[Option 382]

The optikleen bottle was a dealer installed option. That being said every dealer, mechanic, or car owner could have installed the bottle in different places on the car. I have heard later in life that the wheel well plugs slightly below your 3 mystery holes is where the bottle was supposed to be installed but since it was never a factory option the location could be installed via preference. So that might be a good place to hide those holes.

[dld]

Thanks for comments. i was always under the same thought. but the puzzling thing to me is the center hole is not drilled. its a punch out. dealers would not have that ability.

a question for you. are your six cyl. battery tray close out plugs . that would be the two plug holes that you refer to are they rubber or plastic

[dld]

this car has all the OE metal. dated fenders never apart

[Jerry H.]

Originally Posted by dld

Thanks for comments. i was always under the same thought. but the puzzling thing to me is the center hole is not drilled. its a punch out. dealers would not have that ability.

a question for you. are your six cyl. battery tray close out plugs . that would be the two plug holes that you refer to are they rubber or plastic

Those two hole plugs are plastic, not rubber. And I agree with Option 382. The Optikleen bottle was a dealer installed bottle and could have been installed anywhere. Of the dozens of 65's I've owned or been closely associated with I've never seen holes like that. And the judges could have thought your paint was just a tad dull. 60% gloss is glossier than the semi gloss paint that most places sell today. The original paint had an 'eggshell' gloss to it. It's pretty hard to duplicate.

Your engine compartment looks pretty damn good to me!

[dld]

actually a little hard to judge gloss different light levels.

i do paint all day and did spray outs several times adding or lessening flatner until i got what i remember as correct. but was not quite correct i guess. hey i thought Scott T's car was to glossie. ( the 64 Ferrari getter ) .Jerry thanks for impute. Remember you saying you were a judge once .

one of the members here ( Bob Coleman)that had a 12th month bal. car told me he had rubber plugs in his fender wells as plugs. Do agree that the PON. cares have plastic but my car on disassembly had rubber.

[John V.]

The Optikleen bracket was a dealer thing.

This was so you could carry a spare bottle of fluid around with you, neatly mounted under the hood.

I actually always thought it was kinda a stupid idea. First, because it was a glass bottle, too likely to break.

But mostly because it depended on you remembering to put a full bottle back in the bracket after you used it. I know I would have rarely remembered to do that so would be just as likely to be caught without fluid as if I didn't have that accessory in the first place! Same reason I run out of propane for my grill even though I have 2 bottles.

At the end of the day, I think its primary purpose was a pure money maker for the dealers.

Separately, of course, there was the 2 spd wipers with washers option. Standard car got single spd wiper, optional was a 2 spd wiper (no washers), and the 2nd option was 2 spd wipers coupled to the washers.

In this case, you got a fluid bottle just like in a modern car with hoses routed to the spray nozzles. The bottle was mounted to the rad support, not the RH inner fender, IIRC.

Did your car get built with the 2 spd wiper with washer option?

Or did it come with the single spd std wiper?

In '65, there was a Dealer Accessory Package available to add washers to the single spd wiper.

Package p/n 984428.

I have no idea what the kit consisted of, I would have guessed it would have used the factory style washer bottle and mount, so doubt it would explain your odd holes, but worth knowing what your car got for wipers from the factory.

What is really strange to my eye is the hex shaped center hole. Least I think it is hex shaped. Not round anyway. Hard to imagine that being punched in the field.

But one thought comes to mind, possibly an aftermarket alarm system installation? Professionally installed, very possible they could have used a special hand punch to punch that shape hole for mounting of some component.

Might be helpful to see the whole inner fender to better understand the specific location of the holes, but I can't think of any factory option that would have required additional holes not seen on all inner fenders. Normally, the sheetmetal was punched to accommodate any possible option whether the car was to be equipped with that option or not. So even if you had some rare factory option, the holes for that option would show up on all cars.

Since that isn't the case with these holes, almost certain they were for some aftermarket thing.

Sorry to suggest bad news. But under hood looks great anyway as brody says.

Did they think the black was too shiny?

[Jeff Hamlin]

The location looks like to would suggest the washer Fl concentrate/glass bottle.
However the brackets only used two screws
Even though it was a "Dealer" install it has been my observation that most are mounted in close proximity to washer jug.

Note; mine is almost on the same location of inner fender just on DS due to it being a 6cyl with Battery on PS.

You bay looks GREAT! Don't beat yourself up over the judging discrepancy. Years ago I lost points for "Shocks & Tires" but no one could clarify what or why. I entered a national judged show in hopes to gain better knowledge. I knew some items where not 100% but at the end of the day never received anything beyond a deduction. So now I avoid nationals and drive the hell out the car just as it was built to be.

Cheers.

[dld]

Yes car was built with two speed/washer sys. That led me to think holes were factory. That and the octagon center hole that I thought would be hard to produce in field.

But with my investigation and you opinions thinking now on plan B

Jeff, like your idea. pretty much did that drive it like I stole it thing all my life. Thought it might be time to check out the subtle side. It is challenging just as expensive also.

[Option 382]

Your optikleen brackets must be for later years application. I always thought the original ones were a 3 prong bracket and the reprodutions were 5 prong brackets like you have pictured, but it looks like yours is NOS. The one I have has 3 prongs.