C3 Fiberboard Storage Compt. Tray

[Kevin Morris]

Just an FYI for you C3 owners. My '72 came with it's original fiberboard passenger-side storage compartment tray. It was in bad shape, so I purchased a new one to replace it. In doing so, I noticed a couple of interesting things about this. The original has two holes on each of the two sides of the tray, as do the repros. The original also has, however, just below those two holes on either side, two black circles on either side and just below the holes. Apparently, this was overspray from the previous and succeeding trays being "painted" on the production line. The spray apparently blew through the holes on each side and onto the sides of the trays before and after on the production line. Another interesting fact, that I have not seen mentioned anywhere before (including the TIM/JG), the original tray had a numerical black ink stenciling on the bottom of the tray. On my tray the stencil read "122 72".
Being that the build date of my car was 5-10-72, I am assuming that this stenciling is the production date of the tray itself...1-22-72. Anyone with additional info., please respond.

Kevin #39927

[Tony H.]

Re: C3 Fiberboard Storage Compt. Tray

Kevin,

I think you are correct that the numbers stamped in black ink are represent the date. However, the first number, 122, is more likely the Julian date which would be 5/1/1972. That would have fallen on a Monday. Your car "build date" was then on the Wednesday following that week.

Tony

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 Fiberboard Storage Compt. Tray *TL*

Kevin,
Some of the ink stamped numbers are not so obviously a date, and at the time the 1970-1972 TIM&JG was last revised we didn't know what they meant. I'm not sure that we do yet. There are also some original storage boxes without any ink stamp. Thus the decision was to omit any mention of the ink stamp. Most interior judges are aware of these differences and will explain them to the car owner when the car is judged.
Terry

[Michael M.]

Re: C3 Fiberboard Storage Compt. Tray

Not sure what "Bad Shape" means, but if your original tray is structurally ok, you can have it reflocked.

[Tony H.]

Re: C3 Fiberboard Storage Compt. Tray

I agree. Depending how much of "bad shape" your storage tray is in, you may be able to restore it yourself. This tray is only cardboard, which is really just multiple layers of paper. Elmers glue can to wonders to strengthen then ends of the tray.

I have taken white Elmers glue to a tattered edge of the tray. With plastic sheet used on outside edges, I then pressed it to the shape I wanted it using books or other appropriate weight. Overnight, it was good as new. Mine did not need reflocking but if it did, that could be done after restoring the tray.

[Roger Legge]

Re: C3 Fiberboard Storage Compt. Tray

My original June-build '68 tray has the two holes on each side, but there is no 'hole' overspray. There is overspray all the way around the top, about 1.5 inches down the outside. This overspray looks like paint and not any flocking. The overspray drops down the same amount as the cutout in the front. There are 2 small holes in each of the front and back lips and 1 small hole in each of the side lips. There does not appear to be any sort of markings or stamps for date, manufacturer, etc.

Roger
#36316

[Kevin Morris]

Re: C3 Fiberboard Storage Compt. Tray

Interesting Roger. My original has the same overspray, on the outside (all sides) of the tray, dropping down from the top edge anywhere from 1" to 2". It appears to be very poorly applied, as there are even smudges of this spray near the bottom of the tray sides. I particularly found the numerical stenciling on the bottom and the perfect little "circle" oversprays on either side. Your's does not have these circles...this makes me wonder if the production process they used to make these had changed sometime between 1968 and 1972.

Kevin #39927