RARE Pony Edition 66 with Parchment Interior

[broncojack]

Yep, that red Bronco was the original owner on that truck.

Is there a vin tag on it ?
How about a buck tag?
Can you read the body code on the vin plate?

 

[JGbronc]

Sometime soon, I'll look over the seat I have, and see if I can tell anything. I'll post some close-up pics.

 

[bmc69]

As a former owner of two "Pony Interior" '66 GT Mustangs..I find it odd that only the green pony panels seem to show up in all those pics. I had one interior with the parchment and green in a green car..but the other was all red in a red car. Why would a factory red EB with a supposedly 'factory' pony interior use the green pony panels and not the red ones??

 

[66Gasgrill]

Good point Bill. My dad actually had a pony interior 66 that was bought new here in town in 66 and still had most of the original paper work. It was however, a factory 6 cyl. truck. I'll do some checking and see if the guy he sold it to still has it. I always asumed the fronts were mustang and someone made the rear. But, it matched yours exactlly. even had the parchment floor.

 

[bigjhoov]

Good point Bill. My dad actually had a pony interior 66 that was bought new here in town in 66 and still had most of the original paper work. It was however, a factory 6 cyl. truck. I'll do some checking and see if the guy he sold it to still has it. I always asumed the fronts were mustang and someone made the rear. But, it matched yours exactlly. even had the parchment floor.

Wow, talk about a blast from the past! How's it going Travis? Is the Gasgrill still in one piece?

 

[broncnaz]

As a former owner of two "Pony Interior" '66 GT Mustangs..I find it odd that only the green pony panels seem to show up in all those pics. I had one interior with the parchment and green in a green car..but the other was all red in a red car. Why would a factory red EB with a supposedly 'factory' pony interior use the green pony panels and not the red ones??

Thats probably what makes it so rare they even mismatched the colors. Even if all factory records are gone I agree there should be some dealer brochures out there somewhere that would have some clues I think it may have been more of a we ran out of silver seats lets go over to the mustang line and grab some seats for these last few broncos. then they needed some back seats to match so they cut up a few more mustang seats to make the rears.
On the other hand 45 years is a long time seats can be swapped, recovered ect.

 

[iwlbcnu]

Ben just bought a 67 U14 that has the hood brace shown, I kept telling him it was cut but guess not. So looks like they had at least 3 66 hoods now.

 

[BajaFresh75]

Ben just bought a 67 U14 that has the hood brace shown, I kept telling him it was cut but guess not. So looks like they had at least 3 66 hoods now.

I didn't notice it at first, then thought it was cut. I had 3 66's line up in a row and after looking at them and then noticing it wasn't cut I realized Ford must have had made 2 different hood in 66 also. That's why I posted it for the group to see and compare and get some feedback.

 

[JGbronc]

Took a look at my seat. It does appear to be the original covers.

Notice the sticker on the side. Can anyone explain what it means? I wonder if the seats were upholstered somewhere else, then shipped to Ford at Detroit.

 

[bmc69]

I have to admit that there are too many 'identical' sets of EB pony seats for all of them to have been owner customs.

Ford..never a dull moment. That's why I have my collection of pics of 'things Ford supposedly never built" ..like the 400 4V intake and carb, for example.

Ford engineers must have had so much lattitude..and so much fun..compared to those staid weenies over at GM, back in those days.

 

[66Bronco]

I'm still on the fence with this. It could be that some aftermarket company provided this interior upgrade. A Ford dealership maybe but I doubt delivered that way off the assembly line.

None of the Ford Brochures, Dealer manuals, Parts manuals, film strips, advertisements, etc. that I've collected over the years list this as an option.


-Terry

 

[Broncitis]

I'm still on the fence with this. It could be that some aftermarket company provided this interior upgrade. A Ford dealership maybe but I doubt delivered that way off the assembly line.

None of the Ford Brochures, Dealer manuals, Parts manuals, film strips, advertisements, etc. that I've collected over the years list this as an option.


-Terry

I agree, I'd have to see something in print for an option like this to have been a true factory option. Some small things that would never be worthy of print such as a speaker grille louvered cover, sure. But an entire interior package that was special made should have at least warranted a special one sheet promo flyer or something?

