What wheels are these?

[Dave Pratt]

[Laughing Coyote]

Looks like vintage ET slotted mags.

[keiser31]

11 minutes ago, Laughing Coyote said:

Looks like vintage ET slotted mags.

ET Unilug. Made to fit two sizes of lug patterns.

Edited April 8, 2021 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[padgett]

Three sizes: United States Patent 3,329,468 WHEEL STRUCTURE Richard D. Beith, 606 Duar Drive, Concord, Calif. 94520 Filed Oct. 21, 1965,

Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide a wheel which incorporates means for accommodating the three different diameter bolt circles of most automobiles.

[46 woodie]

I did a patent search with the numbers on the wheel. The patent was granted to a Richard D. Beith. The unique feature that was given the patent was the "uni lug" feature. Richard D Beith is the owner of the Wheel Center. I don't believe that are ET wheels, I don't think ET ever sold a uni-lug pattern on any of their wheels. 
 

You beat me to it Padgett!!!

[joe_padavano]

18 minutes ago, 46 woodie said:

I don't believe that are ET wheels, I don't think ET ever sold a uni-lug pattern on any of their wheels.

 

Not only did E-T Wheels own that patent, they sued a competitor for patent infringement.

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=9B5BC5kyys4C&pg=RA1-PA25&lpg=RA1-PA25&dq=United+States+Patent+3,329,468&source=bl&ots=_QaaCU4W2M&sig=ACfU3U1dxKw77zK8VuQX415Gip00sOZMQQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjtzPzK2e_vAhWYFVkFHXCEDHEQ6AEwBXoECAgQAw#v=onepage&q=United States Patent 3%2C329%2C468&f=false

 

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by joe_padavano (see edit history)

[alsancle]

I was more of a Cragar SS guy myself.

[1912Staver]

You and Mister Bardahl Al. Personally not a fan of welded 2 piece wheels { heavy }.

I always preferred Revolution.Nice and light !

 

 

[rocketraider]

I had a set of Mach Sixty Belted tires many moons ago. First white-letter tires I ever owned. I had to listen to sh*t from my dad over them for months. He never missed a day sniping at me for "wasting money on those white letter tires" until the day I'd heard all of it I was going to and cleared the air. My car needed tires and I was making enough money to pay for them and still contribute to household expenses. Didn't have to ask him for any help.

 

Those of you who had great relationships with a supportive dad don't know how good you had it.

[F&J]

Is the diameter 16"?  I think it says 8.50 x 16. 

 

If 16, that wheel must be for drag racing.  The dark coloring, it might be a true magnesium wheel, and would be worth getting a better appraisal on Hamb.

 

The 2 rim edge chips affect value, but I'd still want to know if they are 16" magnesium before selling them.

 

 

[alsancle]

11 hours ago, rocketraider said:

Those of you who had great relationships with a supportive dad don't know how good you had it.

 

The problem with being lucky when you are a kid is that you don't realize it until you get older.   Here is my GTO that my dad stick welded back together again for me.  I did appreciate it at the time but really appreciated it when I look back.   But he also fostered a life long love of cars in me.

 

Here are my Cragar SS mags with white letters which were CRITICAL.

Edited April 9, 2021 by alsancle (see edit history)

[Steve_Mack_CT]

AJ I can almost feel the f body bump bump traction challenges at launch.  😁👍

[8E45E]

11 hours ago, rocketraider said:

I had a set of Mach Sixty Belted tires many moons ago. First white-letter tires I ever owned. I had to listen to sh*t from my dad over them for months. He never missed a day sniping at me for "wasting money on those white letter tires" until the day I'd heard all of it I was going to and cleared the air. My car needed tires and I was making enough money to pay for them and still contribute to household expenses. Didn't have to ask him for any help.

 

Those of you who had great relationships with a supportive dad don't know how good you had it.

What would have been even more hilarious was if your dad bought a set for his car a few years later.

 

I can relate to that.  I wore eyeglasses from an early age, and in 1971, I insisted my new pair being wire-framed which were becoming popular for all ages, (and still are).  My dad cussed and swore on and on, about younger people wearing "granny glasses", and didn't like it at all when I wanted to 'join the crowd'  He got even more pissed off when my mom sided with me and let me have my way with my new wire-frame eyeglasses.   Fast-forward three or four years later, guess what my dad's new pair of eyeglasses were.....

