Embossed AC212CW Air Filter Element Age

[daveg]

Bought a few more filters.
Do not have them yet.
Interesting to see the overlapping types-v- markings.

Pic is a new 68 Z28 and is clearly square diagonal mesh.
Nice details in pic.

[daveg]

Bought this and really want to see date on box.
"Early big outline logo
"BEST WAY" ink stencil
Looks to be soldered diamond mesh.
Lot of contradictions here.

[daveg]

Bought this one also.
Poor pics so I only know the height is right.

[SBR]

The mesh on that A66C looks great. I wonder how the dimensions differ vs a 212. It appears to be thicker than a 212.

[daveg]

Do not have them here yet.

Been digging into this air filter thing.
The height thing is easy, 7 squares tall.
Waiting on diameters.

The mesh style thing seems to be period- not different sizes.
Digging up new car pics 68's all seem to be diagonal square mesh.

Work in progress.

I will post comparisons when all are here.

[daveg]

Filters are showing up.

Interesting stuff.

Filter material is definitely not white on any of these 60's vintage filters.
Will follow up when more are here

[daveg]

Will keep posts to just 212's here.
Sorry.

Just dug this entire air cleaner assy up for $171.

Filter is very useable and has embossed 212 top and bottom and also best way stencil????

[jeffschevelle]

Great score at a great price.

Assuming that the top and bottom of the expanded metal mesh filters changed at the same time as when the top and bottom of the soldered wire filters changed (which seems logical), then that would be the next version of the expanded metal mesh filter right after the one posted by Jason in the original post in this thread.

So it should correspond with the same time period between when the soldered wire filters were switched over to horizontal/vertical mesh (late August/September of 69 per the judging manual, or some time later in the 1970 model year per my NOS box date records), up until the BEST WAY part of the ink stamp was eliminated (which was approximately late 1974 calendar year / early 1975 calendar year per my NOS box date records).

[daveg]

Ad said "survivor " takeoff from a 70 corvette.
Stencil under lid is nice but it looks like no decals on top ever.

Witness marks in dirt say this was together for a very long time. Thanks

PS the mesh looks soldered???

[jeffschevelle]

Here is some info regarding the likely reason that "Best Way To" disappeared from all AC filters by at least mid 1975 -

AI's summary: "In the 1970s, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) aggressively tackled unsubstantiated claims like "the best" by requiring advertisers to possess a "reasonable basis" (actual evidence) for superiority claims before running ads or issuing marketing materials or slogans, thus requiring a move away from subjective, vague marketing to evidence-based advertising. The commission targeted deceptive advertising, initiating actions against companies making unsubstantiated claims."

I never trust AI. But above is confirmed by this blurb from the published 1971 FTC Annual Report: "Perhaps the most significant action of the year was the adoption of the Advertising Substantiation Program. Under this program, the Commission announced plans to select numerous important industries each year, and to require major advertisers in those industries to submit whatever documentation they have to substantiate those aspects of their advertising which constitute measurable claims of safety, performance, efficacy, quality, and comparative price. To implement this program immediately, the staff prepared Orders to File Special Reports for issuance to domestic and foreign automobile manufacturers, with the response to those reports (aside from trade secrets) available to the public. Thus, for the first time, the consumer will be able to evaluate the support for some of the advertising claims of major companies."

I suspect it was very difficult, if not impossible, to produce any evidence to substantiate that, out of ALL the filters on the market, an AC filter was THE BEST way to protect your engine. So it was likely easier to just remove BEST WAY TO from the filters than to fight with the FTC about it.