I got my Marti Report and Door Sticker [Archive]

Hissing Cobra

01-10-2008, 05:42 PM

I got my Marti Report and reproduction door sticker today and I'm psyched! I finally know when my car was made (June 6th, 1979) and sold (June 25th, 1979 - the day before my 11th birthday). It was sold at Paul Clark Ford in Brockton, Mass (which is still there).

I also got the reproduction door sticker and I compared it to my 1981 door sticker. It's the same exact size and coloring. Nice! Anyway, here are the scans.

It doesn't show my rear window louvers as being an option. I wonder if they were dealer installed? Also, it does show the mud flaps as an option. I forgot about those and still have them in a box.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/1979Mustang/1979MustangCobraMartiReport.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/1979Mustang/1979MustangCobraDoorSticker.jpg

K PONY

01-11-2008, 12:29 AM

WOW, look at that... 51 days behind schedule... I wonder why Dearborn was so far behind on there orders... nice list of options your car was built with Pete, what options are missing or not ordered.

tman1257

01-11-2008, 05:24 AM

Man Pete, your car did have alot of options. What was the difference between the Selectaire a/c that yours had and the regular a/c as said on mine? Also, did you notice how much your windows were tinted from the factory? Mine had that option also, but I couldn't tell.

Hissing Cobra

01-11-2008, 06:43 AM

All of the options that I have are listed, except for the rear window louvers. I'm now wondering if they were dealer installed? They have the threaded rivets in the hatch and the hinges are bolted to those rivets. Because of that, I assumed that they were installed at the factory. I won't know for sure until other owners who have the louvers, order their reports.

As for the "selectaire" Air Conditioning, I don't know what the difference is. I know mine was installed at the factory and is not a dealer installed AC unit. I have a dealer installed AC unit in my '81 and it's got a separate set of controls that are setup right next to the regular controls for the heat, while on my Cobra, they're all integrated into the one HVAC unit.

My windows do not appear to be tinted but I do remember that my windshield had a band of tint across the top (I've since had it replaced). If the rest were tinted, it sure doesn't look like it. Compared to the factory tint on my 2004 Ford Freestar, it looks like they're not tinted at all.

This is so cool that we're learning more and more everyday!

FoxChassis

01-11-2008, 07:38 AM

Pete: I'm assuming your Body/Buck Tag is missing? Factory rear window louvers would be indicated on that tag with a "LL" (liftgate louvers).

"SelectAire" was the factory's name for their air conditioning. Just like "Traction-Lok" is their name for their limited slip differential.

The "tinted glass" was just uniform green color. It was not smoke like you see on most of today's factory-tinted glass. It was recommended, but not required, when air conditioning was optioned.

Hissing Cobra

01-11-2008, 10:40 AM

Thanks. Actually, I do have my bucktag. Two years ago, I thought that it may have been stolen, when in actuality, I removed, cleaned and painted it, and forgot what I did with it. I then found it and reattached it (this time to the front of the driver's side shock tower.) I'll look on it tonight for the "LL". If I don't find it there, do you think that the louvers may have been added at the dealer?

FoxChassis

01-11-2008, 10:46 AM

Oh, so you've been holding out on us!

Louvers, if not 'factory', could have been added by anyone at anytime.

cobrstang

01-11-2008, 11:39 AM

Your car sure had a lot of options. Does Marti offer a more detailed report that would list how many cars were built with each option?

KCoker

01-11-2008, 11:40 AM

You can by the body rivets that are threaded inside, I used them to put factory louvers on my pace car.

Hissing Cobra

01-11-2008, 12:23 PM

Oh, so you've been holding out on us!

Louvers, if not 'factory', could have been added by anyone at anytime.

