Topic: San José - Styled Steel Wheels on a 1967 S-Code

[Thomas]

Hello guys,

I have a 1967 Mustang Fastback S-Code, built in San José and I just removed the tires from the wheels.

The Marti report says that my car was equipped with Styled Steel Wheels and F70-14 Wide Oval White Sidewall Nylon Tires.

- According to the following pictures, do you think these wheels are original ? I can see the Kelsey Hayes stamp with the wheel size "14x5 1/2 JK" with the date code "67" and "6". The hub is also riveted to the wheel.

- On the back of the hubs there is also a "N" stamp (as you can see on the first picture). It looks strange to me, is it something original ?

- Shouldn't the Mustangs equipped from factory with the 390ci big block come with 14x6" styled steel wheels ?

- Last thing, according to the Marti report, my car was sold on July 1967 and built on the 10th of May 1967, how can the wheels be date coded June (6) ?!

Thanks a lot for your help 

[bazza]

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=15074.msg93988#msg93988

[Daisy]

"All s-code got styled steel"
Not true!

According to Marti my Sept '66 SJ build S-code deluxe coupe had the 14" steel with hubcaps...

(I did switch out to styled steel because my brother included them with the car )

[196667Bob]

I have attached the Section on Mustangs from the Salesman's List Price Book for 1967 Ford Cars. The ones I have attached are from the Book dated May 29, 1967 (Mustang Section dated 3/10/67 and 5/29/67) ; the Options shown in relation to this topic (SSW, tires and 390's) are the same as in the other Book I have that is dated November 7, 1966 (Mustang Section dated 10/17/66).

Several items of note :

1) If you ordered a Mustang with the Optional 390 (S Code) Engine, it came Standard with 7.35x14 BSW tires and 6" wide wheels.

2) If you ordered the Competition Handling Package option, it came with 6.50/6.70x15 Sport Car 200 Nylon Tires with 6" wide wheels.

3) If you ordered the GT Option, it came with F-70x14 Wide Oval WSW Tires, with 6" wide wheels.

4) If you ordered F-70x14 Wide Oval Tires (V8's only), they came with 6" wide wheels.

5) Note that none of the above Options came with Styled Steel Wheels. SSW were a "Stand Alone Option".

All that being said, whomever ordered your car originally, wanted both the Wide Oval Tires and SSW. Thus the SSW Option overrode the 6" standard type wheel that would normally come with the Wide Oval Tires. You would then "sacrifice" the 6" wide wheels, and have to "settle for" the 5-1/2" wide SSW (while not shown in the pricing books, the Ford Master Parts Catalog shows that the SSW were only available in the 5-1/2" width).
But look at it this way, in 1965-66, they were only 5" wide.

As for the difference in your Build Date versus the dates on your SSW, a lot of things could have caused that ; mistake at the Plant ; no inventory when the car went through; damaged (stolen) in transit to the Dealer ; or a more likely and somewhat common scenario, would be that a potential buyer of another Mustang at the Dealership that did not have SSW, and the Customer wanted them as part of the deal, so the Dealer "borrowed" the wheels from your car to make the sale, then replaced them at a later date either from a later built car or by ordering them in to inventory. The latter is a good possibility since your car didn't sell until July. Just some thoughts.

Hope this helps.

Bob

[Thomas]

Thanks for the helpful informations guys ! 

But the fact that Ford put the 14x 5 1/2" Styled Steel Wheels with the Wide Oval tires looks strange to me.

Because if you look on this link, they say that the Firestone Wide Oval F70-14 tire is made for a rim width of 6" to 7".

https://www.cokertire.com/f70-14-firestone-wide-oval-rwl.html

So back in the time, if you wanted Wide Oval tires with the Styled Steel Wheels, it should have been an impossible combination 

[67gta289]

My 67 GTA 289 came with SS wheels and wide oval tires, I don't think that it was "rare".

As far as the statement 'made for a rim width of 6" to 7"' that is from Coker in the year 2020 (perhaps originates several years back), and it not from Firestone or Ford in the 1960's.  Therefore I take that with a grain of salt, and my doc says to reduce my salt intake.

[Thomas]

Yes, I imagine there is probably a slight tolerance 

As for the the spare wheel (located in the trunk), was it matching with the wheels on the car ?

