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Some time in the dim past, someone mistakenly said these wheels were made by Kelsey Hays.??? This error is now so prevalent that probably 80% of the old car hobby refers to them as “Kelsey Hayes Wheels”.
Kelsey Hays did make wire wheels, but not the ones supplied by the factory on new Chrysler products, (or Packards, for that matter).??
In both cases, the supplier was Detroit’s Motor Rim (some are stamped Motor Rim and Wheel) company.? These are very high quality wheels.? The “gorgeous reproductions” supplied by various vendors to the old car hobby fall short in many cases – if you can find the correct originals, even if you have to have them restored, you’ll have totally authentic wheels that will last forever (particularly if you have them restored with stainless steel spokes.)
Dick Benjamin
From:
mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of twolaneblacktop
You can get new reproduction correct wire wheels from Coker Tire. About $1k for a set of 4. Yes, they are available in the correct 5 ½ on 5 bolt pattern. I do plan on getting some for my ’66 Imperial ‘vert, but first I need to close on my new condo, so I will have to wait, but I now have the correct Triple Band White Walls thanks to Daniel LaPlaunt and his ’65 wanting correct ’65 tires! Please be aware these are NOT Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, as those were not available, but some other brand at the time. This has been a topic on the OIC in the past, but I had a crash a couple months ago and lost my entire archive of Imperial stuff.
Can anyone state who the manufacturer was and why the Kelsey-Hayes have the reputation if they were in fact not used?
Thanks,
Wm. R. Ulman Seattle, WA '66 Crown Convertible Coupe - Doris Day '95 Buick Roadmaster - Rock Hudson LT-1 350c.i.d. full framed rocket Sedan (catches rubber in second!) -----Original Message-----
Hello,
a friend of mine owns a 56 Imperial and is looking for some wire wheels. Any idea where to get some ?
Marco |
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