Well, not exactly. When I posted that dumb, stolen thread 2 or 3 years ago, I thought that someone had removed it from my shock tower. Three weeks later, I found it under my back deck on top of a paint can. I had removed, cleaned, and painted it Black, and then put it under the deck so that my wife's daycare kids couldn't get it. I then got sidetracked and promptly forgot about it. Two or three days went by and we're at a car show and my brother says, "What happened to your Bucktag?" I said, "I don't know. It was there last time I checked." Then I got in a tizzy, thinking that someone unscrewed it at the car show and then I ranted and posted my thread on here. Three weeks later, I found it and updated that "stolen" thread with egg on my face. I tell ya, sometimes my brain is malfunctioning like Microsoft Windows. I always joke to my wife that I need a new Pentium 4 processor, just like Homer Simpson.

When I get home, I'll take a picture of the bucktag and post a pic.

Oh, on the inside of my original owner's manual, there's a person's name and address and the date 7/2/79 (one week after the car was sold) on it. I googled the guys name and I believe that he's still alive, as there's a person by the same name in the same town that's listed. I'm debating on calling him to find out if he's the original owner. What do you guys think?

tman1257

01-11-2008, 12:25 PM

What is up with the production dates too Pete. Yours says your car was 51 days behind even though it was ordered 3/05/79, serialized on 3/28, yet built on 6/06/79 but my report says mine was ordered 09/15/78, serialized 3/16/79, but not built until 4/30/79 only being 26 days behind. Why the long wait between being ordered and built? Was it just because of the number of cars made that year? You never know, try and call him, might get some funny story about the car.

Blainer

01-11-2008, 02:59 PM

I just cant wait till Marti can do mine.

79mustangcobra

01-11-2008, 04:56 PM

Pete

If you can will you take a picture of the "Factory Mudflaps"? That would be cool to see

Thanks!
David

Hissing Cobra

01-11-2008, 06:06 PM

O.k. I just went out to the garage to get some pictures of my Bucktag and was very unsuccessful. Without the flash, it was too dark and with the flash, it looks like a blurred picture. Therefore, I wrote down what it says, typed it into Microsoft Works and scanned/saved it. I had to add an upside down "14" underneath the CBR on the bucktag because mine has that but I could not duplicate it with the Microsoft Works, therefore I wrote it in with a pen. It's posted below.

I also noticed that the "LL" is not there, which further leads me to believe that the louvers were not installed at the factory. They're not listed on either the Marti Report or the Bucktag.

I also took a picture of the 4 mudflaps and posted it, along with a picture of the car wearing them, which a took on the day I brought it home back in 2000. These have different part numbers for the front and the back. They're identicle except for the factory screw holes. These are also posted below.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/1979Mustang/1979MustangCobraBodyBucktag.jpg

The mudflap pic. The top 2 are the fronts and the bottom 2 are the rears.

Front part # D9ZB-16A266-AA
Rear part # D9ZB-6628344-AA

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/1979Mustang/1979MustangCobraBodyBucktag003.jpg

Picture from 2000, note the mudflap in the rear. The front is too dark to see it, but they were all on.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/1979Mustang/1979CobraI.jpg

FoxChassis

01-11-2008, 06:25 PM

Yup..the louvers were definitely not factory-installed.

capriman86

01-11-2008, 06:52 PM

Very cool stuff Pete!
Hopefully I can get this for my cars someday!

I would call the guy up...I would think it was neat if someone called me on it.

We called the last owner of my Capri, well that didn't work out so well. A lady answered
and yelled to stop calling!!!!! ROBERTS IN JAIL...STOP CALLING!!!!!!

Ok that was one phone call....Definitely won't be calling Robert back again.

Hissing Cobra

01-11-2008, 07:12 PM

You know what? I googled his name once again. I wrote down his address and phone number and came home to compare the address to the one in my owner's manual. IT MATCHED! The name and address are identicle to that found in my book! I called the number and a lady answered. I let her know who I was and what kind of information I was looking for. She took my number and said that she would relay the message on to him. I hope he calls.

I'm expecting him to be in his 50's or older. It's been 29 years since he bought it and if he was say, 25 at the time of purchase, that would make him 54 years old now. We'll see!

roush235

01-11-2008, 07:50 PM

Cool stuff Pete. Something interesting which caught my eye: only 343 red/black standard vinyl interior 3-door hatchbacks. One would have thought this was a common combination. I'm sure this was due to the zillion paint/trim combinations available back then.