So if you had Styled Steel Wheels, was the spare wheel the same or it was just a standard 14x6" wheel ?

Thank you !

[67gta289]

The spare has been discussed before.

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=2704.0

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=20788.0

I could not find a 67 specific thread though.

Also I can't help but wonder about (1) the jacking instruction paper under the deck lid that shows a styled steel wheel, and (2) the styled steel wheel unique hold down plate and bolt.  These would indicate that a styled steel wheel spare might be what was intended early on.  But those "early" decisions had been reversed as we have often seen.

Lastly in multiple threads we have discussed that wheels/tires, radios, floor mats were things that were the most fluid at dealers, and they would not want to lose a sale if the prospective buyer wanted something specific.

[67gtasanjose]

Yes, I imagine there is probably a slight tolerance 

As for the the spare wheel (located in the trunk), was it matching with the wheels on the car ?

So if you had Styled Steel Wheels, was the spare wheel the same or it was just a standard 14x6" wheel ?

Thank you !

The spare has been discussed before.

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=2704.0

http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=20788.0
...Lastly in multiple threads we have discussed that wheels/tires, radios, floor mats were things that were the most fluid at dealers, and they would not want to lose a sale if the prospective buyer wanted something specific.

When I obtained my 67 in 1978, it had all 5 wheels and trim rings...all long before Marti Reports or other ways were discovered in the Mustang community to identify what came originally on our cars (if we were not the original owners that is).

I ASSUMED my car came with the Styled Steel wheels since is was OBVIOUSLY a well-used and abused 10or 11 year old unrestored, no signs of any extensive repairs ANYWHERE on the car.

When I ordered my Marti Report about 5 years ago, I was GREATLY disappointed to see that my car came with HUBCAPS!

I deduced that the wheels were swapped out or added when the car was still new.

Order Recieved:       10/20/66
Car Serialized:          10/21/66
Bucked.                       (blank)
Scheduled for Build 11/01/66
Actually Built.            11/02/66
Released.                    11/02/66
SOLD.                           10/07/67

NOTICE: Look at that SOLD date again! It was NOT sold till after only a few days short of a FULL YEAR.

Marti Report indicates a Retail Order but my car most likely was used as a Dealer Demo

Dealership Location: Barstow California, Mojave Desert

[Thomas]

Interesting    a lot of things could happen during the time the car was for sale at the dealership!

My car is a good example because the Marti report says AM Radio and nothing specific about the steering wheel.

When I bought it in 2015, the AM/FM Radio and the Deluxe steering wheel were installed... and you can see that both are really old! Maybe changed at the dealership or maybe by the owner, who knows 

Unfortunately my car didn't come with the original jacking instruction paper and the hold down plate and bolt...

Here are the pictures of the spare wheel but I'm unsure if it's an original. We can see the "FoMoCo 5 M F" date code and the tire appears to be from 1967 (SK7467) with no brand on it, just "6.95-14 6.50-14 MADE IN U.S.A.

[196667Bob]

IMO, the 1965 dated wheel is way too early to have been included from the Factory in a 1967 Model.

As far as the number of SSW included with a car, it is not noted in the Sales Brochure, Showroom Options Book, Salesman's Price Book, or 1967 Facts Book. However, while not conclusive, in the 1967 Only MPC, and the 1960-68 MPC, it does show "Quantity per Vehicle" as "5" (copy from 1967 MPC attached)./

In looking at the above references, I think it is interesting to note that the Salesman's Price Book notes that the SSW Option is $93.84 for Fastbacks, and $115.11 for Coupes and Convertibles. Could that imply that only 4 SSW were furnished with Fastbacks ? I think not, but why the difference ?

Bob

[Bossbill]

While I was looking into wheelcovers for this year (part of the judges test) it appears the 2+2 got different wheelcovers as standard than the Coupe or Convertible.
Don't think this was true, but the pricing guide assumes it was. Perhaps the intent was for the 2+2 to receive full wheel covers, but Coupe and Convertible to receive hubcaps?