 

Craig

[C Carl]

3 hours ago, F&J said:

Is the diameter 16"?  I think it says 8.50 x 16. 

 

 

 

 

15” per tire size at 12:00 on the top pic. Just under the DI of RADIAL.    -    Carl 

[joe_padavano]

4 hours ago, F&J said:

Is the diameter 16"?  I think it says 8.50 x 16.

 

 

It says LR60-15.

 

An L60-15 (or LR60-15 for radial) tire was 27.86" outside diameter and 10.5" section width. That's comparable to a 275/60-15 today.

[keiser31]

16 hours ago, padgett said:

Three sizes: United States Patent 3,329,468 WHEEL STRUCTURE Richard D. Beith, 606 Duar Drive, Concord, Calif. 94520 Filed Oct. 21, 1965,

Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide a wheel which incorporates means for accommodating the three different diameter bolt circles of most automobiles.

Sorry, but I am having a tough time figuring out how these wheels could possibly fit THREE size bolt patterns. I see only TWO positions to use.

[padgett]

Agree, that was a quote from the patent at https://patents.google.com/patent/US3329468A/en

 

"An analysis of the radii of lug bolt circles of most makes of automobiles has revealed that there are essentially three different diameter bolt circles utilized; 4 /2,

4% and inches. Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide a wheel which incorporates means for accommodating the three different diameter bolt circles of most automobiles."

 

Must admit I am not sure this is accurate. At the time would expect standard US 5 bolt circles to be 4.5", 4.75" and 5".

[1912Staver]

7 hours ago, F&J said:

Is the diameter 16"?  I think it says 8.50 x 16. 

 

If 16, that wheel must be for drag racing.  The dark coloring, it might be a true magnesium wheel, and would be worth getting a better appraisal on Hamb.

 

The 2 rim edge chips affect value, but I'd still want to know if they are 16" magnesium before selling them.

 

 

True magnesium wheels become a very iffy proposition as they age.  Use for display only is the best rule of thumb.

 

Greg

[mike6024]

There is a size stamping on the wheel. Did look like 8.5 by 16 to me too. But the tire size is 15, so that wouldn't work.

 

That really does look like 8.50 x 16 

 

 

[padgett]

Maybe that is the actual rim size and not the tire size ?

[CHuDWah]

My first new car had white letters but there was no choice of brand, you took whatever the factory put on.  Course I was real proud of the car and took it to show off to my Dad.  He was supportive but he hated Firestone tires, a grudge from a long-ago dispute with a dealer.  He took one look at those screamingly obvious white letters and said, "Why'd you get those damn Firestones?"  🤣

[joe_padavano]

3 hours ago, keiser31 said:

Sorry, but I am having a tough time figuring out how these wheels could possibly fit THREE size bolt patterns. I see only TWO positions to use.

 

There are oval washers with the hole directly in the center, as well as the offset washers that can be flipped either way. The three bolt patterns are 5x4.5", 5x4.75", and 5x5".

 

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by joe_padavano (see edit history)

[keiser31]

34 minutes ago, joe_padavano said:

 

There are oval washers with the hole directly in the center, as well as the offset washers that can be flipped either way. The three bolt patterns are 5x4.5", 5x4.75", and 5x5".

 

 

I can see only two positions on the wheel in question. Never saw the washers with the hole in the centers. THAT makes it three.

Edited April 9, 2021 by keiser31 (see edit history)

[joe_padavano]

27 minutes ago, keiser31 said:

I can see only two positions on the wheel in question. Never saw the washers with the hole in the centers. THAT makes it three.

 

The wheels came bare. You had to separately purchase the washers and lug nuts that were correct for your particular car.

[Dave Pratt]

I am wondering who made the wheels and if they are aluminum or magnesium.

[TAKerry]

22 hours ago, alsancle said:

I was more of a Cragar SS guy myself.

I had the slots on my truck. Seemed like everyone in town had Cragars.  I prefer Cragars to slots now though.

