1961–1966 Ford Unibody Pickups: Steel, Torque, and a Little Bit of Rebellion

As a classic Ford enthusiast, my journey in the realm of restoration has been nothing short of exhausting. The thrill of bringing a vintage beauty back to its former glory is unparalleled. However, this passion comes with its challenges, the most significant being sourcing the right parts. This is where classic reproduction Ford parts have become a game-changer for someone like me. For years, the pursuit of authentic, original used and NOS parts was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. These parts, often scarce and very expensive, could mean the difference between a stalled project and a triumphant restoration. Then entered the world of reproduction parts – a world that has not only made restoration more accessible but also more reliable. Initially, I was skeptical about using reproduction parts. Would they fit correctly? Would they maintain the authentic look and feel of my classic Ford? These concerns, however, were quickly dispelled. Modern reproduction parts are crafted so that they seamlessly blend with the original components. Manufacturers use advanced technologies and materials to replicate parts. One of the biggest advantages I've experienced with reproduction parts is the availability of parts. Unlike original parts, which may have undergone decades of wear and tear, reproduction parts are brand new and often incorporate modern engineering improvements. This doesn't just bring peace of mind; it enhances the driving experience, making it safer and more enjoyable. From a cost perspective, reproduction parts are generally more affordable than their NOS counterparts. This affordability has allowed me to allocate resources to other aspects of restoration, like professional paint jobs or interior refurbishments. Moreover, the availability of these parts means less time scouring swap meets and more time in the garage, doing what I love. In conclusion, classic reproduction Ford parts have transformed the restoration landscape for enthusiasts like me. They bridge the gap between the past and the present, ensuring that the legacy of classic Fords continues to cruise down our roads, not just reside in our memories. They are a testament to the evolving nature of car restoration, blending tradition with innovation, and keeping the spirit of classic Fords alive and roaring.

Ford's Roto-Selector:When You Changed the Radio With Your Foot Today we have steering-wheel audio controls, touchscreens and voice commands. In 1941, Ford had another solution: Use your foot. It sounds like an old-car tall tale until you see the period literature - and the installation instructions. The Roto-Selector Radio Foot Control Switch was designed to let the driver operate the tuning system of a compatible Ford radio without reaching for the dashboard. C&G Ford Parts offers reproduction 11A-18934-A radio foot control switch with wire for applicable 1941-1948 Ford and Mercury passenger-car installations. And this little switch is considerably more interesting than it looks.   Ford Really Called It the "Roto-Selector" That name isn't something modern parts sellers dreamed up. Ford's own 1941 promotional material advertised a new Ford radio with "Roto-Selector Control for fast automatic tuning." Period Lincoln literature also advertised an optional Roto-Selector Radio with foot control and long-distance antenna. The original installation instructions supplied by C&G are headed "Roto-Selector Radio Foot Control Switch." Those instructions show the switch mounted on the floor between the clutch and brake pedals. Its electrical lead was routed up to the radio receiver and plugged into a socket provided on the receiver itself. In other words, this wasn't an improvised accessory connected to an ordinary dashboard radio. The foot switch was designed to operate as part of the Roto-Selector radio system.   So What Did the Foot Switch Actually Do? Here's where terminology matters. The switch wasn't a modern SEEK control that searched the AM dial looking for the next strong signal. Instead, the Roto-Selector radio used preset stations. Contemporary Zenith service information describes Roto-Selector tuning as allowing any five desired stations to be selected automatically using either the foot control or the Roto-Selector control on the instrument panel. So when the driver operated the floor control, he wasn't telling the radio, "Go find me another station." He was telling it, "Move to another station I've already selected." That's an important difference - and a pretty sophisticated feature for a car radio more than 80 years ago.   There Was More Going On Than a Simple Switch The original C&G reference material also shows that the installation involved more than the button beneath the driver's shoe. The accompanying diagram identifies a relay/circuit breaker assembly, wiring to the receiver, a radio suppressor identified as 11A-18827 / 09A-18827, and the associated mounting hardware. That documentation is particularly useful because it shows us exactly where the reproduction 11A-18934-A fits into the larger system. The foot switch was the driver's control. The antenna, radio receiver and its Roto-Selector equipment performed the tuning operation. That's why saying the switch simply "changed the station" doesn't quite tell the whole story.   