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Rostyle wheels

Discussion in 'Off Topic Hot Rods & Customs' started by sgtlethargic, Apr 26, 2025.

  1. I just thought I'd share. I saw them (in a picture) on a Capri at a junkyard. I had never heard of them. I'm not fond of them.

    [​IMG]

    upload_2025-4-26_19-43-22.png
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2025
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  2. Baumi
    Joined: Jan 28, 2003
    Posts: 3,250

    Baumi
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have known them as Buick road wheels, if correct or not,I can‘t say, but that’s what everyone around here calls my Riviera wheels. BA5A6DBA-1EB4-4AF3-87DE-1D4298FD1FBE.jpeg
     
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  3. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,097

    gene-koning
    Member

    I believe every car company in the USA had its own version of this wheel.
    In my opinion, the wheels with the chrome rim looked so much better then the wheels with the tin "Trim Rings".
     
  4. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,053

    Deuces

    Just another form of Magnum 500s.....;)
     
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  5. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 14,521

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    My 68 442 wears Olds SS1 wheels. Indistinguishable from the Ford Magnum 500 (other than being the correct bolt pattern :cool:). I have had them on Mach 1's, Cougar XR7s, 69 Camaros (painted rather than chrome spokes and beauty rings) and the same painted wheels on a 69 SS 396 Chevelle. The Buick wheel above is unique as the spokes and face of the wheels are slightly concave. The rest of the lot look as if they came from the same mold.

    I have never heard of them being described as ROstyle wheels. I doubt I will do so going forward. But good to know, I recon.
     
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  6. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,053

    Deuces

    I believe they were all made by the Kelsey Hayes plant which is no longer in business.... At least not in Detroit....:(
     
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  7. Matt Dudley
    Joined: Jan 13, 2024
    Posts: 283

    Matt Dudley
    Member
    from New York

    Rostyle comes from Britain as that is where they originated. Built under license in the USA. Very common wheel on MGB’s and they call them Rostyles. Literally pressed steel junk, can’t get them balanced. Look okay though
     
  8. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 5,097

    gene-koning
    Member

    At least the USA made wheels were round and balanced out. I changed a lot of tires on and off that style of wheel from all the USA brands over the years. There may still be a few of the Mopar versions buried back in the corner of my lower garage someplace.
     
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  9. Speccie
    Joined: May 22, 2021
    Posts: 378

    Speccie

    I love Rostyles, had a set on a Cortina, a Viva and a Morris Minor...don't be hating.
     
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  10. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 14,521

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I aint hatin, I owned a crapi (sic) back in the day with those on it. Nice little car...till that black ice on I-205 where it crosses the Banfield in Portland. A couple 180's at 60 MPH and a Jersey barrier shortened the car nicely.
     
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  11. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,508

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    My mom's Capri had Rostyles, but as loyal teenage sons me and my brother convinced her that fitting Cheviot Hotwire alloys was totally necessary.
     
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  12. Ned Ludd
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 5,377

    Ned Ludd
    Member

    Rostyles were on almost everything British, and a few other things, in the '70s and early '80s here. I remember the consensus that they were unconvincing wannabe "alloy" wheels.

    Chromed widened Rostyles with characteristic short, fat tyres were associated with our local "zeff look". Think Ford Cortina Mk3 with the locally-available 3-litre V6, decorated like a Christmas tree with plastic rear-window louvre panel, clear plastic wind-deflector window bubbles, lemon-shaped plastic lemon juice bottle on the end of the radio antenna, spoiler and airdam, stickers, badges, fake air vents, etc., sitting nose-up like a speedboat on the aforementioned short, fat tyres sticking out of the wheelwells — stereotypically driven by a stocky racist white guy in walrus moustache and bangs. In later years, everything got monochromed and/or Venetian-blinded in pinstripe tape.

    We also had an odd thing: when the VW bug went to front discs and semi-trailing arm irs, all the surplus stock of swing-axle irs parts and 5x205 drums and wheels was shipped to South Africa, because we were too isolated to know the difference. Our bugs had 5x205 drums and swing axles to the end. But because Rostyles were a thing locally, VW put 15" Rostyles with the 5x205 pattern on some bugs. As far as I know those wheels are locally unique.
     
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  13. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 14,521

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I remember convincing my mom the country squire needed air shocks. Moms are gullible.
     
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  14. SS327
    Joined: Sep 11, 2017
    Posts: 3,456

    SS327

    I put dual exhaust and BFG competition T/As on my country squire. Dad was pissed! He never gave me signed blank checks for anything after that.
     
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  15. Anderson
    Joined: Jan 27, 2003
    Posts: 7,530

    Anderson
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Never heard that name for theme before, but good way to rope them all together. I have been planning on SSI's for my '64 Olds for years, one of my favorite wheels.

    I suppose the Pontiac Rally II wheel would fall in this category too.
    1968-pontiac-gto.jpg
     
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  16. SS327
    Joined: Sep 11, 2017
    Posts: 3,456

    SS327

    Pontiac rally wheel is a Pontiac only design.
     
  17. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 14,521

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Those are PMDs and one of the nicest wheels put on an Amercian car IMO. Years later the Z28 painted 5 spoke with rings came close.
     
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  18. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 26,053

    Deuces

    Another form of the Magnum 500s.....;)
    From Kelsey Hayes.....
     
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  19. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 14,521

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Similar, and very much like the 69-72ish Chevy SS wheel. Beautiful, but a bitch to paint. Today you can order a masking kit for them, but I remember restoring a set for a 71 formula in the early 80's...that suuuuuuucked!
     
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  20. mustangsix
    Joined: Mar 7, 2005
    Posts: 1,470

    mustangsix
    Member

    The version used on MGs were absolutely the worst. Never round, always out of true, and can only be properly balanced if you had an adapter to bolt them to.
     

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