1965 barracuda spare tire cover question

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65MagnumFish

65MagnumFish
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Hey wondered if anyone could give me insight on the panel that is carpeted over the spare tire. Mine did not have one. I’ve seen in other posted it’s carpeted but what is the size and shape and material that the carpet sits on? 1/4 plywood or card boardish material? My trunk area was a mess but because of the factory seam sealer it wasn’t all that “holy”. Thanks everyone. Appreciate all the questions answered.
 
I never owned a new Barracuda, but the used ones I had used a fiberboard, similar to door cards and covered with a trunk mat. The 14 inch spare tires always stuck above the trunk floor in mine and it never looked great. I have heard rumors that there was a 14 inch spare well made or cars ordered with the 14 inch tire options, but just a rumor. I am sure others will chime in and there was a member here with a Book of Knowledge posting, it should be explained in that book. Good luck with your project!
 
Its a plywood, maybe 5/8 thick and the "S" option had a routed out relief for the fatter tire. Id check thickness but Im out the door for work. ITs the same well for all, just a different top. There is an ad that shows all the "S" option special parts and the devider is one of them along with shocks, leafs, tach, etc.
 
The spare is covered with a Masonite board about 1/4" thick. The board was covered with the same style jut pad that was under carpet in the passenger compartment and the trunk carpet laid loose on top of that.
 
The spare is covered with a Masonite board about 1/4" thick. The board was covered with the same style jut pad that was under carpet in the passenger compartment and the trunk carpet laid loose on top of that.
I think I’m going to go with the 1/4 plywood since I have some on hand. I’ll waterproof it. Does the board touch the inside quarter panels?
 
I think I’m going to go with the 1/4 plywood since I have some on hand. I’ll waterproof it. Does the board touch the inside quarter panels?
It's 1/8 inch Masonite (same material the front kick panels were made of)...
1/4 is Too Thick... just saying... 1/8 Masonite is Very inexpensive at Home Depot .. etc.
This is the panel directly over the spare tire... is this the one you mean??
Note: this is out of my 65 Barracuda Formula S that came with 14 inch wheels...

20200331_082352.jpg

Or is the compartment fold down panel you are wanting ?
This would be 1/2 inch thick plywood...

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I just measured a '65 Barracuda original and mine is 1/4" thick Masonite. My 64 Valiant has Masonite slightly thicker than 1/8" with the same style cutouts that Clifcuda 65 posted. Perhaps the formula S cars got a thinner one with the cutout because their tires were bigger....? Here are some photos with dimensions of my original '65 piece.
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A few more....you should be able to copy it with the dimensions. I didn't take the pad out of the box I have it in as it is self destructing:) Any questions on dimensions just ask.
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A few more....you should be able to copy it with the dimensions. I didn't take the pad out of the box I have it in as it is self destructing:) Any questions on dimensions just ask.
View attachment 1715497605 View attachment 1715497606 View attachment 1715497607 View attachment 1715497608
Hey thanks for the help. I will get the Masonite. The panel in question is the thin part on the floor. Thanks for getting me the dimensions. Same for a barracuda I assume. I should be able to move forward.
 
The one in the photos is the 1/4" thick '65 Barracuda piece. Note that the cutout for the trunk latch isn't symmetrical.
 
The one in the photos is the 1/4" thick '65 Barracuda piece. Note that the cutout for the trunk latch isn't symmetrical.
Hey Grimreaper... I have Never seen "quarter" (1/4) inch Masonite, only 1/8 th !!! Your photos do look like Masonite... let me see a "Edge" photo of the one you show with a close-up and your tape measure over it... please... the one I show is what came in a 65 Barracuda Formula S.... With the fold down Flap in those Barracudas, they had to be Thin... especially with the 14 inch wide Formula S wheels....
Thank You in advance...
Here is a picture of mine... with a Vernier calliper
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OK, I measured the panel that came from a '65 and it is not quite 1/4" at only .221 I've never seen 1/4" hardboard (Masonite) at Home Depot or Lowes but it is usually available at a real lumber yard or even Menards. https://www.menards.com/main/buildi...ard-panel/1291185/p-1444431330429-c-13340.htm
Panel1.jpg


So this discussion got me curious enough that I checked my other cars and found the original panel in one '64 Barracuda to be different as well.
Panel 2.jpg


The third '64 Barracuda is .221 material as well but I got it late in it's life and well worn so I don't know if that panel is original or not.
So I've got two Barracudas with the .221, one Barracuda with .165 and my '64 Valiant, with a larger trunk panel, at .131 thick. I'm guessing they cut them from whatever suitable material a supplier had available at the time. Maybe it is like the trunk divider with no rhyme or reason to which ones got the right side extension and which didn't. I got the '65 panel given to me in 1973 by a guy who bought the car new. The original owner of my car had spilled boat motor oil in the trunk and the panel, carpet and pad got soaked and ruined, so when the guys' '65 got in a fire at his shop he salvaged stuff from his low mileage car to put in a really high mileage replacement '65 with a nice body. So for many years my red Barracuda had a gold trunk carpet that smelled a bit of smoke!
 
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