[68bird400HO]

I do have two JWs dated 6/25 that came off of a '71 TA. This was a lower vin Van Nuys car built shortly after the strike. Also, just recently I saw a JW on Ebay dated 7/15. I believe some of the earlier cars still may have had JWs until they were used up. I have also heard of a few original early '71 TAs have mixes of KNs/JWs and KRs/KNs. Probably not the norm though.

I have also seen a June built '71 Norwood car that had a KN (7/28) spare in the trunk. Still had the original tire on it. Also, I had a 12/30/70 KR that I personnally took off of a '72 TA Norwood car that had been sitting since the early 80s. That car had two more 12/30 KRs on it too but they were really really rusty (WI rusty, not TX rusty).

What does all of this mean??? I don't know! Never say Never, I guess. In some cases the date spans are much longer than expected. However, for your '71, not knowing what was originally there, I would go with the KRs, anything dated around Dec/Jan. or what ever those specific runs were dated. If you seen an earlier set for a good price, jump on them since I don't believe you can guarantee what a correct date span should be.