Hot Rods Chrome Wheels with Blackwall Tires

in High School only had chrome wheels on rear of my '55 Chevy because all I could afford.

 

In about 1972 Gratiot was having a Chrome Reverse Wheel sale, from 5" to 14" wide, all kinds of BC. 15x8 were 19.95 and 15x10 were 24.95. I didn't know if I would really like them so I only bought two of each. 50 years later I wish I bought more.. In 2011 I had Wheel Smith make me 4, two of 15x8 and two of 15x14 @ $1140.00.. Project got cancelled so they sit in their boxes.

 

Here's my set from 1965. Went from black painted rims, to chrome rims, then on to M/T magnesium
5 spokes. In those times none of my friends had wallets full of money. We had to wait for things.
They were cool then, and they are cool now. Cool never goes out of style.

 

@40FORDPU

Hello,

Recently, I asked our HAMB resident expert @themoose to try his hand at several options on a custom painted sedan.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-photoshop-thread-to-end-all-photoshop-threads.300531/page-945#post-15032892


At the time, I was trying to draw some chrome wheels on a project and ran into a dilemma, too. Blackwalls with chrome wheels were our early teenage hot rod choice. Some of our friends had whitewalls stock from the factory and added their chrome reversed wheels to the whitewalls. Finally, some actually turned the whitewalls inside out and ran blackwalls after a few months. So, it was not the standard thing to do one way or another.

As we all know, the drawings are harder to show one comparison to another. So, the result of the “ask” were a couple of great images from the skilled hands of our expert. Always one to jump in and help out with a request. Thanks, @themoose

The first image is how some of our original early 60s cars looked. But, then, we all turned in our whitewalls inside out and now had blackwalls with chrome wheels. (for those that could afford the chrome wheels, otherwise it was blackwalls with various color rims)


Jnaki


And @firemangordy allowed me to use a photo of his nicely finished, custom 1955 Chevy to show what a friend from high school had at one time during our days. It was uncanny that the current custom could be changed to look almost exactly as it did for my recollection from 1960. Thanks, FG…

Chromed reversed wheels look better with whitewalls or at least narrow whitewalls. Unless you want a drag race hot rod look...

Note:
The owner of the original green 1955 custom Chevy sedan was a little on the wealthy side. So, his modifications were all done in So Cal. He had the chrome wheels custom made, not from the Pep Boys shelves. The paint was a local custom painter, not Earl Schieb. Plus, he did not go to South of the Border to get his all-white tuck and roll upholstery. It was from a top upholstery shop in Long Beach.
YRMV

 

My brother’s Poncho. He’s always spot-on with tire/wheel selection and stance with all his rides.

 

My 1951 Ford pickup. It's gone, should have kept it!

 

LOVE that 57 Pontiac!!

Chrome reverse on blackwalls rule. Ignore the whitewalls on the 61.

 

I found a 14" chrome reverse wheel with a blackwall tire in my junk with a 4 1/2" b.c. If anyone in the Lethbridge AB area wants it, come and get it.

 

A "for sure" racer look as is apparent in most all these photos.

 

Works for me... These were put on the car in the late 60's:

 

Taboo rocked the Chrome wheels and blackwalls in the 80s