Measurements and the thickness of the metal would go a long way towards helping someone figure out exactly what it is. Seeing the eye glasses in the first photo It's easy to tell that it isn't a bracket for an air bag but it is probably a retainer to go behind something and is held on with a nut or clip. If it is about 2 inches it probably goes on the back of a gauge to hold the gauge in the dash and it may go to a mini gauge.
looks like a metal bracket that is bent up on each end and has a hole drilled in the center, but I could be wrong....does not look too old.
wow i was way off with the air bag bracket. I failed to see the size in comparison to the eye glasses.....Im with the others on a gauge bracket
on the 58 caddy i restored, there was brackets like that that went under the fender to straddle the pinch weld seam in the fender. the bolt went through a clip, to hold the trim that was covering the seam, and between the seam in a notch to hold the clip.
I believe it is a bracket to something on either a 56 T-Bird or a 56 Victoria.The measurements are ..2 1/2' long...tabs are 1" tall...widest part is 1 1/2" I`m stumped.....John in CT