Hot Rods What is your "go to" wheel for a street brawler?

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/58-chevy-wheel-choices.1290947/#post-14845093

"easy pickings..." custom by @themoose thanks...

Hello,

We have been involved with dragstrip racing, which lead us to teenage drive in antics, which led to the cherry avenue drags location many times. The post in early 2023 showcased those old photos of the times we started with black steel wheels in various forms. If we had more money, the 5 spoke American racing equipment mags would have been the right wheel combination. But, saving up using black steel wheels worked out well when a pristine set of chromed Buick Skylark wire wheels came up for sale.

All encounters everywhere were fun and exciting. Travel outside of our heavy duty Bixby Knolls area with its vast history was also fun and led to many adventures. All good as we had a great vehicle, just modified enough to be able to surprise plenty of folks in the next lanes. The environment of other places was daunting, but the solid construction and power/quickness of the Impala solved the situations quite well.

Some for as little cash as we had and other times, an index finger pointing at the other guy as he slunk away at the next corner. So, yes, the last custom look of the Buick Skylark Wire Wheels was the most awesome look and drew in other folks by sounding nice. Most were surprised at the power and quickness of the C&O Stick Hydro at the start and power of the 348 to keep the lead to the finish, including 6 red taillights.

Jnaki


This look may have scared others away. The Buick Skyark Wire Wheels drew them in like bees to the hive. So, we were glad to have the experience of success against all odds and lack of money at the time.

Note:

We always wondered what the look of our 671 292 SBC motor installed in front of the C&O Stick Hydro would have been like. The daily drivability would not have been as comfortable as it was. But the powerful 671 was intimidating. My friend and I did consider doing the installation during the time we had the motor set up from our Willys sitting in the backyard garage for sale.
wheels or no wheels ... NAH!

Note 2:

This was a similar concept install by the Mickey Thompson Speed Shop proposal in the fall of 1960. We were in a recovery phase and no longer attending the weekly Lion's Dragstrip activities that we had been attending/racing since late 1957.

But then, we got a phone call from a surprise speed shop. We knew the shop manager at nearby Mickey Thompson’s shop. We had always had a great relationship with Mickey Thompson at Lions, when we were racing the 58 and the 671 SBC C/Gas Willys Coupe. We were always welcomed at the shop with our purchases and the free Drag News weekly paper. Conversations about drag racing, hot street cars and such were usually the topics, along with what was going on in the back of the shop for the “newish” race cars.
A dream install that was almost a reality…
The call from the manager was to ask us if we were willing to upgrade our 58 Impala with the latest from Mickey Thompson’s shop. That meant putting in a supercharged Pontiac motor. Since we already had a C&O Stick Hydro installed, they said the installation would be easy. All safety upgrades would be done. When we told them it was a daily driver to high school, they said it would be built to be driven on the street and compete at Lions.

When I told my brother what was asked and offered to us, he was happy. Wow. A super, fast 1958 Impala and he did not have to do any work. (because he was in a state of recovery from the burns…) He said that sounded fantastic and he would get back to me. He let it go for several days and finally came up with a “NO.” Even though it was going to be a free install, it was going to be a drag race Impala, not a daily driver.

It was told to us that it was going to be a dual purpose street driven Impala, even a daily driver, as well as a weekend drag racer. He had doubts about the everyday reliability of that 671 supercharger on a Pontiac motor in stop and go traffic to school and cruising around Bixby Knolls teenage hang out scene.

He said it was a drag racing car that could be driven to the drive-in and back, legally on the street. At the time, he was still recovering from his 3rd degree burns and we had to use the Impala for countless trips to the hospital and doctor’s office. We had to have an easy start up, consistent daily driver for those important uses. Not to say anything about my mom’s weekly shopping trips, either.

So, the stock appearance of the black 58 Impala would have been fine, but the object sticking out of the hood would have been a little intimidating, despite what wheels were on the car rolling down the street. YRMV

 

The Kidney Beans are easier to clean!

 

Have you considered Tri-Rib Radir's? They're not the cheapest but they're made in the USA.

 

This is from 1965.....

 

Painted steelies: cheap, available, and will take a bit of kerb rash in its stride — especially if the anticipated kind of street brawling, implicit or actual, includes something approaching urban rallycross

 

Did I miss where y'all talk about real live magnesium Americans?



.

 

I'd say any of your choices are winners, but those slots everyone been postin'..... hmmmm... those look good too!

 

Yeah, slots are all right. They even work when you run your street brawler on the drag strip.

 

Baby moons & trim rings work for many cars .

 

I’m with Alchemy…there ain’t nuthin like the real thing :

 

Real magnesium wheels are the ultimate wheels , but they are worth too much to use on a street car . We have magnesium wheels on the back of our dragster. It would be too painful to damage one on the street.

 

I like old school looking wheels, so my favorites are old style American Torq Thrust, Ansen, ET, etc. slots, or Cragar S/S wheels.

 

Can’t go wrong with slots

 

I agree, and I would go a step further to say magnesium wheels look like dedicated race car wheels. Perfectly appropriate for a front engine dragster, but kinda out of place on a fast street car.

 

My 57 has chrome steelies my 56 aluminum slots and my 68 will have cragar S/S wheels. Not the most “vintage correct” but i’m not as much of a purist as some of you.

 

I have a couple of sets of magnesium, but with the prices they command, I wouldn't want them on a street car.

 

I've gotten flamed for this before so let me crawl into my Nomex suit, but please no Cragar SS... I know it's just an opinion but those belong on muscle cars.

 

No magnesium wheels on a street car? Where is your sense of adventure…

ironandsteele.com ​

 

My high school buddy started collecting the real deal Halibrands in the '60's...this is just part of his
collection today....I'm still envious....

 

That was my $700 56 Chevy I bought in 1970

 

My choice was WheelSmith direct fit chrome steelies for my Coupe Chris...

 

Ryan, bowie's showing off again!
Cripes

 

Cragar S/S for me, worked in the 70's and still working for me now.

 

I think s lot of guys gravitate towards what they had back in the day. I had a set of slots on my 36, all through high school, so I am kinda partial to them.

 

What is this car that you plan on brawling with anyhow ?

 

Agree, great thread here Root glad you're getting better, anywho... what kind of car are we looking at? And why should it have what Saltflats have on his in the rear and ahotrod wheels on the front

 

As a kid, I had a set of used rusty chrome slots. Cool wheels when they're new, I'd consider them for my 55, but Supremes may be it and lowered like the '56 discussed here.
And I'll be damned if if I won't run magnesium wheels on my street and strip car! Who the heck am I supposed to be saving 'em for!?

 

Pics of said 55?

 

Not worthy yet, Scotty!