It should also be listed in a 1966 version of the factory book like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merc...tZVintageQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

However, I could see that if this was an end of the year special item, it may not have made it into that book which lists all the interior trim and color options and has fabric swatches.

I wonder if the guy with the red one form Broncorama who is the original owner IIRC might have his original window sticker that should indicate it on there?

 

[Viperwolf1]

If it was built that way at the assembly plant it would have a unique body/trim code.

 

[got-broncos]

I talked to the guy before. Thats the way he bought it. I want to say there were only 100 or so made that way. If he's at Broncorama Ill ask him. I know he retired from Ford.

 

[NCSUWoj]

seat

I had a 66 here in Lynchburg, VA that had that same interior. Somebody had replaced the front seats with a set of bronco II seats but left the rear. I got some good pics of the rear seat for the same reason you did Baja, hadn't seen one before. Sold the truck several years ago. I will dig up the pics and post them up.

 

[TheBroncoRanch]

Went and looked at one for sale here in Michigan about 15 years ago. Original owner bronco. He said he ordered it that way from the dealer. The bronco was rough at best, and the interior matched it. Have no reason to doubt that you could get them that way, there are to many that have surfaced for it to be a fluke. I have seen 10 or so over the last 25 years. The original owner one at broncorama is a good example. He ordered it that way, no reason to doubt him. He is a retired Ford executive, I have talked with him at quite a few ford shows here locally. I'd say you could order them like that in 66, or its just another quirky 66 thing;D

 

[66Gasgrill]

Wow, talk about a blast from the past! How's it going Travis? Is the Gasgrill still in one piece?

going great man,I'm still around from time to time. The gasgrill is in "several" pieces but it's all still here awaiting the green light from the boss.

Sorry for the hijack, back to the matter at hand. I'm pretty sure the one my dad had, had the window sticker with it. I know the guy who got it. I'll see if I can't dig something up.

 

[gclauson]

I have one

I'm just reading this post today... anyway, my late 66 V8 Bronco wagon has/had the pony interior in parchment, just as shown. Quite rough after many years in the sun, though. Fairly sure it it was factory, but I've always wondered. Mine had an all black rubber floor mat in the front, but it hardened and cracked to bits. Also had the parchment door panels, dash panel (and speedo), and sun visors.

It has solid provenance: it was bought by my father-in-law in 1967 from the original 1966 purchaser and he was pretty sure that it came from Ford (not dealer installed). I have the original window sticker that mentions nothing specific, but does have a "Custom Equipment Package" for $80.57. It also came with chrome bumpers, so I figured they were part of that package, too. Does anyone know more about the contents of that option package?

For better or worse, I have kept the front seats out and have not restored them. I had heard that Bronco front seats were actually Econoline, not Mustang, and have somewhat different padding and upholstery. Can anyone confirm if that is true? I do not want to order Mustang parchment covers and have them not fit. I will probably use the back seat as-is since it is in pretty good shape, but in the long run, it would need to be re-done. I suppose I would have to get the raw material and have a shop custom cut and fit since I doubt it is the same as a Mustang rear seat shape.

I always thought the pony inserts were brown, but reading the earlier comment about green and then looking at my rear seat, I can see it must have been green but turned brown where exposed to the sun.

If folks are interested, I can post pictures of the seats and the window sticker.

Gary

 

[BajaFresh75]

Great information on the seats. Look at the picture of the front mat. I've seen hundreds of these mat in all Parchment, I don't remember ever seeing one with the Black foot center section. Anyone seen more of these? I agree with Tom, almost anything was possible in 66.

 

[BajaBronco]

I too owned one of these 66 Pony interior BRoncos. Sold it to a local, so I can check his Trim code. I sent someone the info when I had the truck. Someone like EagleNest or BroncoRanch or someone was checking all the interior codes at the time, but not sure what they came up with? Mine was stock unrestored uncut 66 V8 wagon.

glclauson:
The Mustang seat foam is the same as Bronco. Not sure about Econoline...I sort of doubt Econoline had the same seat frame even. What IS different is the foam on a Mustang Pony seat VS a Mustang Standard (Bronco) seat. So I think that may be the difference noted.