1968 rear compartment pull straps

[Charles F.]

I have a 68 coupe, build date April 21, 1968. The JG, page 16 states:

"In 1968 and part of 1969, the lids were spring-loaded and were designed to open when the chrome push-button was pressed. Quite often they did not work properly. Vinyl trim-colored pull straps were added in mid-1969 and should be present on all cars after SN 13,098. They may appear on earlier cars because a factory technical bulletin instructed dealers to add them if the customer complained of difficulty in opening the compartments. [italics added]..."

Would the presence of pull straps on my rear compartments result in a judging deduction ?

Thanks.

Chuck Faillace

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

I have a 68 coupe, build date April 21, 1968. The JG, page 16 states:

"In 1968 and part of 1969, the lids were spring-loaded and were designed to open when the chrome push-button was pressed. Quite often they did not work properly. Vinyl trim-colored pull straps were added in mid-1969 and should be present on all cars after SN 13,098. They may appear on earlier cars because a factory technical bulletin instructed dealers to add them if the customer complained of difficulty in opening the compartments. [italics added]..."

Would the presence of pull straps on my rear compartments result in a judging deduction ?

Thanks.

Chuck Faillace

I don't do any judging so I can't speak from a judges experience or perspective. However, I would say that for a 1968 that appears for judging with the pull straps on the rear compartment doors, a judging penalty would almost certainly be imposed.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

Charles does your 68 have the original center compartment door of plastic? If the door is original, is it straight/flat?
My original owner 68's original center compartment door is plastic and it has been bowed for a lot of years now. I have considered removing it and placing it on the driveway on a hot July day and placing a heavy weight on it to see if it would flatten the bow, but it is not really a big issue with me.

[Jack H.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

The JG text cites a VIN changeover point. How close is your car to that VIN number?

Typically, running changes like this are approximate with some cars before the effective change date cited having the new configuration and others not having it. While cars after the effective change date are mixed in configuration for some time.

Here the text cites a specific VIN number instead of a date, so it appears to be a firm guideline for effectivity. I'd guess you should expect a modest deduction IF your car has a VIN before that cited and it's equipped with pull tabs....

[Jim B.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

I have an original owner 68 convertible and it is a late July 1968 car. Almost at the end of the run. It never had pull straps. The doors are thick pressboard with carpet cover and a spring hinge that when new would open when pushed. Over the years I had rouble with the openeing function so I put temo straps on the doors which I assume many owners did. They did not come on the car.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

The JG text cites a VIN changeover point. How close is your car to that VIN number?

Typically, running changes like this are approximate with some cars before the effective change date cited having the new configuration and others not having it. While cars after the effective change date are mixed in configuration for some time.

Here the text cites a specific VIN number instead of a date, so it appears to be a firm guideline for effectivity. I'd guess you should expect a modest deduction IF your car has a VIN before that cited and it's equipped with pull tabs....

Jack-----


I don't think any 1968's had the pull straps, so if the car is a 1968 as mentioned, then there's no way that a date of manufacture has any relevance to the issue. My friend's early build 1969 has the 68 style doors.

[Charles F.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

Thanks to all. I know that no 1968 came with the pull straps from the factory. The question was really more focused on the effect of the technical bulletin that suggested adding them (obviously, long after the car left the factory): since the bulletin was from GM to fix a problem, and dealers may have done so contemporaneously, does it still create a judging deduction ?

It seems from all the posts, that a deduction will occur despite the bulletin. In other words, since it didn't leave the factory that way, and despite the corrective bulletin, it is not original and will receive a deduction. Do I have this right ?

Chuck Faillace

[Reba W.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

I am an interior judge, and yes I would deduct no more than one point.

[Charles F.]

Re: 1968 rear compartment pull straps

Jim:

My compartment doors were heavily damaged (and yes, the center one was bowed so badly the door could not close) and have been replaced with new ones. The repros look 100% better than what was there. I sourced some original bins on e-Bay, so they look good.

Chuck