Does anybody know if backup lenses were an option on 65 Ford full size wagons? I just scored a NOS set of taillight lenses on ebay and the center round lens is red but it has the same hole for a back up lens bulb. The original lenses on my Country Squire have a clear lens and a bulb socket that goes in them. I think I can modify the new ones and put my lens in but I would like to know. Also if anybody knows where I could find a list of options for my car I would find it very interesting. I scoured the internet and all I can find is VIN and body tag decoding. Thanks
Post up a pic of the tail light please, while I do some research. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A little later........ Here's a link to the '65 full-size brochure: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/65ford/65ford.html In it, it's detailed that all big Fords except the Custom and Custom 500 models had back-up lights as standard equipment. Unfortunately, this is a 'car-only' brochure. Ford only showed one page on the wagons, with virtually no information - they refer you to their specific 'wagon' brochure. And my source for brochures does not have the '65 Wagon brochure listed. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say the Country Sedan and Country Squire models would have had B/U lamps standard, while the low-line Ranch Wagon would have had them as optional. Also, remembering that time, I would say the great majority of vehicles sold would have had them, whether they were an option or standard. You could almost call them a 'mandatory option'. Marshall
Well I do believe if anyone can find it, KK will be that guy. I did some simple image searching and...some show it as plain as day, yet others make me wonder is lighting/shadows hide the center white lens.... below is a original Ford ad, drivers side looks white, passenger side looks red:confused: Really hard to tell in this image.... Then this one it's very clear....
Thanks Krash, I have looked at 100's of images including Ranch wagons and they all had clear centers. apparently they produced some wagons with the red center which I assume means no backup lights. The clear center on mine is real glass and I am going to have to cut out the red center on the new ones since it is all molded as one piece. I am pretty sure it will work if I can make a fairly clean cut on the plastic.
Very interesting reading the brochure and ad. I found an error in the sales brochure in the link Krash provided. It say's "a brand new model for 65 Ford Ranch Wagon" I know that is not true, I own a 62 Ranch Wagon. I personally removed the original metal Ranch wagon script on mine and I still have it in my garage for future use. I also learned that a 65 Ford full size had "swing away" steering wheel as an option. Ironically I have added that option to mine with my 64 Thunderbird complete interior conversion.
I think back up lights were optional on the cheaper models,my 65 custom 500 did not have them and my 65 squire did.
The "new for 65" is the return of the Ranch Wagon to the full-size line-up. The Ranch Wagon nameplate went down to the intermediate Fairlane platform for 1963 and 1964. So in a sense, both the design for 65 full-size cars was new, as well as was bringing back the Ranch Wagon.
I would like to find a 65 ranch wagon since the family had one when I was growing up,I liked my 65 squire but really wanted a ranch wagon.
I'm sure back-up lights were optional on the '65 Ranch wagon because my dad didn't order them for their wagon. When it showed up at the dealership with back-up light dad refused to accept the car if he had to pay for the back-up lights he didn't order (he only ordered two options for the car). The dealership let it go for free probably because it was August of '65 and not too many people would want a full size wagon with a manual transmission (it did have the overdrive option - which not too many people were familiar with at the time). Dean T
