K Code Bracket
Interesting Mustang Oddity. I’m currently restoring a 1965 Factory GT Mustang Fastback, VIN stamped 5R09C. The VIN stamp indicates it is a 289 2V, but I came across something that I have never seen before. This car has a K-Code style bracket for the rear end snubber bumper, when it should have a standard style bracket instead. This bracket appears to be factory original. This K Code style bracket is flatter than the standard bracket and sits farther forward to accommodate the larger 9″ rear end.
K Code Bracket close-up
Standard Rear End Bracket (pictured from a different Mustang)
As you can see, the Hi-Po bracket is a lot different from the standard bracket. It has a lower profile. I have only seen these brackets on K-Code Mustangs and Shelby Mustangs. This car might have been a special order with a 9″ rear end. When I received it, the rear end was missing, as were the rear frame rails in the trunk.
This car is very unique because all of the fender apron stamps and title begin with 5R09C. The original door tag is 5R09A, but the consecutive unit numbers match on all of the tags. I found another VIN stamp on the left hand fender apron that was 5R09A and appears to be a Ford stamp. This car also has the reinforcement plates in the rear floor pan under the back seat, which is reinforcement for the GT exhaust hangars. These plates were never used on dealer GT’s and were only used on Factory GT’s. The rocker panels were never drilled for rocker trim. GT’s did not used rocker panel trim mouldings. So, is this car a GT or not a GT? According to Ford, all GT’s should have an “A” code or “K” code. There were not any Factory 6 cylinder or 2V GT’s.
Is this a Mustang oddity since the car should have been VIN stamped with an “A” or a “K” instead of a “C”? Too bad I can’t do a Marti Report on this car (everything earlier than 1966 has insufficient records). If you can shed any light on this, let me know.
I have a San jose 64.5 k code with a standard plate I found out that my rear clip had been replaced cut the value in half. Your car may be put together from two salvage cars like mine was. not much you can do about it. check the date codes on the rear sheet metal. they can cut a car in half and add new floor panels after welding the rockers together. Are the front fenders off the car check all 3 vins. you may have a mis-stamp K code on your hands.
Hi Scott. Thanks for your input. None of the front fender aprons have been changed. They are all stamped “C” code, as is the title. I found another Ford stamping between the two left hand fender apron stamps that is “A” code, like the door tag. All consecutive unit numbers on all of the stamps match. The strange thing was that this car was not modified. Upon further checking, a large percentage of A code and GT cars had the same snubber bracket. I checked my dad’s 1965 factory GT Coupe and it also has the same bracket. I have also heard that early 1965 GT’s (April – early May) did not have a hole drilled in the dash for the fog light switch. The factory used the existing hole on the bottom of the dash. My dad’s car is May 20th and the switch is in the proper location. My car is May 3rd and the fog light switch hole was not drilled at all. Another thing about my car is that it has a GT (or 1965 Pony Interior) gauge opening in the dash. Strange….