65 Dart Turn Signal Levers - 2 Styles?

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zephyr

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Here are photos showing two different styles of turn signal levers in 65 Darts. The top one is a chrome shaft with a plastic end. The lower picture shows the more common all chrome style. Does anyone know why there are two styles? From looking at photos online it doesn't appear that one is for the GT model, or anything like that.
My car came with a chrome/plastic one and the end was broken off. So I replaced it with an all chrome one, which I was told was the correct lever for 65. Any info is appreciated.

Turn Signal Lever Types.jpg
 
To my knowledge the correct turn signal lever for the 65 A Bodies is the all chrome one. I will take a look at my parts book when I get home
 
Man, I give you restoration specialists a lot of credit. I would probably never noticed one was black and one was chrome. I don't think I have kept a car all original for more than a month in my whole life, but I can sure appreciate the knowledge, effort and work that it takes to get something so accurately restored. I find threads like this fascinating and usually educational.
 
The 2 ‘64s I used to have had the plastic ended lever . My ‘66 has the chrome lever .

I never had a ‘65 and the last one I sat in was 1965 so I don’t remember the lever but it could have been the chrome one because that was the first year of the column shifter.

I notice in the pictures above that one is a four speed and has the plastic end and the other has a floor shifter automatic. I wonder if one was early and the other later production. Or the plastic one broke and was replaced , I mean a lot can happen over five decades .
 
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"I wonder if one was early and the other later production."

That's a thought. My 65 Dart GT Convertible was delivered in November of 64. Maybe at that time they used the 64 levers. Ya think?
 
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VanceC said:
Here are photos showing two different styles of turn signal levers in 65 Darts. The top one is a chrome shaft with a plastic end. The lower picture shows the more common all chrome style. Does anyone know why there are two styles? From looking at photos online it doesn't appear that one is for the GT model, or anything like that.
My car came with a chrome/plastic one and the end was broken off. So I replaced it with an all chrome one, which I was told was the correct lever for 65. Any info is appreciated.

View attachment 1715264731
Click to expand...
It looks like the Dart, Valiant, Belvedere, and Coronet all had the same turn signal lever. No matter the level of trim.
As listed in the parts catalog: Lever and knob, Illustration #8-50-129, Part #2580-226
 
Joes Dart said:
It looks like the Dart, Valiant, Belvedere, and Coronet all had the same turn signal lever. No matter the level of trim.
As listed in the parts catalog: Lever and knob, Illustration #8-50-129, Part #2580-226
Click to expand...
Is that the black plastic end? My 66 has the all chrome one. December built. (mid year)
 
Joes Dart said:
I don't know what the difference is but the '66 part# is 2661-516. I'm going to do some research to see what I can find out.
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That didn't take too long. '65 and '66 are the same with different part #'s. A guy on ebay has one for $145. This is what is in my 65.
 
I see 67 Barracuda had the black knob. First year? Dart and Barracuda different but interchangeable?
1967-DODGE-DART-DRIVER-VENT.jpg
 
Perhaps different assembly plants different sources. I have seen two types on 59 Plymouth’s, aluminum or chrome
 
FISHYPETE said:
Perhaps different assembly plants different sources. I have seen two types on 59 Plymouth’s, aluminum or chrome
Click to expand...
59 dodge catalog page.PNG

Here's the '59 catalog page with the lever with knob, 8-50-129. I find these books invaluable.
MyMopar.com has all of them for free download.
 
Joes Dart said:
View attachment 1715272314
Here's the '59 catalog page with the lever with knob, 8-50-129. I find these books invaluable.
MyMopar.com has all of them for free download.
Click to expand...
Yep looks like 3 different ones for 59. Dodge and Plymouth are different and DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial use the same one. (those are probably gold) LOL
 
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