Spare wheel location - left&right&why

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Economist LC76

Economist LC76

10 Year
Joined
Nov 20, 2012
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867
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Vienna
Hi, does anyone know the logic behind a spare wheel location for different markets???

In US looks like - right side before 1980 ; left side after
US market.webp


In Australia - before 1980 hard top left, soft top right (with exceptions); after always left
AUS market.webp


In Japan - always left side
Japan market.webp


In Europe - hard top left side, soft top right
European market1.webp
 
I had read that the original reason was for opposite the driver for better vision ... Think it as a quote from Mr.O ... Ohno

Before all these it was on the side :)

Then they went to a more standard

As for Europe some places were left and places right (uk) for the markets...

To also add ... The advertising pics didn't always go with the market... Often they used the pictures that looked good :)
 
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Btw 77' model we went to left mount spare in the USA
 
I would think logic would dictate the location of the spare, which would be behind the driver, so visibility is better.
 
Oops on me .... I was thinking the tube carrier 77' model .... And yes the 75-mid76 used the square carrier on the left side
 
In Europe - still major soft tops have it on the right, major hard tops on the left.
As we know Toyota usually offers the best options on the local market. If they had always on the left - they might think the safest place is on the opposite side from a driver.
I can understand that Toyota decided to use a unified "Japan side" for all versions, but why Toyota updated a soft top? Amount of sales is lower then the hard tops.
It is still a puzzle!
European market3.webp
 
Like alit of things from toyota ... It made sense at the time ... And to them :)

There are soooo many variations between markets

Some get this and others get that

There are variations between soft tops roll rear curtain or ambi door ... Left or right opening doors... Hard doors or soft doors had different bows and therefore different canvas to match ....

I do know that toyota was very good at having supplies at just enough to not run out during production but have extra for replacement ... When replacements were too plentiful they used things up to lower the supplies on hand

A good read is the memoir of Ohno ... And the thought process of 'just in time' .... Supplies and the ideal production line in his eyes ... It's a constant changing but never ending cycle of increasing flow and production ease
 
It looks like it was passenger side for all models (including soft tops) unless it was a hardtop with the ambulance door arrangement, then the driver side since the right side ambulance door on hardtops opens first, without any obstructions.

Being an owner of a '73 hard top with the lift gate and barn doors, you have to open the spare tire, lift the hatch, and then open the gate to get into the back area. Not so convenient. The ambulance door was a better arrangement, and they didn't alter the first ambulance door to open to suit left vs. right hand steering wheels.
 
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There are left hand and right hand opening ambi doors :meh:
 
The door that you enter on ... Without opening the spare :)

A left hand or right hand entry soft top ambi door... They had both versions

I guess I could have been clearer... But... Thought we were talking about doors entering in on... Sorry about that confusion
 
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JohnnyC said:
The door that you enter on ... Without opening the spare :)

A left hand or right hand entry soft top ambi door... They had both versions

I guess I could have been clearer... But... Thought we were talking about doors entering in on... Sorry about that confusion
Click to expand...


Thanks for the edification.

I went back to my original post (#10) to be more specific.
 
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