Restoring A Classic Mustang Console

Just like I remember. Adding a console to your '65-'66 Mustang isn't difficult, but can be expensive. Just like your project car, you'll have less to repair or replace if you start off with a good console in the first place.

Our Project '66 is now running and getting some much-deserved break-in miles, but a few items remain: the Mustang's options. Since the soul of this project has been to replicate a previously owned Mustang, we want to add the same options that were on the original car. We added power steering, Deluxe interior options, and wanted to add a console like the one on the original, but didn't have one to restore.

We found an original console in restorable condition from Alan Shepley at Mustang Central, but you might find one in the Mustang Times classifieds or on eBay. The plastic base was in near perfect condition, but the console needed just about everything. One of National Parts Depot's newest reproduction parts is the '65-'66 console metal top plate and shifter plate. While our original car used a long-style console, our project car is fitted with Classic Auto Air's concours underdash A/C system (to be shown in a future issue), so we'll install a short console instead. According to NPD, the long console glovebox door will be reproduced soon.

Once our parts arrived from NPD, we got busy with disassembly, cleaning, painting, and reassembly of the console in time for the MCA 40th Anniversary show in Nashville held earlier this year.

Comfortable Cruising
We look forward to taking the '66 out for a weekend cruise night or a trip to the ice cream shop. On these jaunts it's nice to have extra storage for modern-day conveniences (garage-door opener, cell phone, etc.). The Saddle, Cruiser, and Humphugger accessory consoles available from NPD are perfect. If you have a factory console, the Saddle rests snuggly over your factory console. If you don't have a factory console, the Humphugger is designed to sit directly on the transmission hump. Either model is available in the Cruiser option, which is a full-length-style console with coin tray, cell-phone holder, and deeper cup holders. They are available in all stock interior colors, and are easily removed for show duty.

1 We start with a coupe/fastback console already trimmed for use with A/C. The metal top trim plates are deeply pitted, but we were more concerned about the plastic base, which has some minor, but fixable, scratches.	2 The ashtray and rear courtesy light must be replaced.	3 Here's another common problem. The studs on the long metal top trim plate pass through the plastic console top to retain the trim plate to the console. These pot-metal pins often break with age, which makes securing the trim plate impossible.
4 Two Phillips screws at the forward end of the console retain the trimmed ends of the trim plate and shifter opening trim. Our guess is the technician installing the A/C system at the dealer years ago added them to prevent movement and rattles.	5 The console is stripped of its attaching items and wiring harness, and an inspection shows a small section of the console broken near the ashtray opening and a few minor blemishes, all fixable or too small to notice.	6 The console plastic gets brittle with sun exposure, though ours still has some flex to it. Use your favorite cleaner (Superclean or Simple Green, for example) and some brushes to clean it. We use a nailbrush and toothbrush to work the cleaner into the grain and crevices. Rinse with water and dry completely.