Those look great Andrew.
I would assume that Boulevard Photographic also took the photo of the gold XR7-G with Chauncy sitting on the roof that was used in the Post magazine add.
I sure wish that would either turn up at the Detroit Digital Library site or Ford would make it available over at their historic photo website.
Looks Great Andrew. Thanks!
Note the original GT-E tires w/ the skinny whitewall located more away from the rim than normally designed … more toward the Equator of the tire’s sidewall. Very unique. I believe this tire was produced by BF Goodrich, but sadly no records exist here at the Research Center that have anything to do with that tire’s design.
I like those tires too! I’ve searched around a bit and there’s nothing quite like them being offered by anyone. The only option would be to have a set custom made by someone like Diamond Back Tires.
The closest alternative that I’ve seen is the BFG Silvertown radials made by Coker.
If I still worked in the aftermarket tire department (heavy truck now) I could suggest making some of these, prototype level. (It would be a longshot.)
I am not suggesting remaking the bias tire of that era, but you could take the current P215/70R14 BF Goodrich Radial T/A tire mold, swap out the DOT side mold side plate which has the “Radial T/A” raised white letters and insert a newly designed sideplate with the skinny whitewall. The white rubber is already in the current green tire’s sidewall.
It could be done. Just do not know the volume of tires that would be requested. Other than the GT-E, what other cars from that era used this unique whitewall design???
That GTE picture looks great. I never noticed the white wall stripe on the tires before. I like the look, very 1960’s to me.
Steven
That would be awesome! I’d probably put a set on my car. There were probably quite a few cars in the era that had these style of tires, but I’m going out on a limb there. The other similar match I forgot to mention is the Firestone Wide Oval white pinstripe tires (3/8" whitewall) that Coker also sells. But of course they are bias ply and the whitewall is closer to the wheel, rather than center of the sidewall like the GT-E pic.
While we’re on the subject, I’ve heard of people taking white letter tires (like TA’s) and grinding away at the sidewall to make their own custom whitewalls. Good idea / bad idea?
I went ahead and started a new thread on the subject so as not to hijack this one too much… let’s discuss tires here.
What is believed to be that 69 Green convertible in the sales literature is currently for sale in Canada