Moon Transporter / Cheetah Transporter / Vintage Parnelli Jones Mag Wheels

Hope to learn a bit more from those of you out there familiar with vintage mag wheels…
I am currently restoring a car that was originally called the Cheetah Transporter but is also known as the Moon Transporter. Here’s a link to some articles on the vehicle.
The Cheetah Transporter was created - and then modified - by Norm Holtkamp. Dean Moon later bought it and began converting the brakes and completing the work - but never finished due to an untimely earthquake.
I’ve attached pictures of the articles for your review. It was also covered in the Hamb some time ago. When owned by Dean Moon, he was fitting it with wheels he identified in a letter called “Parnelli Jones US Indy Mag Wheels”. I believe these are the ones shown on the transporter on the pictures below.
Are these wheels hard to find? Did they make them for many years? Any information on these wheels would be great to have. I’d like to find a set for the transporter and finish the work never completed.
Thanks for any help you can lend….
Geoff Hacker
Tampa Florida

 

they made millions of'em.check out your local swap meet,or craigslist,or eBay.

 

Where are the casters for under the front bumper? That thing is crazy.... US Indy wheels, as stated, are very common.

 

That's a awesome Machine Geoff.

One of my Favorites...

Cool to see you Posting about it.

 

Hi Hemi...

The two "circles" under the center of the front bumper are two airhorns. Is this what you mean?

Geoff

 

sorry I can't help with the mags but...
I love that truck...

did moon repaint it? what color is it gonna be?

 

Am I smoking crack, or is that a 59 El Camino body shoved on the front of that with Corvair headlights? Maybe I should actually read the article. LOL

Crazy! Yeah, those wheels were in production for a long time. I'm sure you could find them at a swap meet or on line.

 

do a search, that has been on the HAMB before- kinda based on the Mercedes hauler from the 50's (sorry for the super detailed info)...

 

No, with the severe over-hang up front, and distance from the very front to the front wheels are there any caster-wheels like on the rear of motor homes/box vans/race trailers to catch the bottom area when entering things like parking lots or any kind of slight incline? (Sorry, my brain always asks questions...)

 

Do you have any current pics you'd want to share?

 

Kind of reminds me of this:

 

Cooo-ool rig dude!

Congrats on the find, do it up right & make us all jealous.

 

Hi Gang...

Here are some pix of the car when I took it around the block a bit ago..

Still doing mechanicals before attacking bodywork.

Geoff

 

I bet it does awesome burnouts without any weight on the rear...

That is very, very cool... I wonder what your neighbors thought when they saw that going by.

 

Hi Hemi...

No casters. In fact, the entire underneath of the Transporter is aluminum from the from to rear. It's even louvered (sp?) to bring in air as well. The bottom and side panels are removed now for restoration work to begin. Geoff

 

Mac...yes it was on the hamb with other haulers at the time. I just didn't post anything then since it covered many haulers, and not just this one.

 

Hemi...

Here's what my neighbors see of my projects..

Thought you might enjoy a bit of my craziness...

See attached pictures.

Geoff

 

Holy ****! that's a cool driveway.... What is the silver car,and the one on the other side of the hauler? You have your hands full..

 

Hemi...

Here's one of the cars:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=301240

Geoff

 

Heck, I'd be your neighbor!

 

You can buy those wheels brand new. Or get them used, I have several sets of them.
http://www.performanceplustire.com/..._source=googlebase&utm_medium=feed#prodAnchor

 

Thats just awesome! Looks like The Jetsons have come to visit you!

 

Hemi...

Here's another shot. Does this help?

Geoff

 

how about more info on the ULTRA-VAN? [first 'vehicle from the right']
thanx red ryder

 

You have an UltraVan too?!?!?

Damn, I wanna be your neighbor!

 

All this is right across the bay from me?

 

Surprised no one posted a pic of this Mercedes Transporter yet. It looks very similar. Sorry that it doesn't help you with your quest.

That transporter is pretty awesome though. Also, reminds me of the Scarab transporter.



 

Man I bet your neighbors hate you!

I love your collection of junk!

Is that a Tatra? and what is the silver rear engined car (next to the transporter)? Also, the Ultra van is super cool.

 

I remember reading Ryan's blog about your eclectic collection awhile back... welcome Geoff!

I attached a pic of the Parnelli Jones mags that your letter is (hopefully!) talking about... they're NOTHING like the Ansen-style slotted mags everyone else is posting.

Good luck with that AWESOME transporter!

 

Geeze how do you have time to work on all those exotic pieces?