Chassis number 149927, built Dec 1953, had the 5/8 +/- inch long slot in the
links as Rich noted. Another difference is the shape on the side mounting
bracket. The early cars were basically a square plate with one corner lopped
off. On the later style the corners were rounded, the plate much thicker and
the shape was a trapezoid, top and bottom sides parallel, top longer than the
bottom.
Aloha
Perry
In a message dated 01/19/09 05:44:41 Hawaiian Standard Time,
richchrysler@quickclic.net writes:
Gentlemen,
I've been studying the many changes that took place within the Hundred
production period and did not seem to be documented. Many of these are
subtle little changes that had to do with better top stowage, easier sewing
procedures and patterns, colours, and so on. Meanwhile the mechanical
changes were very carefully documented so the spares department could update
supplies, part number, etc.
As nearly as I can tell the top anchor brackets and links had two changes
after the original "pivot only" design. The second change, which I note
specifically on a very original July 13th car, has a slight straight slot in
one of the arm links, the slot being only about 3/4" long and hardly
noticeable. This helped the assembly to tuck a bit better when folded. Greg
Lemon, could you check yours again? I suspect on careful observation that
yours may have this short straight slot in the link.
The 3rd and very noticeable link with somewhat of an L shaped slot seems to
have come in by the end of 1954. This slotted link allowed the entire top
assembly to tuck back further away from the back of the seat back.
Unfortunately none of these seem to have specifically noted change points,
so can only be tracked by observation. Of course 55 years after the fact, a
lot of owners and restorers have tried to replace the earlier assemblies
with the later ones, so unless a car is specifically known to be unrestored,
we'll always run into this uncertainty.
Scan 49 att'd shows the later L slotted link. 02RRDK shows the earliest
"pivot only" arrangement. Sorry I don't have a picture of the "short
straight slot" arrangement.
Rich Chrysler
AHCA Hundred Registrar
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