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Member
Posts: 49
| I have a set of '50's wire wheels that I bought years ago. They will be for sale as soon as I find out exactly what I have. Where do I look for stampings, date codes, or other ID marks? |
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Expert
Posts: 1357
 
Location: Iowa USA | Painted or chrome? Rim lace?
Center caps or not?
caps pitted?
Pictures might help but if they are chrome and need to be re-plated buyers are probably better off buying reproductions.
Here is a set of painted wire note the location of the outer spokes. The Chrome wheels are different.
Edited by roadkillontheweb 2010-11-07 11:05 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 967
Location: Canada | Location? |
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Member
Posts: 49
| I'm in St. Louis, MO |
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Member
Posts: 49
| 1 wheel is painted and 4 are chrome. Caps are extra nice. One repro and 3 rechromes. I'll dig out the wheels tomorrow and see where the laces are. I'll also shoot some pictures. |
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Member
Posts: 49
| Sorry to have taken so long to get info. Wheels are stored. They are chrome wheels. They aren't lip-lace. Each wheel is stamped "Made in USA by Motor Wheel" on the inside of the rear flange. Each wheel has 15K stamped above 5 1/2 stamped above 717 next to the "Made in USA" stamping. 4 of the caps (I found another one since the last post) have been rechromed but not concours. All are part #1533283. None have been on the wheels since rechroming. I have a fifth cap that is a Chinese repop that has never been on a wheel, either. I get pix over T'giving. Any interest? |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7210
 
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Well you have an original set of the wire wheels that were used on Chryslers back in the 50s. Motor Wheel Co. made these ones specifically for Chrysler. They were a factory option until I believe 1956. After that they were dealer installed up till around 1961 from what others here have stated. They are being reproduced in the USA at present by a company in California and center caps as well made by Bornstein of California. http://www.hobbycar.com/chrysler.html Dodge and Plymouth used the lip-laced type wheels.
The reproductions have a large spoke count ( 56) than the originals. I bought a set for my '60 Saratoga from them last spring.
Restoration of the originals generally costs more than buying the reproductions, however for those who want the originals there are companies that restore them.
Edited by imopar380 2010-11-22 12:27 AM
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| The large spoke count was used on the heavier Desotos and Chryslers, they had 5.5" and 6" widths. OK to use them on the Plymouths and Dodges (which had 4.5" and 5.0" widths). Many of the publicity photos for 55-56 Plymouths show the wire wheel cover made by Cello as an accessory. These are heavy wheel covers that use three of the lug nuts to keep them on. |
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Member
Posts: 49
| Gents-
Thanks for the informed responses. Ian, your cars are fantastic. These wheels are nice enough for a really good driver quality car. I don't think they need restoration. I've got a '57 Dodge Coronet convertible that is all original. These wheels would look great on the car but I can't bring myself to change anything about it. I'm hoping somebody wants them for their originality and lower price than the repros. Thanks again for the help. |
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | main-wire - 2010-11-22 11:44 PM
Gents-
Thanks for the informed responses. Ian, your cars are fantastic. These wheels are nice enough for a really good driver quality car. I don't think they need restoration. I've got a '57 Dodge Coronet convertible that is all original. These wheels would look great on the car but I can't bring myself to change anything about it. I'm hoping somebody wants them for their originality and lower price than the repros. Thanks again for the help.
How about sharing some pictures of your car?
And where are you from? |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7210
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | main-wire - 2010-11-22 9:44 PM
Gents-
Thanks for the informed responses. Ian, your cars are fantastic. These wheels are nice enough for a really good driver quality car. I don't think they need restoration. I've got a '57 Dodge Coronet convertible that is all original. These wheels would look great on the car but I can't bring myself to change anything about it. I'm hoping somebody wants them for their originality and lower price than the repros. Thanks again for the help.
Too bad I didn't know about your wheels last spring!
Actually I just missed an original single 15" Motor wheel on Ebay that I could have used as a spare, complete with a P-235-75R15 wide whitewall tire. It sold for just over $100.00 with no reserve. I was watching the auction but I forgot to bid. 
Edited by imopar380 2010-11-23 7:51 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | Main-wire sent some pictures of his car. I will share a few that I was able to capture from an online slide show.
Looks like a car I used to know from Waterloo Iowa.
 (57a.jpg)
 (57b.jpg)
 (57c.jpg)
Attachments
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 57a.jpg (67KB - 206 downloads)
57b.jpg (66KB - 208 downloads)
57c.jpg (57KB - 204 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2598
Location: Upplands Väsby, Sweden | WoW Very nice Dodge conv. not see it before. |
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Member
Posts: 49
| This is the car from Waterloo, Iowa. I bought it from the original owners, Daryl and Gloria Thomsen, in 2007 after they owned it 50 years. It's almost all original, except for the seat inserts, respray of the lower quarter panels, and a rechromed rear bumper. It was in Collectible Automobile in August of '93 and June of '07. Daryl passed away a year ago. He was a great guy and I miss him. I hope all of you had a good Thanksgiving. |
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Regular
Posts: 62
Location: Home of the 500 | Are these wheels for sale? Send me PM if they are. |
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Member
Posts: 49
| These wheels are for sale. I've got 4 chrome wire wheels, 5 chrome spinner caps (4 rechromed originals and a repop), and a painted lip-lace wheel. I've got pictures I can e-mail that I don't know how to post on this site. These are 5.5" originals for the big mid-'50s cars. I'm not putting them on my '57 Coronet convertible but they deserve to be on somebody's car. I don't want to fool with craigslist or ebay. Looking for $800 OBO. |
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'50's MOPAR wire wheels
