Buick Wire Wheels

[buick840]

Has anyone bought these wire wheels?
They appear identical to Wheels Vintique but are half the price (chrome only no SS) @ $350- per wheel



Roadster Vintage Replica Wire Wheels
* 40 Spoke Wire Wheel (Tubeless), Same as Original Kelsey Hayes 40 Spoke Wheel
* Center Hole Diameter: 3 3/4"
* Bolt Pattern: 5X5" Only
* Application: Fits 1953, 1954 Buick Skylark - Also fits most Buicks from late 1930's to early 1970's Rear Wheel Drive Only
* Center Caps Included.

[imported_buick5563]

Thanks for the lead Brian.
That's a great price plus center caps included. Let us know if you get some.

Mike

[buick840]

Before I make any purchases I was hoping that someone else may have dealt with these outlets and know something of the quality of the product.

Can't find a website for a manufacturer under the name of Roadster Vintage Wire Wheels.

Anyone know who makes them?

[imported_MrEarl]

Yeauh, what Austin Redneck Mike said, hurry up and run some and report back.

[imported_JohnD1956]

When you look at this website, and check out the other wheels, it's a safe bet that these guys are selling Wheels Vintiques product. I am interested in how they sell them so inexpensively, when they say they include the centers too. This is cheaper than what I paid back in early 2003. I plan to call tomorrow. Maybe I can buy one more wheel and then I can use what I have to make three more good ones?

[buick840]

It's a bit of a mystery to me too John so Please let us know what you find when you ring them.Thanks for doing that by the way as it will be a lot easier for you than for me ringing fom Australia and allowing for time zones etc.

My bet is they have them listed at the wrong price but if not and they are good quality wheels I'll be getting some before they lift their price [img]<>/smile.gif[/img]

They don't list an email which I've found quite a few of these companie don't, including Wheels Vintique I think [img]<>/crazy.gif[/img]
In this day and age to have a website with no email contacts is ridiculous.......well that's my belief anyway.

Let me know what you find out
buickman@bigpond.net.au

[imported_HurstGN]

I don't know anything about these wheels, but I will add a word of caution.

A new way to rip people off now-a-days is to run a website with a popular product and sell it for a super cheap price. Then once you have the customer on the hook for the product (and have your credit card number), add on all the extra's the customer thought they were going to get and jack the price back up to what it should have been if you were reputable, and sometimes even over reputable prices. This is very popular in the electronics world. An example: A video camera that retails for $1500 being sold for $750. Wow, what a deal. You call and give your credit card then the rep asks if you want the accessories for the camera. They have removed the stuff out of the box like the battery, charger, strap, lens cover, etc. And all this stuff can be purchased for an additional price. When you try to cancel the order, they mess with your credit card for months as you try to get out of the scam.

Now here, this scenario may not apply fully as there really aren't accessories for the wheel (it said centercap included), but there are places for problems to creep in. Find out if the wheel is new or refurbished. They might be buying returns to another company and selling the returns. Or is this an open-box item? What is shipping for the wheel? Is there a packaging fee? Is there a handling fee? Processing fee? Surcharge for using a credit card? You've already questioned who made the wheel. Good start. Is this some cheap made in China piece that looks fine in the picture, but is nowhere near the quality you expect? If you don't like the wheel when you get it, what is the return policy? Is there a restocking fee involved? What fees charged are refundable and which are not?

Also, do a BBB background check on the company. See if they are just a shell of a business running a web site selling just about anything under the sun. I've seen some good ones, like a company that had over 5 different web sites selling under many different company names, and all were the same company. They all had ever so slightly different addresses, but the give-away was the phone number used. It was the same across all their company names. The sold tig welders as one company, bathroom fixtures as another name, etc. They claimed to be a manufacturer. But all the addresses came down to one big warehouse complex. Result was they bought stuff made in China and re-branded the goods and sold them as top goods made in the USA. Buyer beware.

