Since April of 2004, people have been putting these wheels up for auction on eBayMotors. While I haven't actually seen the latest version of the Torq-Thrust, by looking at the pictures of them that are shown on pages 22 and 26 of the June, 2004 issue of Street Rodder, the new wheels have several changes compared to the ones from the 1960s. The new product announcement on page 26 says that "Instead of reissuing the disc-brake-unfriendly design, American Racing retro-engineered the original design and re-released it under the TTO (Torq-Thrust Original) banner." The first visual difference that you may notice is that it looks like the holes for the lug nut washers are recessed more than the company's early wheels were, like they were recessed on the old Appliance wheels as well as the way they are on American Racing's other current wheels. Also, the wheel pictured in the full-page ad on page 22 shows that the cast-in recess that is found between the inner-most area of the machined lip and the outside edges of the spokes on the original aluminum Torq-Thrust and Torq-Thrust D has been eliminated. A further difference is that the center cap looks like it's American's late-style cap, which has a larger bolt circle than the original wheels that American made. This was done to allow the center holes to be larger, to fit later-model cars. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/wheels/ http://www.roadsters.com/mag/
My buddy just got his. He says the spokes are "as cast finish" like the originals and not painted like the first repros. They are available in the early Ford and Ford p/u 5.5" bolt circle.
[ QUOTE ] I just want a set of Radirs, thats all. [/ QUOTE ] I missed a set of originals at the last swap meet for 150.00. I guess in good shape, crap it all.
I saw them at the Grand National show this past Feb. The biggest and most notable design change is the lip design. The old wheels had a nice 30 degree angle and the lip determined the depth. This is by far my favorite wheel design of all time. There are very few cars that are not enhanced by a set of these. KK
This is a challenge to David Bacas American Racing sponsored Top Fuel car, put a set of Torque Thrust Originals on the car for the good old days look! I have 4 cars with Torque Thrusts. I love the look!
[ QUOTE ] Dammit...when are they gonna repop Keystone Klassics??? [/ QUOTE ] they do! Jeg's has them in their catalog
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Dammit...when are they gonna repop Keystone Klassics??? [/ QUOTE ] they do! Jeg's has them in their catalog [/ QUOTE ] Oh! COOL!!! Thanks!!
[ QUOTE ] This is a challenge to David Bacas American Racing sponsored Top Fuel car: put a set of Torq-Thrust Originals on the car for the good old days look! [/ QUOTE ] Aluminum Torq-Thrusts weren't intended to be racing wheels. Those were magnesium. These days, except in nostalgia drag racing, Top Fuel cars run either 16 by 15 or 16 by 16 wheels on the back, with 17.00-16 tires. The TrakStar wheels that American now makes for Top Fuel and Funny Car racing are only available in 16 by 16. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
My Uncle had a set just like the pic I posted on his '66 SS396 Chevelle. They were identical, I have a pic of the car and they were aluminum.KK
Those early Torq-Thrusts can make just about anything look good. They were a masterpiece of industrial design.
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I just want a set of Radirs, thats all. [/ QUOTE ] I missed a set of originals at the last swap meet for 150.00. I guess in good shape, crap it all. [/ QUOTE ] I bought those. 6 of em for $150.00. Dean
That's the ones I'm talk'n about . Those are beautys. What are you planning to put them on? I want set just to hang on the wall.KK
Speaking of the design the Torq-Thrust were designed by Romeo Palamides in the mid fifties, he also patterend the design in 1956 that lead to the styling of the Ansen Sprints. Which is ironic as the Torq-Thrusts were introduced to the public in 1958 and the Ansen Sprints in 1968, the Ansen looking wheels he designed and cast predated the Torq-Thrust by two years.KK
[ QUOTE ] What are you planning to put them on? [/ QUOTE ] That pair is 5" bolt pattern, so they'll interchange with the 16 by 13 Halibrands on the roadster - http://www.roadsters.com/32/ - and the 15 by 8 Halibrands on the coupe - http://www.roadsters.com/coupe/ There are pictures of more of my wheel fetish at http://www.roadsters.com/mag/ I've been meaning to E-mail you, but here's a link to the Artists page that I called you about last week: http://www.roadsters.com/art/ - Dave
"industrial design" Funny you say that. I have used those exact words in describing my favorite wheels (Hals, Americans...). Good choice in words as I feel that is why these wheels are so timeless. Too many wheels look like jewelery to me. Good ol' 5 spokes look purpose-built, hard-core, you know. It's funny, the pricing of Radirs vs. Americans. Radirs were a cheaper alternative back in the 60's and cheaper construction as well (cast center in a chrome steel hoop). Things change and now the Radir is the more pricey of the two. Both are cool but as much as I like Radirs, they will always have that New Jersey vibe. Roadsters.com, I have a pair of 15x6 uni-lug wheels that are all aluminum, no cast face swedged to a steel wheel nonsense. Is it unusual, or did they (ET) make as many all aluminum 5-spokes as they did the steel wheel/aluminum applique fakies?
I've never heard any production number for the two types, but the steel-rim version aren't seen nearly as often (perhaps because they're so heavy, nobody wants to haul them to the swap meet!) They were a long way from the racing wheels that interest me. I'd consider them more like something that would have been sold in department stores. E-T made some nice aluminum wheels. If you like whatever you have, then you're all set. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/
if you look in the early cataloques or have some early rims i think you will find that the first ones did not have the raised beed on outside rim face where it meets the tire, they were flat and caused the rims to get scratched when mounting. i have seen quys grind that off so they would look like early rims.
Except that ET had that goofy uni-lug set up, which most people lost on the side of the road while changing a flat. They also had strangely styled center caps. Fentons were alot closer to the Americans, I had a set of those on my '66 Stingray.KK
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