JTurbo

01-11-2008, 08:25 PM

negusm

01-11-2008, 10:23 PM

Yup..the louvers were definitely not factory-installed.

Here's a story along these lines...

I ordered my 86 Probe GT thru Ford. Got about every option (except leather and automatic). The guy would NOT throw in the factory floor matts for free so I ordered the car without them.

Of course I got home and 3 days later called him back up and told him to add the matts to the order. He said he couldn't do that...the order was already placed...so he ordered them thru Ford and had them sent "with" the car "separately"...not sure what that meant. They were on the car when I took delivery.

Anyone getting a Marti Report on that car will probably scratch their head and wonder WTF did the retard who order the car forget the floor matts? Especially if the car somehow still has them....cause they are the correct ones for that car.

Point is, we do the weirdest things with these cars....from day one even....before the car is even built.

-Mike

FoxChassis

01-12-2008, 03:55 AM

Point is, we do the weirdest things with these cars....from day one even....before the car is even built.
Indeed.

But the best we can do right now, until we have factory or dealer evidence to the contrary (invoice, windows sticker, dealer add-on slip, etc.), is to go with the factory stickers, stamps, tags, sheets, etc. that are in/on these cars, and what we know to be "correct" (to the best of our knowlegde). We can't just say "yeah, that's 'factory'" just because it has the same look, hardware, etc. as true factory-installed stuff, if the only we information we have available from that particular car doesn't support that. Making something 'look' like it was factory-installed is too easy to pull off.

capriman86

01-12-2008, 10:24 AM

Will be interesting to hear from the original owner on this louvers thing.

Hissing Cobra

01-12-2008, 11:24 AM

Yeah, it will! I haven't received a call yet but I'll try again today. I don't want to badger the guy but I hope he's accomodating.

capriman86

01-12-2008, 11:35 AM

Is he local?

Hissing Cobra

01-12-2008, 02:16 PM

Yeah, Brockton Mass. It's about 45 minutes from me.

tripice351

01-12-2008, 04:32 PM

Wow, talk about a lucky break, having the original owner's info in the owners manual. I was going to suggest contacting the dealership and see if they still miraculously have the order records (worst they could say is "no").. looks like you won't need to. :)

429bigblock

01-13-2008, 01:13 AM

Wicked cool, that really is a lucky break! Hopefully he gets a hold of you.

tman1257

01-13-2008, 09:04 AM

Was there a cover available for the sunroof in 79? Did yours come with the cover if there was one available Pete?

Hissing Cobra

01-13-2008, 06:25 PM

Was there a cover available for the sunroof in 79? Did yours come with the cover if there was one available Pete?

Yup, I've got the Black louvered cover and vinyl bag (with straps). The bag was never installed in the rear cargo area with the straps, so technically, the straps have never been used. Not a big deal to me because I don't use either anyway. I've got the whole package laying on top of a hood in the rafters of my garage.

Blainer

01-14-2008, 04:07 PM

At least the stories from your car are good ones pete. i have heard nothing but abuse and torture my car went through. Dropping the tranny at 6000 ripping the front bolts out of the floor in the front the seat going into the back seat , used to have 4cyl springs in it and was able to lift 1ft off of launches, racing supercharged wrx's and loosing off the start but catching up to it....etc

8T6 SVO

01-14-2008, 11:29 PM

Was there a cover available for the sunroof in 79? Did yours come with the cover if there was one available Pete?

I had a early 79 Cobra that had a sunshade that attached to the headliner to cover the sunroof inside the passenger's compartment. I heard that these didn't last long (recalled) as the cover would fall down and block the driver's vision while driving.

Are you talking about this cover that covered the sunroof in the driver's area?

Hissing Cobra

01-15-2008, 05:57 PM

Yup, that's the cover.

