Hi again. . It doesn't really show in that picture, but, the two sides at the base are not mirror images of each other.
Doesn't surprise me since the coupe console isn't symmetrical either. It sits slightly to the passenger's side of the hump so that the shifter is in the center of the hole. That makes the driver's side of the plastic shorter. There was a 3rd picture of the other side of the console but its from a different angle that makes comparison difficult.
Are the templates one sees offered for sale any better than the markings on the back sides of the repros which, BTW, are symmetrical?
I've about decided to wait until carpet is in and do the final console trim to optimize the fit. Luckily the installed seats almost hide the details of the cut especially for a black on black interior.
Final(?) question: Was there really a different console for the convertibles or did the guys on the assembly line have a template and a knife?
Here are a some photos of the "convertible cut" original console that I ultimately put in my 65 (before & after). I'm having a hard time determining whether each side is the same or cut diffrently. I didn't think abuout it then. I was just happy that I didn't have to cut anything! I suppose I could have taken better pictures....
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1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
Thanks for the pictures. The cuts looks similar to the ones on the tan one I found.
I think the cuts are deeper on the passenger's side but then the passenger's side is longer to begin with (about 1/3" at the center screw hole) because of the way it sits on the transmission hump.
Glory be! Rooting around in a box of upholstery I hadn't opened in quite some time I found a heavy paper labeled with Magic Marker as "65 Conv Console Template". A friend of mine back in the day had about 50 Mustangs in and around his barn and I must have traced this from one of his convertible consoles c1983. (He's now into old tractors & has no Mustangs.) The marked cutout is different side to side seemingly being cut deeper at the front on one side and deeper at the rear on the other. 'Front' is carefully marked but I didn't mark which side is which. Surely I drew it with the paper on the outside of the console or else the ribs inside the console would have been in the way.
Assuming I know how I drew this: On the driver's side, a straight edge held to the bottom points of the front cutout area is parallel to, and 13/16" away from the flat edge in the cutout above. On the passenger's side, a straight edge in the same place on the bottom front section is obviously NOT parallel to the cutout flat area which is as much as 1 1/16" above.
This is such a subtle difference I don't know if its possible for anyone to verify if that is indeed the case on one of their consoles. But if you are willing to check it out I would appreciate it since cutting the non-symmetrical pattern on the wrong sides of the console would not be a good thing.
I'll see what I can do with my tape measure this evening and get back to you.
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1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
OK, I tried, and there's no way to get an accurate measurement from a console that's already installed because of tranny tunnel bulging in the cut areas of the console. How about this? Turns out that I have a copy of the Ford "trimline" template I picked up before I found my convertible console. Since I no longer need it, PM me your address and I'll mail it to you.
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1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
Hi again. I've got templates that I made from an original 66 convertible console sitting around here somewhere. I made them out of the same stuff that the coupe package shelves are made of and marked them d/s and p/s and mage them with a square end that goes flush with the courtesy light cut-out. I know that they're still hanging around here somewhere because I was going to cut down one of my consoles for mt car someday. I'll go ahead and dig them out and take some good pictures and get some measurements.
Thanks Veronica for making me think a little harder. Do you know my wife? She does that to me all the time! I measured the template that I have and it does show a difference in the cut as Ivy66GT noted. I took some photos that I will try to post.
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1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
Thanks a bunch. I was afraid measuring an in-place console would be rather difficult.
I think you have shown me all I need to know. The template I made appear to be from a REAL convertible console. (It was so long ago I didn't remember.) I feared that my wordy explanation and question wouldn't be all the clear. But your measurements are exactly what I was measuring with my templates and your pictures should identify which of my templates is for which side of the console. Now all I have to do is start cutting.
I am curious to see the templates that Veronica made but I expect they will look much like yours and also mine once I figure out which way mine should be oriented.
Well, good luck with the trimming. I'd still be happy to send you my template if you think you need it. Post some pics when you're done!
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1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
I copied your photos and displayed them in actual size on my monitor then compared them to the template I drew all those years ago. In general your pictures agree with mine but there are some problems. I am still uncertain that having the templates in my hand would be any better than using the pictures you provide displayed at full size. I don't mean to attack your credibility in any way with the following questions, I am just trying to understand exactly what we are looking at.
Didn't you indicate that your template is somehow from Ford? Does that note I can only partially read say something like - Template: Service replacement of console panels Mustang 76A models. That would tell me this was intended for Ford dealers who needed to install a coupe console into a convertible for some reason.
Its odd in that you show both RH and LH side views but, provided the measurements you are showing are both between the center and the front screws, one of the views (LH) is from the outside looking in and the other one (RH) is from the inside looking out of the console. That seems rather odd for either an engineering drawing or a drawing intended for someone to use for cutting.
The angle on the lefthand side of both your RH and LH views does indicate to me that it is the front end of the console cut for each side; the rear cuts are done over a longer distance. The flattish, upper edge of the cuts shown for both your RH and LH are nearly parallel to the laser lines. Although that is true for my LH, on the deeper cut RH side my upper flat portion is definitely not parallel to the laser; the front of that flat area is 1/4" higher than the rear on my tracing. Also, the smooth cutouts around the center screws on both sides of mine are definitively a much larger radius, possibly 50% wider, than what your template shows.
Once again it brings me to wonder if there was truly a 'convertible console' or whether the assembly line workers sort of made them up as needed and that there is no true 'correct shape' for one of these. After all, Veronica said they didn't fit all that well. Maybe they didn't even all fit the same?
All of your questions are totally legitimate and I would be asking the same thing if I was in your shoes. Actually, I'm glad that I didn't have to use the template, as I was lucky enough to eventually find find an original convertible console on ebay. I agree that this template was likely for dealer use to add a console to a convertible in their inventory. I have attached the legend to this template that indicates that it is/was from Ford. I wonder if anyone knows whether a console was ever a factory option for a convertible or strictly a dealer option? Was it part of the Pony interior package?
With respect to the R/H cutout, perhaps they intended for the cutting to be done from the inside of the console's R/H wall? Would that be feasable with your console? Anyway, my offer still stands to send you my template if you think it will help. Turns out that I have two. Right after I bought mine from NPD, I think, my brother sent me the same template that he never used either. Have you thought of selling the console you now have and waiting for a convertible console to come up on ebay or a car show flea market? That's how it eventually worked out for me.
Again, good luck!
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1965 Convertible 200 I-6, C-4 Auto (originally 3-speed manual) "Groovy Red" (originally Wimbleton White, then dark green) Newly restored and finally home!
1969 Mach 1 351 (W) 3-Speed Manual, Winter Blue, Deluxe Interior, All original, per Marti Report/Eminger Invoice. Finally moving her from the barn to the garage to begin work!
It doesn't really show in that picture, but, the two sides at the base are not mirror images of each other. 
Surely I drew it with the paper on the outside of the console or else the ribs inside the console would have been in the way.
I measured the template that I have and it does show a difference in the cut as Ivy66GT noted. I took some photos that I will try to post.
