Customs Chrome Reverse Blues...

... And the apparent impossibility of actually getting any...

When I bought my '60 Ford 'vert two years ago, I always envisioned it on a set of period-correct chrome reverse wheels with spider caps. The real deal as in the day, NOT smoothies, so I decided on Wheel Vintiques series 64s. Being cash-poor for a while after buying the car, I didn't order them right away, but scrounged up the money after several months. To my dismay, the sizes I needed were now back-order items with delivery three months out. So as a 'temporary' solution I picked up a nice used set of Cragar SS wheels, planning on waiting out the back order. Well, it didn't work...

Back-order times were consistently shown as three months from date of order, so I dithered hoping it would improve... it didn't. So in April I bit the bullet and ordered a set from Summit, with 'estimated' delivery the end of July. Prices had gone up sharply too. I didn't find any joy over at Jegs either. US Wheel also makes this style, same issues there. These aren't anything weird, I want 2 15X7 and 2 15X8 4.5"-on-5 bolt pattern, off-the-shelf backspacing. So here it's almost September, and still no wheels, so I called Summit...

'Where's my wheels please?'
Let me check sir... Please hold while I call the manufacturer. Wait, wait, wait.... I'm sorry sir, the person I need to talk to isn't available. I'll get an answer and will call you tomorrow.
'I notice that the currently displayed estimated delivery time on your site are now 4 to 8 weeks'...
Dead silence for a moment... Those times may not be accurate sir. We will call you with the latest update.

I'll note here they didn't call, I got an email later in the day moving the estimated shipping date to November 28. Their site is also now showing that number.

For a wheel that's supposedly made in the USA, I find this a bit puzzling. As the 'car season' is winding down here in the NW, I'll continue to wait... but if I don't see them by December I'll start re-thinking my choice. Anybody familiar with these?... NEW Astro / Howard style CHROME SLOT wheels | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

 

I’d rock those.
And x2 on the smoothies. Steelies look much better

 

Not sure what's puzzling there are raw materials shortages on just about everything these days and a small specialty wheel manufacturer is going to be at the very bottom of the list of who gets supplied. Evercoat tried to put a new product in an aerosol can and the can manufactures told us to pound sand on increasing our allotment of cans because there is such a shortage. 3M can't get materials to make product so if they are out in the cold.....

 

I'm a bit concerned with the chrome slots as they're not quite identical to the originals. I had a set back in the day, and they used a 1/4" thick center with a simple dished stamping. They were heavy mothers... These newer ones use a thinner metal, I wonder about flex and/or cracking.

I get that, but they could at least be honest about it. They took my money and seven months later I may still have nothing.

 

It is not just a materials shortage.

The labor market is pretty tight and competitive right now.

A whole lot of people looked for, and found much better paying work.

Can you blame them?

How much do you think slinging steel into machines at a wheel factory pays?

I'd wager that it is not much, based on the cost of the product.

 

Prices also went up about $45 per wheel, so I'd assume that's been addressed.

 

Sure but at this point ordering anything that is not in stock and expecting it to arrive based on estimated shipping dates is foolish. If people don't have it assume they have zero ways of knowing when it is actually going to arrive.

 

I doubt that even covers the materials cost increase.

 

They've since lowered prices by about $12 per wheel since I ordered... I should have asked for a refund of the difference.

 

Have you called Wheel Smith? You talk to the man that makes your wheels and as far as I’m concerned there is no better place to get steel wheels from.

 

His wheels unfortunately are not vented like the 64's are. His service is excellent though. I went through this a couple years ago, the issues at wheel vintique are not new. They utterly suck to do business with.

If you want that wheel, that look, with a custom reverse, buy the wheels at summit racing. what ever is in stock with your bolt pattern, cut the centers out with a cut off wheel (surprisingly easy) and then box up the chrome centers with your dimensions for the reverse measurement and ship them to Wheelsmith for him to weld into chrome reverse hoops. The chrome looks perfect still after welding.