[padgett]

Never cared for Crager, the chrome seemed to peel very quickly in the Florida climate. Liked Americans and Ansens a lot better. Halibrands and Minilites were more expensive.

[rocketraider]

4 hours ago, Dave Pratt said:

I am wondering who made the wheels and if they are aluminum or magnesium.

Try to set a small sliver afire. If it burns quick and white-hot, magnesium.

[TAKerry]

I would spend HOURS polishing the slotted wheels on my truck. Should have bought stock in McGuires. When polished they looked great. But that would only last a couple of weeks until you do it all over again. When I had the wheels refinished on my trans am they asked if I wanted them clear coated, DUH, no brainer.  Some will say not to but  6 yrs on they still look new, a quick wipe with the micro fibre and they shine again!

[Harold]

On 4/9/2021 at 8:03 AM, alsancle said:

 

The problem with being lucky when you are a kid is that you don't realize it until you get older.   Here is my GTO that my dad stick welded back together again for me.  I did appreciate it at the time but really appreciated it when I look back.   But he also fostered a life long love of cars in me.

 

Here are my Cragar SS mags with white letters which were CRITICAL.

Is that a blue '51-'52 Plymouth in the background? They're my favorite cars.

[28 Chrysler]

18 hours ago, Dave Pratt said:

I am wondering who made the wheels and if they are aluminum or magnesium.

If you take a small file to an edge  magnesium will be a dull gray, aluminum will be bright with a bit of a shine.

[alsancle]

1 hour ago, Harold said:

Is that a blue '51-'52 Plymouth in the background? They're my favorite cars.

 

49 Special Deluxe two door.   My dad bought it for me for 500 bucks when I was 14.  It literally was owned by a little old lady from new,  at 9600 miles on it and was "mint".   He threw some blue enamel over the original gray, and some vinyl seat covers.    We put an Fenton dual carb intake on it.

 

It was really nice and painting it these days would be considered a crime.   It motivated me to work my ass off to buy my own GTO.

[30DodgePanel]

On 4/8/2021 at 5:19 PM, rocketraider said:

Those of you who had great relationships with a supportive dad don't know how good you had it.

 

I can relate.

 

Not sure what's worse, not ever knowing your father, having an abusive father, having a father that left 6 kids all under the age of 14, or having to listen to him later in life spew hatred for all of them as if the kids were the reason for his woes in life. I'd say all of the above... lol

Thank God those days are over...

 

As for wheels, I have never seen a 67/68 Cuda fastback especially in black that ever looked right without Cragars..

 

 

 

 

Closer but too way to much wheel candy with the large white letters (killer hood scoop mannnn lol)

   

 

 

Just right

 

 

 

[1912Staver]

I always thought the Hemi style scoop looked great. Even more so if the car was a genuine example. { Hemi Dart's as well }. The raised white letter tires I can also do without.

As for steel or steel / alloy mixed construction wheel you either love them or hate them.

Either 1 piece alloy or 3 piece alloy for me.

 

 

[padgett]

I always turned white letters or whitewalls in.

[John348]

1 minute ago, padgett said:

I always turned white letters or whitewalls in.

 

I never heard of that brand of wheel, interesting.....

[padgett]

and the number of the spokes shall be five (except for snowflakes).

[1912Staver]

More of my cars have 4 stud wheels than 5 stud Padget. I generally find the number of spokes should in most cases match the number of studs.

 Lots of nice 4 spoke wheels out there.

[1912Staver]

The only 5 spoke 4 stud wheels I have are the ATS's on my Auto - X car.  One of the few options in the reasonably priced category for a 1970's Formula car using outboard brakes. Found on a great many Formula Super Vees of this period.

You can get custom wheel in any configuration these days, but I always look for low cost solutions .

Not sure why ATS didn't make a 4 spoke version , but as far as I know they did not.

 

Edited April 11, 2021 by 1912Staver (see edit history)

[padgett]

I went through a Whole Bunch of Vega GT wheels (13x6) when autocrossing my Sunbird, would usually crack a right front every weekend, once the whole center broke out. Saved my Snowflakes for when on the street.