WTB space saver spare

You're pretty much out of luck if you're looking for a new, useable assembly. No tire dealer except Vredelstein in Europe actually makes folding-sidewall spare tires anymore, and 15" sizes are even harder to locate. Our OEM was made by BFG and after a few years was recalled in the U.S. for sidewall cracking while in storage, making them unsafe to use. The BFG replacement was visually similar but had rounded edges rather than being squared off like the first version. You occasionally find them at Pantera vendors, or in wrecking or breakers- yards world-wide in other cars of the period. The long stud, giant sheet-metal wing-nut and washer occasionally show up for sale in parts collections. The parts are all illustrated in the Parts Manuals.

The first spare tires did not exactly 'mount'. which was part of the problem. They simply sat in the front trunk, and during the original crash tests, the 20-lb assembly popped open the front trunk lid and came thru the windshield. So as part of the crash-test redesign, Ford moved it to the back fiberglas trunk, in a shallow molded cup. A long stud with a wing-nut and cup-washer secures it face-up to the trunk liner. And of course in many Panteras the fiberglas trunk liner is itself unsecured.... The fiberglas depression has a molded-in threaded steel insert in its center; on many cars the fiberglas and upholstering was never opened up for the stud. But it's visible from the bottom and that would be a good way to drill an opening.

Here's how mine is mounted.....

Under the workbench....

Mine is similarly situated.

Mine is somewhere in my garage, and I still have the tool roll with the original jack that I carry in the car.

Hemihunter I am almost certain you can use this one, it is in the US but perhaps you can find one in Australia also? It is 114,3mm Bolt Pattern to my knowledge.

here is another one, and of course the Diameter has to be verified not to trash your differential....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-...lenger-/181833327450

I sold mine for $300. It showed no cracking in the rubber. Was missing the original yellow label.

The buyer was happy with the deal.

Plus shipping which was about $75.

At this point on an original they are only good for "display" purposes.

FWIW, The OEM folding spare used a std Ford 7" x 14" steel passenger car wheel with a yellow decal. High-pressure spares are larger in OD than space-savers with folding sidewalls, so they don't fit well in the front (OR rear) trunk even with the battery dropped. The HPS I had hit the swelling on the power booster for the vacuum line. It's possible to rotate the booster cover so the swelling is toward the outside, then redrill the vac hose hole in the trunk floor; then the high pressure spare would fit. The HP-spare I had was from a mid-'80s Thunderbird with 4-bolt wheels, which had to be welded & redrilled to fit a Pantera's 5-bolt hub. But it used a lightweight forged aluminum wheel.

I think I have an extra but I will not be home to check on it for a few weeks. I'll post a photo of it when I return.
Glenn

Thanks Guys for all the info and pictures althou stored safely under the bench

So what is everyone doing if they do get a flat tyre?

I think most of us in the US carry a AAA card with the 100 mile flatbed towing package.

I will say that one of our AZ POCA members had a blowout on the way home from the 2015 Fun Rally in Houston, and he had a Ford high pressure spare in his car (good for him). Having the spare gave him a lot options, and it got him off the freeway, and back to town, where he and several other AZ POCA members were able to get a full size replacement.

While he didn't want to drive his car far on mismatched rear tires, it really helped him out in a tough spot.

Rocky

Have one in new condition , just spare and cover , no jack , will take 200 plus shipping can email photos

I had a rear Campy 'go porous' on the way home from the old 'Vegas Fun Rally one year, so I mounted the folding-sidewall spare for the 50 last miles at 50 mph. Got home fine; the next day I found some of the LSD clutches in the ZF were worn out from the diameter mismatch and the folding spare had zero "tread" left. I junked it. Use spare tires on the rear with caution!

Actually, Jack - we had a situation where one of the team had a rear go flat. My suggestion was:

* If you are running 7" & 8" wheels...

Move the two same sized tires to the rear, and run a spare in the front.

of course this only works if you don't have to move a 10" wide tire up front....

Rocky