@panteradoug posted:David. Not to be argumentative (just confused) There is a Mk1 in the UK in '68. I'm told by a "Brit" that there is an early, '68-70 Mk1 and a later Mk1, and the shafts are different.
He is saying that a Mk3 WILL fit a Mk1, but not a 68-70 Mk1, and that agrees with nothing being said here.
A US marketed Mk1 is 70-72 but the Pantera isn't built here, it is sourced and built in Europe and developed before a 71 model year.
What I am thinking is, if my UK source is correct, then what we have is the earliest version, which frankly since the thing is cut up and altered to work in a Pantera anyway, the only important data is that the input and outputs match?
I need to be careful with a logical answer though? It apparently isn't always the correct answer? ...now I just confused myself with that comment. Yikes. I have a headache...need to take a nap.
Yes, we Brits know the late Mk1 as the Mk1 facelift (1972-74 models with rectangular headlights) and the early (1969-72) as a pre-facelift. I think Ford only imported the German made pre-facelift version to the US. The Mk2 and Mk3 are hatchbacks and quite different. Take a look on eBay UK and you'll quickly see that the Mk3 steering column is significantly longer than the Mk1, they were not cut up for the Pantera, only the upper section used splined on both ends.
If you want a spare Mk1 column, Mike Mayberry has one on eBay currently.