Sellis1012

01-18-2008, 09:59 AM

I had a early 79 Cobra that had a sunshade that attached to the headliner to cover the sunroof inside the passenger's compartment. I heard that these didn't last long (recalled) as the cover would fall down and block the driver's vision while driving.

Just a minor inconvenience.

Hissing Cobra

01-18-2008, 04:50 PM

I don't see how it could block the driver's vision. It attaches in the front by sliding into a slotted piece of metal. The back is held in with some type of funky clip (I use plastic Dzuz type fasteners that I got off of a FORD Escort - they are used to hold the rear cargo cover to the rear seats on the '86 Escorts.) If they were to fall out, the sunshade would hit me in the back of the head.

Hissing Cobra

01-28-2008, 08:31 AM

Well, I didn't hear from him but I sent a letter to him on Friday. I hope he doesn't think I'm a stalker!

Hissing Cobra

01-31-2008, 09:50 PM

Well, a week has gone by and I just got home and there's a message on my answering machine from the guy I mailed the letter to. He didn't say if he was the original owner or not but he did want me to call him back either tonight or tomorrow. It's too late now but I'll definitely call him tomorrow.

Could he be the original owner of my Cobra? We'll see!

tman1257

01-31-2008, 10:00 PM

That sounds interesting. Never know what stories you might get.

cobrstang

01-31-2008, 11:02 PM

Good luck, hopefully he is the original owner and will have some great info for you.

capriman86

02-01-2008, 12:28 PM

I hope he doesn't think I'm a stalker!

Come here little boy

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/88/FamilyGuyHerbert.jpg

Hissing Cobra

02-04-2008, 05:41 PM

Ha Ha!

Wow, I feel like I just hit the game winning Home Run in the bottom of the 9th, of game 7 of the World Series! Why? Because I just got off the phone with the original owner of my Cobra! His name is Steve and he answered all of my questions and then some.

He asked me which Mustang I was calling about and when I informed him of the Cobra, he was a bit disappointed. You see, prior to the Cobra, Steve had owned a 390 powered 1969 Mustang Fastback. He said that if I was calling him on that car, he would offer to buy it back from me. I wasn't disappointed because I too, would love to own a '69 Fastback!

Back in 1979, Steve was was a lawyer for Ford Motor Company (and still is!) and ordered my car from Paul Clark Ford in Brockton, Massacusetts. It was a gift for his wife and at the time, he was 43 and she was 37 (he's now 68 years old). According to Steve, he asked the salesman to "order a Cobra that was loaded to the hilt." His wife drove the car sparingly and when not in use, it was in their garage. In 1998 or 1999 (he couldn't remember the actual year), he bought his wife a brand new Subaru and gave the car to a personal friend named Cathy.

Cathy had married his best friend and during their years of friendship, Steve became the godfather of one of thier children. Cathy assumed ownership of the Cobra and put the car on the road for her daughter, who had just gotten her driver's license. Her daughter drove it approximately 2,000 miles before they put it up for sale and in February of 2000, I saw their advertisement in the WantAD and purchased the car from them.

I specifically asked Steve about the Louvers on the rear window and he replied, "I told you, I asked the salesman to order a Cobra that was loaded to the hilt. They were on the car when I bought it." I also asked him how much it cost when it was new, and laughing, he replied, "More than $12.00."

I explained that I did a lot of work to the car during its resto-modding and he is interested in seeing the pictures. I'm off to e-mail him those pic's.

Well, I believe I got all of the information that I was looking for, especially on the rear window louvers. I now firmly believe that they were a dealer installed option, as they definitely were not installed at the factory.

Thanks for listening!

fordguy

02-04-2008, 07:03 PM

that's cool. you should drive it over and show him, better than pics!

negusm

02-04-2008, 07:31 PM

Pete. You definitely need to get that guy to go thru and find some original pictures of the car when he first got it!

-Mike

JTurbo

02-04-2008, 07:43 PM

Good story w/a happy ending!

capriman86

02-04-2008, 07:51 PM

Very cool Pete! Thanks for sharing the story!

roush235

02-04-2008, 08:02 PM

Good story. I bet both of you enjoyed the visit.

