[Kahuna]

I am 99% sure you have a 1956 Ford Ford-o-matic (early) trans. Early was air cooled, late 56 was liquid.
That ugly throttle BRACKET you are referring to, is for a 1956 car with a Teapot 4 bbl.
That bracket has been modified in the front area to accept a CABLE of some sort for throttle activation.
The existing ROD going to the carb is to insure that the kick-down rod (going down to trans), gets activated properly.
That's all I can tell from the photo with my old eyes
Jim