The prices listed for option upgrades  in the Illustrated Facts book say:
Wheel Covers (Std. 2+2) 21.34
Wire Wheel Covers (2+2) 58.24
Wire Wheel Covers (All others) 79.51

This suggests that the 2+2 had more expensive wheel covers than the rest of the line as the cost to upgrade for a 2+2 was less than "All Others". Or it was the hubcap vs wheel covers?

Someone a bit math challenged decided that the wheel covers for the 2+2 was 21.34 more expensive than the "All Others", when the correct math says it should be 21.27 (79.51-58.24).

If we apply the correct number to your figures:
115.11 for All Others
93.84 for Fastbacks
--------
21.27

I think giving the fastback's wheelcovers more credit (since the wheelcovers are more expensive in the first place) solves the mystery.

[67gtasanjose]

While I was looking into wheelcovers for this year (part of the judges test) it appears the 2+2 got different wheelcovers as standard than the Coupe or Convertible.
Don't think this was true, but the pricing guide assumes it was. Perhaps the intent was for the 2+2 to receive full wheel covers, but Coupe and Convertible to receive hubcaps?

The prices listed for option upgrades  in the Illustrated Facts book say:
Wheel Covers (Std. 2+2) 21.34
Wire Wheel Covers (2+2) 58.24
Wire Wheel Covers (All others) 79.51

This suggests that the 2+2 had more expensive wheel covers than the rest of the line as the cost to upgrade for a 2+2 was less than "All Others". Or it was the hubcap vs wheel covers?

Someone a bit math challenged decided that the wheel covers for the 2+2 was 21.34 more expensive than the "All Others", when the correct math says it should be 21.27 (79.51-58.24).

If we apply the correct number to your figures:
115.11 for All Others
93.84 for Fastbacks
--------
21.27

I think giving the fastback's wheelcovers more credit (since the wheelcovers are more expensive in the first place) solves the mystery.

I doubt your "evidence" is conclusive Professor Plum

Didn't early 67 Fastbacks have a space saver spare? ...or was that 68?

[Bossbill]

... in the library with a candlestick.

It just shows that in early documentation there was evidence of a delta between 2+2 wheelcovers and the "Others". This delta shows up in the standard-to-wire-wheelcovers numbers and also in the SSW equation.
The one error in the logic tree here is the initial 21.34 number. But the corrected number actually works in the wire wheel and SSW. That seems more than just coincidence.

Remember that in 68 hubcaps --  as the baseline -- actually occurred. Perhaps they thought about it in 67, but changed their minds. But the beancounters didn't keep up.

I'm not getting anywhere near the 67 space saver issue.

[196667Bob]

I doubt your "evidence" is conclusive Professor Plum

Didn't early 67 Fastbacks have a space saver spare? ...or was that 68?

Richard : Since you brought this up about the "Space Saver Spare" (and Bill, since you are not "getting near it"), I will attempt to tackle this since there is very little information found in our Forum when it is searched. Hopefully, this may settle the questions on this, but if not, we can always break it out into a new Topic.

For many years, I too thought that the Space Saver Spare was available at some time in 1967. It was available in 1967, but not specifically for the 1967 Models, for the new 1968 Models. A look through the 1967 Ford Car Facts book, both early and late 1967 Sales Brochures, all of the 1967 TSB indices, MPC's and Shop Tips, shows no mention of the Space Saver (Collapsible) Spare. The first mention of this that I have found is in the 1968 Ford Car Facts book. The Car Facts books were printed to be available at Model Introduction. I have attached a copy from a page of the book that shows the "Collapsible Spare". Note that it says "offered for the first time...", which of course would imply that the 1968 Model year was the first time the Space Saver Spare was available. The Service Part Numbers would tend to support this ; the Collapsible Spare Tire Kit was Part Number C8ZZ-1508-A, and included the wheel and Tire C8AZ-1508-C, the Valve Cap C8ZA-1720-A and the Inflator C8ZZ-19C543-A. Of course this in itself is not conclusive as we have seen other cases where a part came out late in a Model Year, yet carried a Part Number of the next Model Year. However, I have found no documentation that would support this being the case.

Ford apparently decided that that the Collapsible Spare of 1968 did not fit their 1968 slogan of "A Better Idea", as by July of 1970, this was shown as "NR" (Obsolete).

I hope this might dispel some of the rumors concerning the Collapsible Spare that we get "Tired" of hearing about.

Bob