Data plate descision has been made......

6hypo5conv_old · March 9, 2009 at 8:40 AM

For any of you that have been following the progress through my questions during the restoration of my '65 K convertible I have now made MY descision on the reproduction door data plate:

My original plate has a pretty good layer of paint on it and it has been scrapped quite a bit by curiosity seekers while the car was originally in outside storage and it is very hard to determine if the background was GRAY or BLACK.

I have questioned the man himself-KEVIN MARTI who made my reproduction tag in GRAY, telling him that most everyone here, and my restorer feel that it should have been BLACK, while no one seems to be able to provide me with any sort of concrete evedence that my tag should in fact be BLACK.

KEVIN MARTI tells me that HE HAS 100% concrete evedence, information, and knoledge that my KAR, with its scheduled build date of July 27, 1965 at DEARBORN should have a GRAY tag due to the fact that sometime prior to my cars date that FORD switched from a synthetic enamel paint-(BLACK TAG) to acrylic enamel paint-(GRAY TAG), in my quest to try & substanciate (sp) the reason I was asking Kevin to re-make my tag by telling him the information I had I succeded in making him mad at questioning his facts, I sure didn't have that in mind when I set out on my quest, all I know is that my restorer has spent countless hours, and I have spend countless dollars on this restoration and just was trying to make sure it was as right and correct as it can be for its unveiling.....

So there you have it, that said, if/when I am questioned during shows/judging I will refer the questioner to Kevin Marti for the answer....

66gtk · March 9, 2009 at 8:45 AM

Maybe it's too late to get his cooperation, but it would be helpful for you to have a document prepared by KM explaining his rationale based on the "facts" that he has assembled on this matter. You can use this to present to the judges if you need to. What does Charles T. say about this?

CharlesTurner · March 9, 2009 at 9:43 AM

I have to side with Kevin on this one. I have probably 50 or more examples of late '65 data plates and not one with a scheduled date past April '65 was black, they were all gray (from all 3 plants.)

On some of the gray plates, the color was darker, so a faded one could appear to have been black.

If you have images of your original plate, please post them.

6hypo5conv_old · March 9, 2009 at 9:58 AM

66gtk: I don't think its too late to ask Kevin to provide this information, I, at this point don't think its nessessary though.

As everyone knows, and have seen and most likely even delt with themselves Kevin has a reputation of upstanding quality in the Ford/Mustang community, and like I say thats good enough for me.

Charles will find the GRAY plate on my Kar when he does the courtesy MCA concours judging for me at the upcoming Charlotte Spring Auto Fair.

CharlesTurner · March 9, 2009 at 11:37 AM

Here's some pics of a data plate from a car I restored. You can see how the original could lead one to believe that it might have been black. What I have found since then is that the black background tags really don't fade, they just get scratched and possibly dull looking. But, they always retain the deep black appearance. On the other hand, the gray tags will discolor and fade over time.

Keep in mind that the pics I provided were taken with a camera flash.

http://www.early-mustang.com/charles/vert/dataplate/

6hypo5conv_old · March 9, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Thanks Charles!! I understand about the flash from the camera....my new tag looks more like the first two shots of yours. Rick

kapdavm · March 12, 2009 at 6:42 AM

Since originality was my guide I decided to put the worn, faded, scratched, and slightly rusted door tag back on to my freshly paintedrestored kar. I have a June 65 Metuchen K with a faded "gray" door tag, with the "G" in the bottom right corner.

The saga of your restoration has been a trip down memory lane.

Congratulations.

dunc289_old · March 12, 2009 at 9:55 AM

I applaud your decision to put the original data plate back on, as it is.....A restored car that has THE piece that identifies it absolutely, should show its age and unmolested condition. Kind of like new old friends....they aren't making any. The Kar will obviously be restored, but the ID tag will be more or less untouched, showing "where it came from". <img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

63Kcode_old · March 12, 2009 at 11:00 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

I applaud your decision to put the original data plate back on, as it is.....A restored car that has THE piece that identifies it absolutely, should show its age and unmolested condition. Kind of like new old friends....they aren't making any. The Kar will obviously be restored, but the ID tag will be more or less untouched, showing "where it came from". <img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

My thoughts exactly

65Rangoon_old · March 12, 2009 at 12:01 PM

I'm a fan of original data plates too. Although I have enough things incorrect and/or sourced from other donor K's to fill a small note pad, I didn't even consider replacing the original data plate.

It did however, take some doing to rid it of the various coats of paint it had collected over the years, without causing additional damage. But IMHO that one item, as scruffy as it looks (e.g. unfixable scraps and mars), simply authenticates a K car (or any other for that matter), many times better than a shiney new replacement could do.

If a kar is to be judged, I suppose a bad looking but original data plate would be a point loser. If that is so, seems a shame. In the interest of originality, it should be treated as a neutral. No points gained or lost.

[Blocked Image: http://s4.tinypic.com/30w2jyw_th.jpg]

dunc289_old · March 12, 2009 at 12:30 PM

EXACTLY...!!!!! NO POINTS GAINED OR LOST.... It's like a scruffy original window sticker...Get a replacement so it looks crisp and new??? There are so many bogus window stckers, there can be any number id plates too. The original authenticates better than a replacement..... NO POINTS LOST, PLEASE !!!<img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=images/icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

CharlesTurner · March 12, 2009 at 12:38 PM

I would never deduct points at a national show for an original data plate with blems.

66gtk · March 12, 2009 at 1:11 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

I would never deduct points at a national show for an original data plate with blems.

AMEN - how about "bonus points"!!!

CharlesTurner · March 12, 2009 at 8:23 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

AMEN - how about "bonus points"!!!

I tried that at the annual judges meeting 2 years ago and it got shot down. <img src=images/icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

fourspeed · April 6, 2009 at 9:34 PM

Rick, enjoyed visiting with you at the Charlotte Auto Fair. My car's build date is close to yours and the original data plate is also gray.

6hypo5conv_old · April 7, 2009 at 1:23 PM

Brian, I enjoyed visiting with you as well at Charlotte!! I am quite proud of how my car came out, just some light tweeking and it will be all fine!!

I won my first junior award on Saturday at the AACA show there at the Lowes Motor Speedway!!! I can't wait to see the trophy!!

Participate now!