Fire Extinguisher Installed in 1968 Shelby GT500KRs at Factory or Dealership?

[SUN02591]

1. Was a fire extinguisher installed in 1968 KRs at the factory or dealership?

2. What was the extinguisher latch location in the KR?  Or did it vary from the upper part of the inside of the trunk, behind or in front of the driver's bucket seat, or behind the center armrest console?

3. What was the weight/size of the fire extinguisher installed?

Thank you very much for your time and assistance in advance!

Don Pealer

[Bill]

1. Was a fire extinguisher installed in 1968 KRs at the factory or dealership?

2. What was the extinguisher latch location in the KR?  Or did it vary from the upper part of the inside of the trunk, behind or in front of the driver's bucket seat, or behind the center armrest console?

3. What was the weight/size of the fire extinguisher installed?

Thank you very much for your time and assistance in advance!

Don Pealer

Don,

   No and no, so unfortunately, the rest of your questions are irrelevant.

Bill

[Coralsnake]

Agreed, it would be very unusual if a dealer installed a fire extinguisher.

It was definitely not a factory item

[SUN02591]

Much appreciated for the responses!

So it was essentially an owner that installed or carried a fire extinguisher in the KR and decided its placement.

It would definitely make sense since it would be bad publicity for the manufacturer or dealership to install one if it wasn't mandated by federal regulations (e.g. safety belts), suggesting concerns on safety and reliability of the KR.

I was curious since AACA judging rules requires one visibly with the car, usually next to the driver's front tire, and searched to find if there was a dedicated location in the KR.  However, no online or hard copy references that I had accessed suggested this was the case.

This forum has provided the ground truth.

[Coralsnake]

Individual organizations have different rules.

You will find the most knowledgeable Shelby people here.

I looked at some pictures of your KR it looks nice.

[SUN02591]

Thank you!  I not only enjoy making my KR as accurate as possible to the original factory details/specifications but maintaining/driving her on the road when the weather is good. 

It's nothing like a Raven Black KR FB with bias ply tires and running on Turbo Blue 110 leaded racing fuel to give me an accurate experience of what it was like driving down the highway in 1968.👍🇺🇸😸 Fun and memorable times!

[Coralsnake]

Well if you need some ideas we are here to help.

[Bill]

Much appreciated for the responses!

So it was essentially an owner that installed or carried a fire extinguisher in the KR and decided its placement.

It would definitely make sense since it would be bad publicity for the manufacturer or dealership to install one if it wasn't mandated by federal regulations (e.g. safety belts), suggesting concerns on safety and reliability of the KR.

I was curious since AACA judging rules requires one visibly with the car, usually next to the driver's front tire, and searched to find if there was a dedicated location in the KR.  However, no online or hard copy references that I had accessed suggested this was the case.

This forum has provided the ground truth.

It's not car brand or model specific, show organizations like the AACA, (MCA also I believe) and some others require a fire extinguisher to be placed/installed in the cars at their shows because of previous incidents of fire at their events. If everyone has an extinguisher in their car, on a show field, there is a better chance of someone coming to the other car owners assistance.

Bill

[Bob Gaines]

Much appreciated for the responses!

So it was essentially an owner that installed or carried a fire extinguisher in the KR and decided its placement.

It would definitely make sense since it would be bad publicity for the manufacturer or dealership to install one if it wasn't mandated by federal regulations (e.g. safety belts), suggesting concerns on safety and reliability of the KR.

I was curious since AACA judging rules requires one visibly with the car, usually next to the driver's front tire, and searched to find if there was a dedicated location in the KR.  However, no online or hard copy references that I had accessed suggested this was the case.

This forum has provided the ground truth.

It's not car brand or model specific, show organizations like the AACA, (MCA also I believe) and some others require a fire extinguisher to be placed/installed in the cars at their shows because of previous incidents of fire at their events. If everyone has an extinguisher in their car, on a show field, there is a better chance of someone coming to the other car owners assistance.

Bill

MCA only requires an entrant to have a fire extinguisher available. It is only required to be shown at classification when the car first enters the show field. After that it can be out of sight but available in someone's bag etc. It should not to be placed under a front tire, back tire etc. at any venue because some that are forgotten about end up being run over. One mounted or placed in the car or trunk has the potential of being a points deduction depending on the venue. MCA is one of those venues.

[2008 GT-C]

I purchased a Halotron fire extinguisher for my Shelby several years ago. Great for electrical fires without leaving a residue that must be cleaned up quickly if using a standard extinguisher. - Kevin

[shelbyhertz66]

I think Pinto's may have come with one.

[98SVT - was 06GT]

It was definitely not a factory item

You could not restore the prototype 1968 convertible without installing TWO fire extinguishers.
As can be seen from the invoice that SA sent to their insurance underwriter for repairs to the car after it had been stolen.

http://www.1967shelbyresearch.com/library/docs/files/1967-06-20%20SAI%20Invoice%205040%20-%20Repairs%20of%20Stolen%20Convertible%2000139.pdf

[Bob Gaines]

It was definitely not a factory item

You could not restore the prototype 1968 convertible without installing TWO fire extinguishers.
As can be seen from the invoice that SA sent to their insurance underwriter for repairs to the car after it had been stolen.

http://www.1967shelbyresearch.com/library/docs/files/1967-06-20%20SAI%20Invoice%205040%20-%20Repairs%20of%20Stolen%20Convertible%2000139.pdf

The OP was referring to regular production cars not a engineering car like the prototype 68 convertible that the invoice refers to. Some suspicious inconsistencies besides the 2 fire extinguishers in that invoice. I don't recall 2 fire extinguishers being installed on any of the restorations of the car. You will have to contacted Brian Styles to see if he knows where the two fire extinguishers were mounted to support a "installed" situation in his extensive research of the car. They could have been loose in the car too. 

[J_Speegle]

Could have just been "padding" for the billing to the insurance company

Just a possibility. Know it does not seem to be many $$s today but meant more in the 60's and every little bit helped - Maybe

[Bill]

It was definitely not a factory item

You could not restore the prototype 1968 convertible without installing TWO fire extinguishers.
As can be seen from the invoice that SA sent to their insurance underwriter for repairs to the car after it had been stolen.

http://www.1967shelbyresearch.com/library/docs/files/1967-06-20%20SAI%20Invoice%205040%20-%20Repairs%20of%20Stolen%20Convertible%2000139.pdf

The OP was referring to regular production cars not a engineering car like the prototype 68 convertible that the invoice refers to. Some suspicious inconsistencies besides the 2 fire extinguishers in that invoice. I don't recall 2 fire extinguishers being installed on any of the restorations of the car. You will have to contacted Brian Styles to see if he knows where the two fire extinguishers were mounted to support a "installed" situation in his extensive research of the car. They could have been loose in the car too.

I'm thinking the fire extinguishers, the extra 8 base gaskets, and the AM radio (who steals a factory AM radio) were for other vehicles and just lumped into the chargeback invoice.

Bill