'71 1600 - no front reflectors?

[malagalaga]

Hi all,

Just bought a nice '71 1600. I am confident it is a US model (have the 600 mile inspection receipt), but it does not have the front reflectors below the turn signals No evidence that they were ever there.

It does, however, have all four red rear reflectors (sides and rear panel).

I'm assuming my front fenders have been replaced (though there's no sign of a wreck at any point). Did any year US-spec '02s have no front reflectors?

[TobyB]

I'd second that assumption-

near as I can figure, anything 69 or later ALWAYS had the side

reflectors, and 71- on ALWAYS had the rears.

And some earlier cars got 'em too.

US law specified markers for imports starting in '69 and made them

bigger for '70, and included reflective material in the spec for sides and

rear.

Thus, technically, a '69 should have rear side reflectors, and '70 should

have them all the way around.

But we own far too many exceptions to these rules for me to really believe them...

t

[Delia]

Reflectors were required on US-spec 1971 models.

As you mentioned, it's likely the front fenders were replaced at some point.

FWIW, the front fenders were the first parts of my 1969 2002 to show evidence of rust-through -- along the vertical seam near the A-pillar.

It is quite possible there is no other rust on your car.

On the other hand, check for rust and body filler in the rockers and on the rear quarters around the wheel well openings...those are the second most likely places for rust to appear...especially for midwestern cars.

Delia

[malagalaga]

Thanks all. If it ever cools down (closing in on 100 now), I'll back it out into the sunlight and get a better look. The only rust it has is from sitting out for a couple of years under a carport with minimal use. Little rust developing under the chrome trim. No structural rust - from the records, it has never left the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so it has never seen salt.

I'll crawl under to see what I can tell about the fenders - whether they've been replaced or not.

[THE1ST3]

...from the records, it has never left the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so it has never seen salt.

...maybe just a little?

http://www.nbcdfw.com/traffic_autos/transit/Sand-and-Salt-Recipes-Vary-for-Battling-Ice.html

[malagalaga]

...from the records, it has never left the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so it has never seen salt.

...maybe just a little?

http://www.nbcdfw.com/traffic_autos/transit/Sand-and-Salt-Recipes-Vary-for-Battling-Ice.html

I think that's a pretty recent thing. When I was growing up here (when this 1600 would have been a daily driver), it was just sand on the roads. And even then, that was maybe once every 2-3 years. Hotter'n dickens in summer, but at least the winters are all right around here.

[eastsidebimmer]

my 1/71 build date US spec 1600 has front reflectors.

[malagalaga]

Eastsidebimmer, our cars were built 120 apart (1572459 here) and in the same color!