Why Control a Radio With Your Foot? Think about manually tuning an automobile radio of the period. You're driving down a two-lane road while turning a tuning knob and watching a dial, trying to land precisely on the station you want. Preset tuning eliminated much of that fiddling. Moving control of those presets down to the driver's foot meant the radio could be operated without reaching across the instrument panel. It was an early solution to a problem automakers still work on today: How do you let the driver operate accessories while keeping attention on the road? Different technology. Same problem.   Radio Was a Big Deal in the 1940s It's easy to underestimate how important the radio itself was. There was no streaming audio, satellite radio or smartphone in your pocket. Radio brought drivers news, sports, music, weather and entertainment while they traveled. American broadcasting was expanding rapidly. By June 30, 1948, the Federal Communications Commission reported 2,034 standard AM broadcast stations operating in the United States. That's a far cry from the handful of choices we sometimes imagine when thinking about an old tube radio.   What Was Reception Like? Those Ford radios operated in a very different broadcasting environment from today's digital entertainment systems. AM reception depended on the station's frequency and transmitter power as well as distance, terrain, ground conductivity, interference and atmospheric conditions. Nighttime could change everything. Medium-wave AM signals can propagate beyond their normal daytime range after sunset because radio energy can return to earth through the ionosphere. That made reception of distant stations possible - sometimes from hundreds of miles away. It could also produce fading and interference. So the selection of stations available to a driver wasn't necessarily identical at noon and midnight. Imagine heading down a highway after dark in your Ford. One of your regular stations starts fading as the miles roll by. Instead of leaning toward the dashboard and hunting around the dial, you've already got several stations adjusted into the Roto-Selector. Move your foot. Operate the switch. Bring up another preset. Now the Roto-Selector starts making a lot more sense.   Five Presets Wasn't Primitive in 1941 Five stations may sound rather limited today. In 1941, it was convenience. A Ford advertisement from the period specifically promoted the Roto-Selector as "fast automatic tuning." Contemporary Zenith service information confirms selection of five desired stations through the Roto-Selector system. Instead of repeatedly finding a favorite station manually, the driver could have the desired stations preset. That's essentially the same basic convenience provided by radio memory buttons for decades afterward - accomplished with vacuum tubes, switches and electromechanical hardware instead of microprocessors.   Did Every 1941-1948 Ford Have One? No. This is an important restoration distinction. Ford's own 1941 material describes the radio as an accessory, rather than standard equipment on every car. An aftermarket replacement-part application covering several years does not prove that every Ford or Mercury radio built during those years originally used exactly the same switch or radio configuration. C&G therefore lists 11A-18934-A for applicable 1941-1948 Ford and Mercury passenger-car applications. If you're doing a factory-correct restoration, the vehicle year and the radio equipment installed in the car should be considered.   The Kind of Detail That Makes a Restoration Fun The Roto-Selector is exactly the sort of feature that makes an early Ford interesting. Everybody notices the steering wheel. Everybody notices the gauges. But somebody eventually looks down at the floor and spots another switch. "What's that?" You point toward the radio. "Radio control." Now you've got a conversation. And with the original installation instructions available, we don't have to rely on somebody's recollection of how it supposedly worked. We can see where Ford intended the control to be installed, how its lead connected to the receiver, and how the system was laid out. That's the difference between merely installing an old-car part and understanding the piece of history you're putting back into the car.   11A-18934-A Radio Foot Control Switch With Wire C&G Ford Parts offers the reproduction 11A-18934-A Radio Foot Control Switch with Wire for applicable 1941-1948 Ford and Mercury passenger-car radio installations. If you're restoring an original-style radio system and aren't certain whether your receiver uses the Roto-Selector foot control, contact us before ordering. C&G Ford Parts has been helping enthusiasts keep classic Fords on the road since 1978, and our crew doesn't just sell old-car parts - we own and drive old cars ourselves. Because sometimes the smallest part under the dashboard has one of the best stories in the whole car. And yes - in 1941, Ford really did let you operate the radio with your foot.   Sources & Further Reading • C&G Ford Parts - 11A-18934-A Radio Foot Control Switch • 1941 Ford promotional literature - Roto-Selector automatic tuning • 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr brochure - Roto-Selector Radio with foot control • Zenith service data - Roto-Selector tuning and five-station selection • Ford News index - period reference to Mercury Roto-Selector foot control Primary material supplied by C&G Ford Parts: "Roto-Selector Radio Foot Control Switch" installation instructions, including mounting and wiring diagrams.  

