One of the great things about vintage Mustangs is the availability of reproduction parts for restoration or repair. No other American car can boast so much support from the reproduction industry. In fact, thanks to Dynacorn's '67-'68 and '69 reproduction body shells, you can almost build a brand-new Mustang fastback just from reproduction parts.
As one of the largest Mustang parts suppliers in the world, National Parts Depot handles most of the available reproduction parts for vintage Mustangs. When NPD marketing director Scott Halseth realized that nearly all of the parts for the optional '65-'66 Mustang console were available from various reproduction sources, he gathered them up into kits with their own part numbers, either 045A36-1AAK for automatics or 045A36-1ABK for manual transmissions.
The NPD '65-'66 console kit...
The NPD '65-'66 console kit comes with all of the reproduction pieces needed to build a brand-new console, with the exception of the retainer/switch for the glovebox light bulb, which should be available soon. Wiring, attaching hardware, rear ashtray and courtesy light, and glovebox door with springs are included. The base unit is full-length, so the glovebox area must be cut off for air-conditioned cars. A marking to make the cut is provided on the underside. The center trim plate must also be cut.
All '65-'66 Mustang consoles were based on the same plastic base unit, which was modified at the factory to adapt to convertible floorpans or to shorten the console for the optional underdash air conditioning. For convertibles, the console base was trimmed to fit the heavier floorpan bracing. For cars with A/C, the console's front glovebox was sliced off and chrome end-cap trim (different for '65 and '66) added to cover the edges. Two different die-cast trim plates adapted the console to automatic and manual transmissions.
The NPD console works similar to the factory piece because the same base unit is supplied for all applications. However, unlike original console bases, the new reproductions have markings molding into the plastic that show where to trim for convertibles (paper templates no longer needed!) and where to cut for A/C cars (chrome end-cap trim is available separately).
Markings for trimming the...
Markings for trimming the base unit for convertibles are also molded into the underside plastic. NPD supplies instructions and recommends using a coping saw, not an electric power tool.
We mentioned that "nearly" every part is available to build a new '65-'66 console. The only reproduction piece missing is the metal retainer/switch for the glovebox light bulb. Garrett Marks at Mustangs Etc. located a good original, which we have forwarded to Scott Halseth at NPD to use as a sample. He hopes to have a reproduction available in the near future.
For this article, Merv Rego at Classic Creations of Central Florida is putting together a new full-length console for a '66 Mustang GT that is being restored to original, including the removal of the non-original air conditioning. Because the original console's glovebox had been removed, per Ford for A/C cars, the NPD reproduction is a perfect solution for replacing the full-length console.
Putting together the NPD reproduction...
Putting together the NPD reproduction console kit is mostly a matter of attaching everything with small screws and Tinnerman's nuts. However, if you're building a full-length console, the tricky part is the installation of the springs that secure and open/close the glovebox door.
To give you an idea of how...
To give you an idea of how the springs install, here's one attached to the console without the door. Unfortunately, you can't install the door with the springs already in place inside the glovebox; they must be attached to the door first. Note that the springs are not identical-they are different for each side.
With the springs attached...
With the springs attached to the ears of the glovebox door, slide the door through the back of the glovebox opening. You'll need to call on all of your finger dexterity to get the springs in position to secure them with the screws.
With the door open, the spring...
With the door open, the spring bends like this to keep the door in place. When closing, the spring "helps" the door slide back into the closed position.
Now that the tricky part is...
Now that the tricky part is done, the rest of the console can be assembled quickly. Start by laying the center trim plate in place.
Flip the console over and...
Flip the console over and secure the center trim plate with the supplied Tinnerman's nuts, which cut their own threads into the virgin studs. Be careful-you don't want to break off the studs. There's also a single screw for the top of the plate inside the glovebox opening. Don't tighten until the console is assembled and you've had a chance to make adjustments.
Lay the wiring to the rear...
Lay the wiring to the rear console light in place and secure with five brackets and screws. The trio of separate male plugs go to the rear of the console.
Slide the rear console courtesy...
Slide the rear console courtesy light into place and secure with two screws. The three wires connect to the previously installed console wiring harness.
Pop the ash tray into place...
Pop the ash tray into place at the rear of the console.
Install the shift plate section...
Install the shift plate section of the center trim plate and secure loosely with screws at the glovebox door lip. When installing the console in the car, it will be easier to slide over the floor shifter with this section removed. Two shift plates are offered-one for automatics and another with a single large opening for manual transmission Mustangs.
This is the only piece missing...
This is the only piece missing from NPD's all-new reproduction of the '65-'66 console. It retains the glovebox light bulb and also serves as the switch; when the glovebox door is open, it contacts the front part of this metal retainer to ground the bulb. Mustangs Etc. supplied this original retainer, which NPD is using as a sample to create a new reproduction. A plastic end plate closes off the front of the glovebox.
Here's our assembled console,...
Here's our assembled console, all made from reproduction parts, including improved die-cast trim panels.
We're installing the console...
We're installing the console as part of a complete restoration, so it's easy to slip it into place without the seats. A bracket supplied with the kit secures the front of the console on non-A/C cars.
Reinstall the shifter plate...
Reinstall the shifter plate section of the center trim. A new shift plate for the automatic shifter comes with the automatic version of the NPD console.
For cars that have previously...
For cars that have previously had a console, use a sharp-point awl or an ice pick to locate the console screw holes in the floor tunnel. If a console is being added to a car for the first time, you will need to locate and drill the screw holes.