evolved with this change from the stick on to the tab reflectors?
I think most of that info originally came from Bill Rolik.
The following tidbits aren't as complete as I would like, but maybe they'll be useful...
I don't recall seeing a marker bezel without the square holes. My own 70 Cuda was built in late June, and I think it has the square holes.
The part number for the Bezel and Reflector did change during 1970 production, but Bill looked through his NOS supply of bezels and didn't find any differences on the bezels for the different part numbers.
"The change apparently did not occur in actual practice. I have had (and still have) many individual bezels, and lamp assemblies, both packaged as early and late part numbers, and out of all of that, I have only one NOS "Black/White" bezel. I do not really see any other differences in the bezels."
Bill's opinion was that the Black/White bezels were only used on Billboard cars, which was apparently about one third of all 1971 'Cudas.
With the earlier non-Black/White bezels being re-shuffled back through the system (possibly more than once if they were put on a Billboard car again), there isn't a known firm changeover date for switching to the newer Black/White casting on non-Billboard cards (IF that happened at all).
On 1971 cars, sometime around or shortly after October 1970, the rear side marker light housing (which attaches to the bezel) was changed. The earlier version used on 1970 and early 1971 cars has a shield cast into it to help protect the light socket from getting bumped by things that might be in the trunk. The later version does not have this protective feature.