Taxi rail ?

[collecta]

Can someone post a picture or know of a picture of the taxi rail for fe fc . i purchased one of ebay and im not sure if its correct. a measurement across would also be great. the one i purchased has a bracket at each end with four holes in it for securing to pillars, but instead of screwing the rail in it was welded in and cut out of vehicle. lovely ebayer neglected to mention this in his description of the item, still wondering what to do that is why i would like a picture to compare with what i bought before i email seller with my grievances.
cheers
Scott

[graham_fuller]

Hi Scott,
Can you post a picture of the rail?I will check mine when I am at home.
Cheers,
Graham

[RET]

I'm pretty sure the original has only 3 bolt holes in it, for starters.  The end brackets have a curve in them to sit neatly on the 'hip' in the 'B' pillar, so there is really only one way up and one spot they can fit.

Business sedans had pillars with captive nuts built into them.  When fitted to other vehicles you had to use self-tappers.  There was certainly no welding involved!

Hope that helps.

cheers
RET

[RET]

Further interesting (to me anyway ) developments.  The "Hand Rail" package (as it was officially known), p/n 7406184 appears in the FE Accessories brochure, but does not appear in the official Nasco Accessories catalogue for FC.  However, it is listed in the 48-FB Master Parts Catalogue as an accessory for all FE/FC 215/225/219/229 vehicles.  (It was standard equipment on the 217, as mentioned previously.)  There's also a part number (7406605) for the FB version.

Of course, the hand-rail was flogged relentlessly in Accelerator magazine throughout the life-span of the FC, and since there is also an FB version of it, I can only assume that it was just an oversight that saw it left out of the FC Catalogue. Perhaps the same oversight that has it missing from our Accessories listing :-/

cheers
RET

[customFC]

Hey RET.
The hand rail does not appear in the Accelerators that I have. Mine are not complete as yours are, but would be interested in a copy of an advert from Accelerator if you have 1. Please PM me.
I will email a pic to Scott.
Regards
Alex

[RET]

Alex,

You're dead right, you know.  The Hand Rail isn't advertised in Accelerator at all.  GM-H/Nasco don't seem to have been able to make up their mind whether it was an accessory or not.

The FE Preliminary and Illustrated Parts Catalogues both list it as a 217 standard part, with part number 7410158.  They also have it as as accessory under the previously given part number.

I can see how the 7410158 version would have been deprecated with the demise of the FC/217, but that would make it more likely (you would think) for it to appear in Accelerator.  But even FB vintage ones don't show it.  The September 1960 edition had a leaflet inside with prices and part numbers for all FB accessories.  No sign of the hand-rail.  But in the issue itself there is a double-page spread with the complete range (which is exactly a refresh of the FE version), and it includes the Hand Rail.

So was it an accessory or not?

cheers
RET

[collecta]

This is exactly how i pictured it great FE/FC minds goin at it........ i'll take a picture and post it tonight.
cheers
Scott
ps........ if its not an FE/FC rail then hopefully someone can post a picture of what it should look like,so i can attach it to my email to the seller to plead my case for a refund or bad feedback [his choice]

pss RET i also checked the accessories listing without
luck.

[RET]

The only brochure pic I've got handy isn't much use...



And the only pic I can find of one fitted won't be much use to you either I don't think.  Here's one as fitted to Geoff_K's Business Sedan:



... and a brighter close-up:



Surely someone who's got one of them fitted can put up a better photo?

cheers
RET

[collecta]

Thanks for the effort RET,
gives me some idea. i'll put up some pics as follows
cheers
Scott

[collecta]

And this one

[Eaton_FE]

I will send a photo of the taxi rail in my FE special through E-mail photo is to large to send on forum

Les

[mcl1959]

From your photo I can tell you it is absolutely not genuine.  It may have been fitted to an FE or FC but is certainly not the genuine article.

Ken

[FE_UTE]

Les (Eaton-FE) sent these pics of the taxi rail in his FE sedan

[collecta]

Thanks Les and Gary for your team work.
mine is definately not genuine actually looks quite primitive to say the least. not happy JAN.
thanks all with your pictures and words.
cheers
Scott

[Hewart]

Sorry to hear you've been dudded Scott (collecta)... I know this topic is now old, I would've posted my pic earlier to help out, but was having a few problems posting pics for some reason. I'll still post my pic as my rail appears to be different from Les' (Eaton-FE's).

Mine seems to have four corners, rather than what looks like only 3 on the previous one - the top rear-facing corner...? And mine also isn't as "horizontal" either, having more of an angle on the bar....



Just wondering why they would be different....?

Cheers
Another Les...

[NascoHunter]

Hi Scott,
   The taxi bar Les posted is the correct one. The FE/FC taxi bar angles upwards to clear the taller FE/FC front seat. The FB/EK taxi bar fits but is straight (Horizontal) reason the front seat is not as high.
 Hope this clears things up.
     Cheers Tony Galea

[Geoff_K]

Hi Tony,

Sorry to disagree with you, but both angle'd bars were supplied on FEs.
The Taxi Bar out of my 56 FE 217, is quite flat and close to the seat, whereas the Taxibar I removed from the FE Taxi at Parky Parts last year was more angle'd. (Both bars are original 217 factory fittings).
At home I have a photo of the 2 bars together and the diffierence is quite big. (also at home I have all build details of both cars)

Cheers,

Geoff_K

[collecta]

Thanks for further input Les, Tony & Geoff_k,
looking at these extra pics helps for future purchases ill definately know what im looking at next time.
the ebayer from which i purchased rail was good about it and has taken it back for a refund, once i get the refund ill leave my feedback.
cheers
Scott

[COL58FE]

G'day,
        If anyone has got either
genuine type for sale i'am very
keen to buy.
                         Cheer's Col