Does the 81 Cobra have a different dash bezel?

[79mustangcobra]

I bought two NOS Engine turned Cobra/Pace car Bezels.




The E0 part # has the correct turn signal design.




Look at the E1 part # it has a different turn signal design. I also just noticed the fasten seat belt logo is different.

So, is an 81 Cobra Bezel different? Anyone here with an 81 Cobra - Thanks for any feedback.

[TopGear85]

I don't have an answer, I just wanted to say..those parts are awesome! I bet you have answer stash of nos parts that I would love to rummage through. Very cool!

[xctasy]

Yes, based on what I've seen, the latter arrows were changed to those type for 81 . My car is early 1981, made before the 1981 model year but is QA yellow stamped in September 1980, and it has the second type.


I's say the Cobra would have folowed suit.

[wraithracing]

As mentioned, I believe the second design is not correct for you car.

So feel free to send it to me and I will install it in my PC since mine is nowhere stock anyway!

Sweet buys you have there!

Trey

[Travis T]

How odd Ford would spend money on such a minute change. That means the woodgrain panels probably changed between 80 and 81 as well.

[79mustangcobra]

I don't have an answer, I just wanted to say..those parts are awesome! I bet you have answer stash of nos parts that I would love to rummage through. Very cool!

Thanks Mike!

[79mustangcobra]

Yes, based on what I've seen, the latter arrows were changed to those type for 81 . My car is early 1981, made before the 1981 model year but is QA yellow stamped in September 1980, and it has the second type.


I's say the Cobra would have folowed suit.

Thanks for the info! Man, these little things, lol!

[79mustangcobra]

Thanks all for the feedback!

[79mustangcobra]

Ok, now I have another update. I found a sweet deal on a NOS 79 Dash Bezel. I got it for 50% less than the other two. The ones I posted earlier are after looking are an 80 and 81.

So, Ford in its wisdom has three different bezels for each year of the Cobra.

I love Bob Perkins. I love his articles in finding the nuances. I was not really looking for this bezel but it fell in my lap. I just got it tonight so I knew the differences of the two earlier bezels above by looking at them. So I was determined to find out why Ford made a D9, E0 and E1 Bezel. There has to be some change for a part number change.

Here is the 80 on top and 79 bezel on bottom.



I played eye spy on these two.
So what is the difference. I looked at the font on the warning lights, nope the same. Engine turning the same. Same size. Same AC bezels. Same around the steering column, wait ....

Really??

79



80



So maybe this is a fluke? So I went to the garage and sure enough there is a difference my Cobra does not have the column lip like the 80 version.

My 79 Cobra Bezel



So there it is. In 80 Ford made these a lot sturdier. Maybe people we're complaining that they broke? Not sure.

Then they made the change in 81 with the turn arrows. Seems like a lot of work for minor changes.