Switching the top switch?

[Voyce]

One of the amusements of owning a time machine is learning to take what you see with the proverbial grain of salt.

The Bird is a ’60 convertible and, thus, has an electric “Top” switch. The switch operates just dandy. It is operated from the left side of the steering wheel, outward of the “Hood” cable release pull.

All was accepted as normal until a friend directed me to a 1960 FoMoCo dealer promo film. Here is a closeup from the film showing a car model operating the top. (Does not everyone wear white gloves driving their Bird?)

dataurl994842.jpg
What? The Top switch is to the right of the steering wheel, close to the map light!

So, did Ford switch the switch location during the production run or did some previous Bird steward decide to pull the old switcheroo?

The journey continues.

[jopizz]

I've had a number of '60 convertibles and the top switch has always been to the right of the steering column like the promo film to my recollection. Can you post a picture of the switch on the left.

John

[jopizz]

Here's a picture I found online that also shows the switch on the right.

John

1960 convertible top switch.jpg

[jopizz]

The owners manual also shows the top switch on the right side. However if the car had a manual transmission with overdrive the overdrive switch would be on the right side. I'm not sure how that was handled on a convertible. Maybe the top switch was moved to the left side in that case. I'm sure Carl can shed some light on this.

John

[Voyce]

Dear John:

I suspect that somewhere along the line, someone liked the idea of moving the top switch for convenience. (The Bird came from the factory as a F-O-M equipped vehicle.)

Here is an image:

image.png

Personally, I like the location. All three hand functions are on the same side.

It will be staying in its current location, using the "if it ain't broke" principle.

[jopizz]

I agree that someone probably moved it for convenience. As long as you don't accidentally pull the wrong one. Normally the brackets are black so it appears that someone painted them too.

John

[Voyce]

John:

Blame me for the paint.

The interior had way too much black. So, I accented the switch brackets to match the exterior, picking up on the exterior matching pin stripe in the leather seat backs. Besides suiting my sensibilities, it makes the handles easier to see and they no longer appear to float in the Black Hole of Calcutta,