lower dash resto question for 71S

[Kaleid]

With respect to the basketweave material on the lower dash which is correct: material uncut going from the right of the steering column all the way to the glovebox or the material cut on both sides of the radio (in other words right of the steering column to the radio, separate cut for the radio plate and then another section from the right of the radio to the glovebox)? PO had a metal plate over where he had the radio so in re-installing the original radio I want to make sure I have this right! Thanks all.

Marco

[RSTarga]

My 73 has a separate plate, I wonder if the 71 was different. I've seen it both ways and I wonder if it was one piece with a factory installed radio and two piece if it was just radio ready option?

[fryardds]

Marco,

My '71 was ordered without a radio (no antenna either). When I bought the car the previous owner had put a radio in the car from his previous '71S he had ordered while stationed in Japan (the radio was specific for the band there), but he also kept the original metal block-off plate with the basket weave material. He had rigged up a thin wire antenna taped to the inside of the windshield which looked like crap.

I took the radio and antenna out and slipped the metal block-off plate in and the basketweave pattern matched the material adjacent to it perfectly. Who needs a stink'in radio anyway.

[gulf908]

Marco,
This scan is from the white '70 brochure.
It is actually a '69 dash however I don't see any reason for this basketweave to be altered between '69 and '71.
The weave material looks to have no join marks between the right of the steering column and the lhs of the glove box lid.
I don't see why there should be a plate there with no radio present.

HTH,
Dennis.

[RSTarga]

My guess is that if the radio was factory installed or if no antenna installation was done, it was one piece. If an antenna and radio prewire was requested they put the blank of plate separate. I have seen even 73's in one piece, so I think you can go either way. Just remember that if you change radios or add one later you'll have to change your covering again.