AUTO AUTHENTICITY: 1964-1971 Ford Thunderbird Safety-Convenience Control Panel (aka Convenience Check Group) |
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![]() ![]() In 1964, Ford introduced a new option for the completely restyled Thunderbird.
Called the Safety-Convenience Control Panel (shown above), this new feature
was mounted on the clock housing, below the controls for the wiper and
washer, and the left and right air vents. Consisting of three round red
warning lights between two chrome toggle levers, the Safety-Convenience
Control Panel was a very useful option, and a popular one too.
From left to right was a toggle switch for the vacuum door locks, then a DOOR AJAR warning light that came on any time either door wasn't completely closed, as long as the ignition was on. After a few seconds, the light bulb started flashing to call additional attention to the fact a door wasn't securely closed. To the right of the door ajar light, located dead center in the middle of the panel, was a LOW FUEL warning light. This light illuminated when the fuel level in the gas tank fell below 3 1/2 to 4 gallons. The light would normally flicker for a period, as the car turned corners or hit bumps, but would eventually remain on steadily until the tank was filled up. To the right of the low fuel light were the FLASHER light and another chrome toggle control. The flasher light signified the front and rear turn indicators were flashing in unison, to warn oncoming traffic of the presence of a car. The toggle switch when pushed upward activated the flashers. ![]() Ford thought this was such a selling point that in 1966 the Safety-Convenience Control Panel was made standard equipment on the Thunderbird Town Hardtop and Town Landau models. On just these two models, the warning lights were mounted overhead in a new roof console, and the vacuum door lock control was placed on the console below the Silent-Flo rear vent control in the area where the FASTEN SEAT BELTS reminder light was normally located, and the displaced seat belt light was moved up to the overhead console. For 1966, the option became somewhat diluted, since the emergency flasher system was made standard on all models. On cars not equipped with the convenience panel option, a single warning light and toggle switch were centered on the clock housing. The fact that it was standard equipment on most models made it one of the most popular options in the 1966 model year. ![]() But what Ford taketh away, Ford also giveth: the new rolling door lock functionality was added for 1967 only. This item locked all doors automatically at 8 mph, and kept them locked until the car slowed to a speed below 8 mph. Great for people with small children in the back seat, and a great safety feature with the center hinged rear doors (called suicide doors by many). The rolling door lock feature alone made the optional check group worthwhile, but when this feature didn't return for the 1968 model year, it made the check group rather expensive for what you got. At $101.10 on a Fordor Thunderbird, it was pricey. You could order a power driver's seat for less, or throw in another $27 bucks and get the StereoSonic Tape System. Your chances of this option being on a 1967 or 1968 Thunderbird are pretty slim, and it's more unusual to see it on the cars that survive these days, it seems. ![]() The buzzer was mounted behind the instrument panel, just to the left of the glove compartment, and it was an annoying little buzzer, too! In addition to being rather loud, it also had a very irritating tone to it, if you want to call the noise it makes a tone. One thing was for certain, though: with this option, there would be NO dead batteries due to lights being left on! The seat belt reminder light was still part of the check group, and it made sense that it would be a part of the warning lights since they were mounted up high where everyone in the car could see them easily. Popularity of this option increased somewhat in 1970 and 1971, although your chances of finding cars of these years so equipped these days are about 50/50. The vacuum door lock system became an "electro-vacuum" system in 1970, with electric solenoids replacing the vacuum valves that operate the lock motors. This increased the speed a bit, but vacuum was still somewhat slow to reach the rear door lock motors. After 1971, the Convenience Check Group ceased to be offered, and the various features of the option were split up and incorporated into other options, such as a Power Lock Group, or Convenience Light Group. Gone were the lights located over the windshield, which in retrospect seems like a very good place for them to be. Some car magazines of the time didn't think that was such a hot location, commenting that Ford was silly to expect someone who wasn't smart enough to check their fuel gauge to remember to look up at a warning light. Same goes for the lights on warning light. If they can't see the headlights on as they exit the car, how can anyone expect them to notice a little red light glowing up on the roof of the car? Of course, they were forgetting about that buzzer... Ford had a lot of better ideas, and we certainly think this was one of them! |
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