Rear quarter radio antennas on 66s

[6S280]

As a follow-up to a similar named topic in the 1965 section, my car, 6S280, was leased by SA to employee Gary Pike and sold at auction in December '66 with other SA corporate cars.  At the time of the auction it had an AM radio and RR mounted antenna.  The antenna on the car when I purchased it in 1987 was not the standard Mustang mast used in the RF fenders.  When fully closed down, an 8"-10" fixed portion of the mast remained above the quarter panel surface.  The inner wheel housing was "massaged" with a hammer to provide clearance for the portion below the quarter panel surface.  The car was serviced very early in its lease period twice at Hi Performance Motors for differential work so they possibly installed the radio as well but no paperwork on the radio install.

I replaced the original broken antenna back in 1988 and did not keep it.  I am looking for suggestions on what antenna may have been used for the original installation based on time period and my description of it. The picture attached is from 1987 showing the antenna as purchased.   

[Bob Gaines]

As a follow-up to a similar named topic in the 1965 section, my car, 6S280, was leased by SA to employee Gary Pike and sold at auction in December '66 with other SA corporate cars.  At the time of the auction it had an AM radio and RR mounted antenna.  The antenna on the car when I purchased it in 1987 was not the standard Mustang mast used in the RF fenders.  When fully closed down, an 8"-10" fixed portion of the mast remained above the quarter panel surface.  The inner wheel housing was "massaged" with a hammer to provide clearance for the portion below the quarter panel surface.  The car was serviced very early in its lease period twice at Hi Performance Motors for differential work so they possibly installed the radio as well but no paperwork on the radio install.

I replaced the original broken antenna back in 1988 and did not keep it.  I am looking for suggestions on what antenna may have been used for the original installation based on time period and my description of it. The picture attached is from 1987 showing the antenna as purchased.   

Since that installation was not typical especially with a collapsible mast it could be almost anything. I have some ideas. In a effort to give as good a response as possible more info is needed. do you what type of extension was used for the antenna?  Is it still with the car ? Was it for a slide in type like the radio uses or a different type at the antenna. Did the antenna have a integrated coaxial cable or did the coaxial cable plug into the mast? There were ones with different size screw in fittings for the lower mast as a example.

[6S280]

As I recall there was a coax of some length on the mast that slid into a connector on an extension piece that went the rest of the way up to the radio.  There is an extension in the car now as the current Radio Shack replacement antenna I put in has a length of coax attached to the mast.  The Radio Shack coax on the antenna is a bit smaller diameter that what is attached to the radio but I do not know if the extension now in the car is what was there in 1987 or something I put in when replacing the antenna.  I don't have any pics of that work on the car so my memory of 33 years is all I have to go by.   

[Bob Gaines]

As I recall there was a coax of some length on the mast that slid into a connector on an extension piece that went the rest of the way up to the radio.  There is an extension in the car now as the current Radio Shack replacement antenna I put in has a length of coax attached to the mast.  The Radio Shack coax on the antenna is a bit smaller diameter that what is attached to the radio but I do not know if the extension now in the car is what was there in 1987 or something I put in when replacing the antenna.  I don't have any pics of that work on the car so my memory of 33 years is all I have to go by.

There is a 3 mast collapsible antenna that was used by Ford on 65 up era on big cars. The lower portion of the mast makes it so there is not enough room to mount it under a front fender.It was sold over the counter along with a electric version for rear mounting. It would have been available over the counter back in the day. It has a length of coaxial cable made into it and has a male end like what plugs into the radio.  I see them on Ebay frequently and many use it as a substitute for the 69/70 Shelby (Shelby one is very different) rear mount antenna .  I just checked and didn't see one . It is a C5 number  . Since you don't know for sure what was originally used then this would be at least a perfect original Ford time period rear mount antenna and at best the exact one used.

[Bob Gaines]

Here is a picture of what was available back in the day for a rear mount antenna at the Ford Parts counter . Of course other things could have been used but if a Ford dealer or someone working on Fords(HPM) were installing a rear antenna back in the day and asked a Ford parts department what was available for rear mount this is the kit that would be most likely be used.

[J_Speegle]

Here is a picture of what was available back in the day for a rear mount antenna at the Ford Parts counter . Of course other things could have been used but if a Ford dealer or someone working on Fords(HPM) were installing a rear antenna back in the day and asked a Ford parts department what was available for rear mount this is the kit that would be most likely be used.

Love the inclusion of the "Competitive Cars".  Had not seen that box markings before

[Bob Gaines]

Here is a picture of what was available back in the day for a rear mount antenna at the Ford Parts counter . Of course other things could have been used but if a Ford dealer or someone working on Fords(HPM) were installing a rear antenna back in the day and asked a Ford parts department what was available for rear mount this is the kit that would be most likely be used.

Love the inclusion of the "Competitive Cars".  Had not seen that box markings before

Yes, if you tilt it back it streamlines the car so much that you get a few more miles per hour.     I am not sure where the performance aspect comes from.