Here is the link to a thread I made a while back when I got tired of dealing with coker/vintique.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/chrome-reverse-help-needed.1204348/

 

I had the same problem getting Series 64s. After months I contacted Wheelsmith. While they were nice to deal with, they didn't have the equivalent to the Series 64s only smoothie components. They do modify smoothie centers to accept the same hubcaps as a Series 64, so if you are planning on using center hubcaps, they can provide something, but they don't look good without the caps.
As BB said, you may have to provide the centers that you want, verify with Wheelsmith that they fit inside their bands, have them chromed and then send them to Wheelsmith to weld into their bands. A total pain, but my local wheel guy says that they can't get the OEM style centers at the present time. I had to scrounge up some wheels for him to modify 'cause I won't run the modern looking smoothies.
It's getting harder and harder to get the things we once took for granted.

 

Don't get swindled by Pete Paulsen Motorsports (Stockton Wheel) they got me for $600 for two 15x6, 6 months and played middleman for Wheel Smith and got "Smooties" SNAKE!!!!!!! Did'nt even remove them from the Wheel Smith boxes.

 

^^^^ OUCH! Ten years ago, I had a similar experience with them, so I crossed them off the list.
I'm really hoping Wheel Vintiques gets their mojo back. Theirs were the nicest off the shelf chrome wheels I've seen since the old Appliance days.

 

Run an ad in the Hamb for wanted chrome reverse wheels. I just bought a pair of wheels from a hamber for my 62 impala, Stand up guy and I have'nt even got them yet but I know from the pics they are exactly what I wanted, Thanks, Daddy-O. So many great guys here. Piss on the new suppliers.

 

What happened to WheelKid..

 

what happened to the Hot Rod approach of making do with what you had or creating what you need from other sources?

Are they not called 'reversed' rims for a reason???!!!

All this pining about catalog stores not having what you want

 

At this point I wouldn't settle (Astro's) for what's available, but rather hold out for what you really want.
Bandit Billy's experience may be your only viable solution at this time, and in the long run you'll get what you really want, which in the end will be worth it.
Your car needs your wheel choice.

 

Man, I’d like to have the skills and such to weld into chrome and not mess it up.
That’s someone who knows what the heck they are doing.

 

Unfortunately Wheel Vintiques has virtually NO chrome 4.5" bolt pattern OE-style wheels currently available. I can get primered wheels, but I see those turning into $500+ each with buying the wheels, disassembling them, chrome costs on the centers then reassembling with chrome hoops. I don't think I want them that badly...

I hate to think about how many of those 15" wheels I threw away. I haven't seen any good used in forever and I've been looking. Remember, 15" wheels on Fords disappeared in '57 with the switch to 14" and didn't return until '65 but were redesigned and didn't look quite the same. The handfuls of 15" wheels Ford used on the HiPo cars in between bring stupid money if you can find them...

I'm warming up to the Astros a bit. A moderately popular wheel in the early 60s, seen on at least a couple of notable customs, the '64 Comet Super Cyclone and Starbirds' 'Electra' bubble-topped T-bird, both personal favorites. But the appearance of inexpensive aluminum slot mags eclipsed them and they pretty much disappeared. They are period-correct and you just don't see them anymore. The chrome finish looked good on a custom, but customs fell from favor at the same time.

 

Yep, those are the ones. Can't remember the last time I saw a set on anything. Damn Mark, I don't know if I can take the pressure! LOLOL!!!

I bought a set of spider caps in anticipation of the chrome reverse, I wonder how those would look on 'em...

 

Don't settle if they aren't what you have in your vision. You won't be happy.

 

I think the Astro's would be fantastic. For a guy who is always pushing for uniqueness for new custom builds I would think the choice between the two would be a no brainer.

 

I'm warming to them more.... LOL. They are a great looking wheel on a custom, non-customs not so much. And these days will definitely be unique!

I sent a PM to the seller, we'll see how it goes....

 

And there's the triple-line whitewalls I want to run!

 

I wish triple whitewalls like that were available.

Coker has triples, but the center whitewall is wider with 2 white lines on either side.
Not exactly the same....