St. Thomas built 69 1/2 Question

My KC was built 09/16/69 and it has the Decal and dash ignition switch.

 

Maybe it is like Krazy Comet said about not requiring the locking column until Jan 70 - that gave Ford a chance to use up older columns, ignition switches/pods and wiring harnesses

 

Back in the day Fed requirements almost always went into effect Jan 1, not for the actual model year build... As far as the Fed was concerned, the first Mav off the line was a 1970 as that's how they are VIN'ed... Non locking column could have been used till till the last one for day was produced on New Years eve... Would be foolish though...

With Maverick selling well, I doubt there were under dash components and harnesses just laying around that needed to used... My bet would be Ford willingly chose use the cheaper parts until the 11th hour then make the change... Maverick already had the non-locking column and would get no visible changes, wasn't as big a deal as if the 1970 LTD, or new body Torino GT had a under dash switch...

 

We've had this discussion numerous times in the past, trying to explain why my 69.5 was produced in October 1969, and your explanation has to be the best so far - still, going by Paul's known VIN list for the 69.5 Maverick, by build date is still the latest so maybe October 1969 was, in fact, the final hour for the un-official 1969.5 Maverick

 

Well the official Ford parts list has Maverick switch numbers for locking column before 10-1-69 & after 10-1-69... Also has a number for 1970 non locking(which fits '69-'70 Falcon) but gives no date, guess it's obvious enough where the switch is...

Since there are apparently no Sept builds with locking column, I'll venture another guess and say in actual production the 1st locking switch may have never been used in Maverick... Instead Ford went directly to the 2nd type that's listed after 10-1-69... At that point(early/mid Oct) they could have been using the remaining under dash components till they were depleted...

 

My '69.5 is 0X91T167193, has the metal tag on the drivers side door. Built July, '69.

 

My 69 has the sticker and it was built in December, but still has locking column something's off.... and it was built in St. Thomas because my dad always thought 0x meant ox like the animal

 

If it has the locking column/key on column then it is a regular 1970 model that was introduced in September 69 - by December 69 everything should have been converted over

 

Oh okay, my brothers 69 was built in April I believe but all of ours our St. Thomas cars and we have 5