Jim, my early build (Nov '67) '68 Fairlane 500 4 door, Dark Blue, has the chrome metal trim right above the door panel. Then above the trim is the metal top of the door painted the light blue of the interior. The seat covers/interior are/is 2 tone blue. Attached is a pic. Don't know if this helps any.
David from WNY
On Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 12:19:27 PM EDT, Jim Volmert <jimmyvolmert@...> wrote:
I am (back to) trying to verify if 69 Cobra formal roofs came with the chrome door strip above the door panels.
I first noticed in 2002 at the Fairlane Nationals in St Louis that mine and Jon Huntley did not have the chrome trim but the other (sportsroof) Cobras did. I addressed the question shortly after in an email with Jon.
He stated that the Cobra formal roofs were based off the base Fairlane 65A body style. The Cobra sportsroof were based on Fairlane 500 63B body style. The reasoning (obviously) the two Cobra versions weren¡¯t based off the same model was the base Fairlane wasn¡¯t offered as a sportsroof model.
Based on that email it was my understanding the base Fairlane didn¡¯t have the chrome trim and the Fairlane 500 did. Even though the sportsroof Cobras didn't use the Fairlane 500 standard door panels (inheriting the base Fairlane door panels instead) the chrome strip remained.
Ford literature also shows the chrome strip on Fairlane 500¡¯s and not on the base Fairlane. Pictures attached.
I asked Warren Mansfield (FCA 68-69 tech editor) the question. He he wasn¡¯t sure although his formal roof Cobra (which he bought new) did come with the trim. I follow the major car auctions and the Cobras that are sold. The majority of the formal roofs have the trim although that doesn¡¯t mean they originally came with them. Larry Slevin¡¯s twenty thousand mile triple black formal roof car (since sold) that was featured many times in articles and a multiple award winner does not have the trim.
I was also told that Kansas City built formal roof Cobras did not come with the trim but Atlanta built cars did. So I am really confused. To add to the mystery I am adding some pictures from a 69 Fairlane that was sold this year at Meecum. Sold as an all orginal car with fourteen thousand miles. It has the chrome trim.
I am not trying to make my car a concourse correct car. At this point I am more curious than anything. Any insights and/or the answer would be appreciated.
Jim of MO
