Plastic cover over steering column "cage"?

[Darrah]

I removed the power steering column in my '71 Road Runner over the weekend to install a lower bearing. Over the collapsable part of the outer sleeve (the part that looks like expanded metal), there is a black plastic cover, basically a sleeve, that encompasses the entire thing. I've never seen it on any of the other Mopars I've owned, but I see it installed in this pic from the dodgecharger.com forum.

Did all cars come with this and my previous vehicles have just had them removed? What's the purpose? I reinstalled it, but I'm just wondering why it's there.

 

[gtx6970]

I dont think they all did

But Ive done several 1970 B and E body columns that had it

 

[70Hemi-RR]

My 70RR has it

 

[dadsbee]

Yep, just a light wrap held on by Black paper tape

 

[MWbirdLOVER70]

I dont think they all did

But Ive done several 1970 B and E body columns that had it

My 70 b body does