There are good companies on-line, but the crooks out there make it hard to not be leary of a good price when you find one. Do your research well. If they're reputable, you'll find info on them and their products...and they'll still be around in a month when you're done investigating.

[imported_JohnD1956]

Aghh!!! The Buick Gods have pulled a fast one.

According to Charlie at Hot Rod Hanks( 562) 988 0211, The Buick rim is incorrectly listed. This manufacturer ( Roadster Vintage Replica Wheels) does have the 4 other rims as shown, the Cadillac, Chrysler, Packard, and T bird ones, but the Buick one is not yet available. This company are selling Wheels Vintiques wheels for the Buicks and the price is considerably higher.

I asked him if he could investigate when the Buick ones may be ready for the market. He promised to call me back. I'll post when/if I hear any update.

[imported_HurstGN]

A quick Google search on their phone # results in many links to Performance Plus Tire out of CA. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/09/prweb443133.htm

So I'd recommend looking at both Hot Rod Hanks and Performance Plus Tire. Maybe they're just building out their brand with the Hanks name...I'd still want to know where the wheels are really made as they definitely aren't making them.

[38Buick]

You guys never learn.

The cheapest price does not equal the lowest cost!

Just ask JohnD

[imported_JohnD1956]

Originally Posted By: 38Buick

You guys never learn.

The cheapest price does not equal the lowest cost!

Just ask JohnD

Ohhhh, that smarts Glenn. But in this case I already know the highest price does not mean the highest quality either.

[jef1956]

They had the wheels two years ago, but they were 52 spoke and you could get either a moon type center with the buick red emblem or a spinner type. I purchased a set with coker classic wide whites and with mounting, balancing and shipping it was 2,400.00. They are great wheels, I attach a picture if I new how.

[imported_JohnD1956]

Personally I think the 52 spoke wheels are stronger. They are probably a better rim than the Buick 40 spoke style. It's tough to clean the 40 spoke ones, Can't imagine what it's like for those 52 spoke ones.

As for posting a picture, if you have a digital on available on your P.C. then just click the reply button on this message and a posting form opens. On the left of the form you'll see the sections labled "Subject, Posting Icon, Post and then Markup and Post Options". Click on file manager in post options and then a new box opens. Click on browse, and find your picture on your PC. You can double click the picture and you'll come back to this file box where you click on add file.

Then click on "done adding files" and submit the post.

[38Buick]

John,

Sorry, I really did not mean that as a dig to you personally. Don't forget, I as well have a set of WV rims with busted spokes. This time though I am going with a set of rebuilt KH rims with stainless spokes which are not cheap but they are less than a set of WV rims.

[imported_JohnD1956]

Glenn, whats the deal on the rebuilt KH's? Can the WV wheels be rebuilt using stainless spokes too, or is the rebuilder advising against that?

BTW, here's the bad news I heard today from Charlie about those other rims:

"Hello John,

I spoke to roadster wire. Unfortunately, they have NO plans to produce that Buick wheel at this time. I spoke to the manager of this store regarding the mixup on the internet and they will address that as soon as possible. Price is 2750.00 for wheel set from Wheel Vintiques. I know you don’t want those but they are the only ones we can get right now. Sorry for the mixup. Sincerely Charlie"

[38Buick]

John,

Check this out www.rallyamerica.com

This guy takes original KH rims, restores them and uses Stainless spokes. He came highly recomended. I ordered a set for my 55 a few weeks ago and should have them by mid September (I hope). Unfortunately he does not take WV rims in trade.

Glenn

[imported_JohnD1956]

Glenn, For some reason that link is not working. And did he specifically say he could not install stainless steel spokes on the WV Hub and rims?

[38Buick]

I did not ask him about repairing mine. You can try calling him.

Glenn

[imported_buick5563]

The Rally America website has a good price. I don't know if you have to send him cores as there is a different price for per wheel and a set of four. If you compare apples to apples, there is about a thousand dollar difference under Coker's price. Stainless spokes, centers, and lug bolts included. I haven't checked Wheel Vintiques website.

Mike