I saw an add in last months Hemmings Motor News where Dennis Carpenter was asking for a perfect Mercury accesory steering wheel. I wrote him a letter saying that if he will repop the 49-51 Merc wheel, I will buy one. Please write him and let him know you are interested since that will encourage Dennis to make them if there is a market. Dennis Carpenter PO Box 26398 Charlotte, NC 28221 phone: 704-786-8139
I would love to get a Crestliner four spoke wheel. I'm sure if someone re-popped them they could find a sizeable market for them.
Anyone heard rumors? I'd probably be able to get something started on this if someone has examples to copy- and get one of the new ones for using it. Let me know. Thanks Jim Be help if someone has one with ALL the plastic baked off as well.
I know Emblemagic, makes a repop center horn ****on , like in my avatar to the left, but no wheels I've heard about. That would be cool, what about the horn ring? Black or off White ? HMMMM !
Hate to tell this, I have 3 complete Crestliner wheels. 2 blacks that are on my Crestliners and a off white that appears to be NOS.
Then don't TELL.....SELL! I had a Monterey once, got it at a garage sale believe it or not. My old daily 50 was a Monterey. Sold the car, sold the wheel shortly thereafter. Since then I got another one, this one is going to the grave with me! I still keep my eyes out for others tho. JimA, the Monterey wheel can be had on the auction site at decent prices if you keep your eyes open. I JUST missed a Monterey wheel a few wks ago. I was watching TV on my laptop, thought it was 1 minute 33 seconds, turned out to be 33 seconds! Complete, needed a resto with decent chrome/****on and went for $560. Kicking myself for that **** up.
mabee someone will make a repop and then they will be like the cobra,speedster,deuce roadster. hopefully they will have the made in china emblem where everyone can see it
oops $500.oo for wheel and horn ring , no pitts in horn ring, some minor cracks in wheel. email at DRLOUIES@TWCNY.RR.COM and i can return pictures. thanks cadillac daVE
I don't know what Crestliner wheels are going for but if you have even a junk Merc. accessory wheel for $500 it is a steal .
I have to think if someone was repoping them, the originals wouldn't bring near as much money, unless the repop was a total piece of ****. If someone reproduced a good quality copy, it would make the originals be worth not much more than the repro would sell for.
That's a fact . Also , in some cases less desirable to own . A nice reproduced center cap for my accessory wheel ? Maybe . What's the market ? How many are out there ? Of those how many would replace there original ? Even with hairline cracks . I'd p*** on a re-pop wheel everyone has . It would be a shame ..IMO ... To make some $$ and a lot happy ...I have to agree , Reasonably priced Sombrero hubcaps with conventional rim clips would sell like ##%##@ cake !
Not always. A pair of 16X10" ET III originals bring 3-4 times as much as the repops. Look at the stuff vintage speed is putting out, and those are direct copies. Sometimes we want the real deal, ya know?
JimA...we bought the Merc wheel for the Kart from a guy in Southern CA, who was recasting, or repo'ing them. Back around the holidays, he was delayed in getting it done, as his house was in a fire path? Originally he got 1500 for it, but then raised the price to 1800. Guess he had to finance his new house! 1500 is not bad considering you'll pay 500+ for a core, and have to repair or recast it. I think complete recasts go for about a grand. I can get a name, if you want.
I'll attest to it, that thing is F'n perfect. I've watched them cruise around $1K on ebay for decent original ones. I'd rather have a perfect one for a few hundred more. If I ever have the need to have one, he'll be getting a call.
I called Dennis at Quality Restorations two weeks ago . $950 to recast my wheel , $2500 for a re-pop . You need to supply your own horn ring and spoke embellishers . He no longer reproduces factory center caps . This is due to repeat problems with manufacturing . He now only makes a custom cap . He will not sell any center caps unless he does a complete wheel for you . Dennis was nice and helpful on the phone . I emailed Emblemagic two weeks ago regarding a center cap . $250 plus shipping , 50% deposit and six months wait . Expect blemishes , the wheel cap might require modification for installation . No refunds . I would rather have an original wheel even if it needs work .
My emblemagic merc accessory center cap was supposed to be 6 months, took 8, and it has 3 tiny air bubbles. www.cl***icmercury.com now sells center emblems, you have to call. I saw one at hershey last year. It didnt have any blemishes, and wasnt resin which is very prone to heat damage, however the colors wernt as bright and vibrant as the embemagic one. So now its $2500 for a repop from quality restorations, and you have to supply the hardest parts to find of the whole wheel? Thats way out of line.
www.cl***icmercury.com Sounds like it might be the deal . $150 center caps in stock . They don't come with the metal backing mount , just the plastic . They will recast your wheel for $500 . It's painted not cast in color like Quality Restorations . But ,@ Half the price and the wheels look beautiful and are guaranteed . Thanks for the info.
Emblemagic's center doesnt have the stainless bezel either. The center from a 51 lincoln wheel (maybe 49-51) uses the exact same bezel. There is another recast shop in PA that gets around $800 to recast a wheel, I dont remember the name though.
JimA, Just my opinion, but how about designing an New styled original accessory steering wheel. For example the diameter can be smaller, the splines on the rear might fit a certain more popular steering column.... This can open up the opportunity to making a new wheel that has nice retro styling and a bit more affordable that the Merc wheel. Maybe make a line of different horn rings. Seeing that Dennis Carpenter can potentially reintroduce these wheels, if the the merc wheel is factory FOMOCO item, he'd get exclusive licensing to make it, he has it on a lot of his parts. This make his parts more legit, and would allow him to serve the other guys a cease and desist. Thats just business. I'd think it would be cool to be able to get a really cool wheel that has the right flavor, and might be able to be order in different finished and maybe horn ring options. Kind like now there is that 40 ford steering wheel that is actually a customized version. Just my thoughts.
Good idea. Write Dennis Carpenter and explain your idea. He could make it happen if he knows there is a market.
I'd like to find a '53 accessory wheel for our '53 Crestline Sunliner. Any body have one they want to sell?
I just recieved this update on the Merc. accessory steering wheel from Carpenter , " The plastic emblem is in the works with the metal backing - no delivery date or pricing at this time we will not be doing the actual steering wheel at all " Dennis Carpenter Ford Reproductions
The Jalopy Journal