1941-48 Ford & Mercury Convertible Top & Sun Visor Brackets When you're restoring a 1941-48 Ford or Mercury convertible, some parts disappear beneath upholstery, carpet or sheet metal when the job is finished. The hardware across the windshield header isn't one of them. Every time you sit behind the wheel, lower a sun visor or secure the convertible top, this hardware is right there in front of you. Worn, pitted or mismatched header hardware can stand out on an otherwise beautifully restored interior. That's why this week's C&G Ford Parts special is worth a closer look: our 1941-48 Ford & Mercury Sun Visor & Header Bracket Kit, part number 11A-7604144-K. Regularly $681.99, it's on sale through September 23, 2026 for just $379.95. More Than Just Sun Visor Brackets Don't let the words sun visor fool you. This isn't simply a pair of brackets for hanging the visors. The 11A-7604144-K kit includes the center top latch bracket plus right- and left-hand corner latch brackets with the sun visor frames installed. All three assemblies mount along the windshield header. Your own upholstered sun visor panels are then fitted to the supplied frames. That makes these pieces part of two very visible systems on the car: the hardware associated with securing the convertible top at the windshield header and the sun visor assemblies inside the passenger compartment. And on a convertible, that's prime real estate. Why Windshield Header Hardware Matters A convertible presents a restoration challenge that a closed car doesn't. There's no permanent steel roof extending over the passenger compartment. The folding top has to meet the windshield header, and hardware in this area helps secure the top when it's raised. At the same time, the interior side of the header carries the sun visor assemblies. So these aren't pieces that simply disappear once installation is complete. They're visible. If you've spent countless hours getting the dashboard, garnish moldings, upholstery and convertible top looking right, badly pitted or mismatched hardware above the windshield can become the proverbial sore thumb. A coordinated replacement set gives that entire area a clean, consistent appearance. One Kit Instead of Chasing Individual Pieces Anyone who's restored a Ford or Mercury that's approaching 80 years old knows how this story goes. Finding the big parts can sometimes be easier than finding all the little pieces that were originally attached to them. Convertible-specific hardware may have been removed decades ago. Pieces get lost. Visor frames get bent. Brackets become pitted or damaged. Previous owners substitute whatever they could find. And occasionally there's a coffee can somewhere containing two screws, one mystery spring and absolutely none of the parts you actually need. That's old-car restoration. Convertible Top Hold-Down Latches — 11A-7603522-K See 11A-7603522-K Convertible Top Hold-Down Latches This set of three stainless convertible top hold-down latches includes the center mounting bracket and is designed for 1941–48 Ford and Mercury convertible applications, with additional Sportsman applications listed by C&G. These are the working pieces that help hold the convertible top securely at the windshield header. The 11A-7604144-K kit eliminates much of that hunt by supplying the center bracket and both corner brackets together, with the RH and LH sun visor frames already installed. The kit also includes the stainless mounting hardware and installation screws needed for the assembly. Stainless Steel Where You Can See It This kit is manufactured from stainless steel, an especially useful material for components mounted around the windshield header of a convertible. Besides providing a clean finished appearance, stainless steel offers excellent resistance to corrosion - valuable on hardware associated with a folding top and an area of the car that may encounter moisture over its lifetime. More importantly for the restorer, you're replacing the major visible pieces across the header as a coordinated set rather than trying to make several old components of different condition look like they belong together. What Does 11A-7604144-K Fit? The kit is intended for 1941-48 Ford and Mercury convertible applications. Because many of these cars have passed through numerous owners and restorations over the last eight decades, it's always smart to compare your existing hardware and confirm the application before installation. If you're uncertain whether 11A-7604144-K is correct for your Ford or Mercury, give C&G a call. We've been helping people keep old Fords on the road since 1978, and technical help from somebody who actually knows these cars is still part of the deal.   While You're Working Around the Windshield Header… If you're already restoring the sun visor and convertible-top hardware around the windshield, it's a good time to inspect the other pieces that make up this area. Seals harden, latches wear and small pieces disappear over the decades. Taking care of them while you're already working around the header can save another round of disassembly later. Convertible Windshield Header Seal — 11A-7651312 See 11A-7651312 Windshield Header Seal Don't confuse this one with 11A-7651330. 11A-7651312 installs on top of the windshield, providing the corresponding seal at the windshield-header area. C&G lists applications for 1941–48 Ford Convertibles, 1946–48 Ford Sportsman models and 1941–48 Mercury Convertibles. Convertible Header Bow Seal — 11A-7651330 See 11A-7651330 Header Bow Seal Here's one of those little pieces that can make a big difference when you're putting a convertible top back together. 11A-7651330 mounts to the top bow and C&G lists applications for 1941–48 Ford Convertibles, 1946–48 Ford Sportsman models and 1941–48 Mercury Convertibles. Windshield Header Antenna Hole Plug — 11A-7603454-R See 11A-7603454-R Windshield Header Antenna Hole Plug And then there's the kind of part that can drive a restorer nuts: the little piece that's missing. The 11A-7603454-R is the antenna-hole plug for the windshield header and C&G lists applications for 1941–48 Ford Convertibles, 1946–48 Ford Sportsman models and 1941–48 Mercury Convertibles. And now for the part your restoration budget will appreciate. This Week Only: Save $302.04 Regular Price: $681.99 C&G Weekly Special: $379.95 YOU SAVE: $302.04 That's more than three hundred bucks left in the restoration fund for the next item on the list. And if you own an old Ford, we both know there's always another item on the list. The special price runs through September 23, 2026, while supplies last. Part Number 11A-7604144-K Description Sun Visor & Header Bracket Kit - Stainless Application 1941-48 Ford & Mercury Convertibles Regular Price $681.99 Sale Price $379.95 Savings $302.04 Restore one of the most visible areas of your convertible and save more than $300 while you're doing it. SHOP THE $379.95 SPECIAL