66 Plymouth Belvedere I Wagon

Can anyone tell me what the square cut out on the plastic spare tire cover was for from the factory? I have two covers and they are both cut out in the same area.

Thanks Moparts!

To check the air in the spare through?

If 9-passenger wagon, may be for ash trays

Yes ash trays, because even kids smoked back then!! DAMHIK

Looks like an ex-Forestry Service rig judging by the colors, and a 2-seater judging by the floor.
My guess is that some kind of recessed cup was there for a handle of sorts. I don't recall anything similar on my '70 Satellite wagon, and my '63 & '64 2-seat wagons of course had the spare well in the floor.
Otherwise it's about the right size for a courtesy light, which wouldn't really make sense.

See the two images at http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/imag..._wagons0009.jpg

Latch to remove the spare cover perhaps?

What does the inner panel look like with the cover removed, any sign of a latch?

1970 also shows a possible latch - http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/imag..._wagons0011.jpg