SchoolBoy

02-04-2008, 08:38 PM

Ya very cool Pete! You should see if he would meet you at the dealer where he bought it for a photo shoot.

I managed to find the waranty card and maintance records in the svo. On the card was the original owners name and adress. So we googled him and tried the number, bingo. He agreed to meet dad and I at the dealer were he bought it for some pics.

Hissing Cobra

02-04-2008, 08:39 PM

Pete. You definitely need to get that guy to go thru and find some original pictures of the car when he first got it!

-Mike

That's one question that I forgot to ask. Maybe I'll e-mail him again and ask him. I'd love to drive it over to him when the weather gets nicer. We've still got some salt on the roads and I've currently got the transmission out of it. I'm changing the speedometer gear and the transmission tailshaft gear so that the speedometer will now be accurate. While I had it out, I took the clutch out and it's glazed over. I'm waiting for a new one to arrive and then it'll be back in action.

I felt a little guilty when I told him that I changed the colors of the paint and decals. Then I hit him up with the drivetrain changes and he replied, "Hell, I thought it would be in the junkyard by now. I'm glad it went to someone who's enjoying it. Send me some pictures of it." It was then that I let my guard down and relaxed a bit.

cobrstang

02-04-2008, 10:27 PM

Lucky you! Since he has been cooperative so far you should ask if he might have any original paperwork left in a file somewhere.

429bigblock

02-04-2008, 11:46 PM

That's so cool that you ended up talking to the origional owner!

7t9cobra

02-06-2008, 03:10 AM

i would love to talk to the original owner of my car....and i would love to kick the last 2 owners in the head for treating the car the way they did. it was crashed in a ditch. the hood, grill, and the right fender were smashed and replaced. they did some half-assed wire feed welding jobs on the firewall and door hinges. someone also tried brazing a couple holes in the door jam. the original carbed turbo engine was swapped with a 77 pinto engine. then after they lost interest in it, they let it sit overgrown in grass next to an old barn type garage, in one of the rainiest parts of the country and near the coast. i would like to thank him again for selling it to me for $100 though. all i did was throw a battery in it, and it fired right up. now its on its way back to looking good and it got a nice heart transplant. it should have a few more ponys than it originally was intended for :p we also managed to save a 79 turbo notch (power nothing) from the same graveyard which will be my girlfriends car this fall. i think ill upgrade a few things on there before she drives it though. it needs power brakes and power steering. i believe i have all the parts lying around. we couldnt save 2 cars that were out there though...there was an 80 capri RS 5.0 (had aluminum bumpers too) and a 79 ghia 4 banger. both were rotted beyond repair. we salvaged what we could. whoa...sorry for the long post....i do that when its late and i get tired :D
goodnight
jeff

Hissing Cobra

02-06-2008, 06:30 AM

The main thing is that you have a Cobra and you're right, it's definitely on the way to being something special. The Turbo notch for your girlfriend is cool too! I wish my wife wanted another Mustang, this one for herself. I keep telling her that we should sell her minivan and buy a new one. She's not buying it!

tman1257

02-06-2008, 03:52 PM

At least you know now your car was taken care of now Pete. The previous owner of mine is my wife's brother in law and after hearing about his little adventure with a cop on a gravel road, and hearing he parked it after driving a couple miles on no water I don't want to know anymore. The fact it is in decent shape after all of that is still what shocks me.

Hissing Cobra

02-11-2008, 10:37 AM

Update:

I just got a phone call from Paul Clark, the owner of the Ford dealer where the car was sold. Apparently, Steve gave them my letter and contact information. Cool! Anyway, Paul said that his dad closed the Ford dealer last year but they still own the building and inside, there's a ton of records from all of the cars that they have sold over the years. He said that there's a good chance that they may have all of the original paperwork from when the car was ordered and when the sale was processed. He's going to forward this information to his dad and they're going to try and find the paperwork for me.

This Marti Report has sparked me to try and find the informational history of my car. Nice!