Fellas, I have seen and heard both opinions. But would like to know if there is a definitive answer.

On a 71 Cuda with the Billboard are the rear marker frames the color of the car or color of the stripe?

color of the stripe

they are what ever dealer ship did as most of if not all were shipped to the dealership with the stripe in the trunk don't know about all dealerships but the one I worked at part time helping body man mechanics prep the new cars before putting on the lot or showroom . One would think that dealership would do it as quick as possible . did ever try to mask off a lens and get no overspray on it in 1970 no scotch brite pads , back then ,lets not forget how easy it is to get the marker lens out (sarcasm) litte common sence goes a long way

If it matters, Graveyard Carz always makes them the color of the stripe. I agree too so it blends correctly and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

it makes no sense that installing '71 'cuda billboards was intentionally left to the dealerships - the factories had employees that their sole job was installing stripes all day every day, they would become proficient at their job

Thanks These responses lead me to believe it is variable. which makes sense as I have seen high end restorations both ways. I personally like it to match the stripe, but some color combos it looks perfectly fine being body color.

I have to disagree. They always match the stripe. I seem to remember the light assembly on billboard cars has a B or W casting designating black or white. I will try to find a picture

Here’s a thread that explains it well…..

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2717734/1971-cuda-billboards.html

Yes, originally the stripes were installed on the assembly line, but as production ramped up the decals slowed production, plus many new car customers were displeased at the huge "billboard" plastered on the side of the car, many road test/new car magazines back in the day made note of the billboards "now" being shipped in the trunk for dealer install....which lead to a few cars having body colored lights because the dealer didn't know or have the color keyed stripe marker lites, nor could care or wasn't informed.... many items that "could" be installed on the prodction line were usually shipped on various models for the dealer to install....

URBAN LEGEND - have any examples or can you name any of these magazines, the thought that a dealer would be better equipped to install a billboard VS the factory is comical - ever see a woodgrain station wagon?

‘URBAN LEGEND - have any examples or can you name any of these magazines, the thought that a dealer would be better equipped to install a billboard VS the factory is comical - ever see a woodgrain station wagon?”


I will say that I bought a 71 Cuda convertible coded FC7, 383 and black billboards awhile back. I bought it from the second owner. He had repainted the car in 1980 because it was faded. I asked him why he didn’t put the stripe back on. He said “what stripe, it never had a stripe”. What’s the most plausible explanation for this?

My friend Bill bought a similar car. 71 Cuda convertible coded FC7, 340 and black billboards. His car still has the faded original paint but no sign that billboards were ever on the car.

I don't know. My Dad had a '61 Ford Country Squire station wagon that got hit in the driver's door. A body shop reskinned the door and reapplied the wood grain decal. So that expertise did exist in the field at that time (1965).

Seen plenty of original paint 71 Cuda's over the decades without stripes, I have an associate with a 71 340 Cuda, original paint, he's the original owner, no stripes/billboards......maybe it's a "stripe delete Cuda"...lol!

No one ever said a dealer was better equipped to install a billboard, they just had a hell of a lot more time, besides as I stated before, customer feedback was the stripe wasn't desirable in the day, so leaving it off for dealer install alowed the customer to "delete" the manatory "option"......I've installed a few 71 billboards, a little tricky at the rear of the car, plus the overall positioning to properly line up with the body lines....I've done woodgrain wagons in the bodyshop, moulding studs/holes are your guide, plus mouldings get plastered over the decals perimeter...apples-oranges Dan

The side markers for bill board cars were different, had a different part number and were just black or white.

What was supposed to happen, and what actually happened, can be 2 different things, plus it's been over 50 years...

Could be a procedural or production-speed change
Could be an assembly error
Could be a "lunchbox" deal, where someone somewhere stole the part(s)
Could be the customer decided they didn't want billboards
Could be the dealer just blew off the customer