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Radir, Rader... I found these Radar wheels? Anybody up on that?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by vectorsolid, Mar 25, 2009.

  1. vectorsolid
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 498

    vectorsolid
    Member
    from Montana

    I know Radir... started by Rader... I found these wheels, called Radar "trans american".

    Found these at a garage sale and picked them up... even if they have no history and are like a Sears knockoff, they're gonna look good on something. But the curiosity of it led me to ask. that black paint seems to be coming off just fine. But it's time consuming, chrome is very good.

    Anybody know anything about them? I googled around and didn't find anything.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  2. choppintops
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 1,460

    choppintops
    BANNED

  3. daddyo54
    Joined: May 8, 2003
    Posts: 1,402

    daddyo54
    Member Emeritus
    from Denison Tx

    Use aircraft stripper it won't hurt the chrome or alum. If it's spray paint it should come off pretty easy.
     
  4. brentthebarber
    Joined: Apr 8, 2008
    Posts: 265

    brentthebarber
    Member

    don't know bout 'em but they're pretty bad ***, nice find
     
  5. SYCO620
    Joined: Jan 26, 2009
    Posts: 96

    SYCO620
    Member
    from Merced, Ca

    I dont think ive ever seen that style before. Good purchase there bud.
     
  6. Those are cheap knock off imported uh.... unsafe... the spray paint weakened them... they are obviously the wrong size and full of termite holes. Just send them to me and I'll take 'em to the dump for you.
     
    kidcampbell71 likes this.

  7. WTF? Please go buy some 60s Car Craft and Hot Rod magazines. I truly mean nothing bad by this but you should study our hotrod past. Well, and present. Raders, Radirs and the other versions of those wheels are Iconic.
     
  8. Mojo
    Joined: Jul 23, 2002
    Posts: 1,875

    Mojo
    Member

    it seems like the 15" versions are much less common than the 14". I saw one set on the internet that were 15x7, instead of 15x6, but that was the only time i've seen that size.

    That black paint probably saved the chrome. Looks like they're the version that will clear disc brakes. I've seen others like that design that won't. The extra webbing around the spokes is like the MT version, most other makes didn't have that.
     
  9. vectorsolid
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 498

    vectorsolid
    Member
    from Montana

    I'm kinda with ya, I think the paint saved the chrome.

    They've been stored inside the whole time, that helped keep 'em sweet.

    Any info on 'em?
     
  10. mecutem
    Joined: Oct 6, 2002
    Posts: 603

    mecutem
    Member

    Not one of the strongest wheels made back then. Your style was called the single rib. They also made a tri-rib wheel with 3 raised lines running down the spokes. 15's are the super valuable ones and most rare. I paid $600 for a set of 4 several years ago and the chrome rims had some rust on them. The spinners that go on these wheels are even more rare. These wheels were sold with the Mickey Thompson name in the 60's and came with a 3 hoop spinner with crossed flags and the M/T logo on them. A good set of spinners will bring $300-400 by themselves. Maybe go back and look for the spinners.

    These wheels were on many famous cars of the 60's. Batmobile is one example that comes to mind. These are my all time favorite 60's wheel. The aluminum ribbed center with chrome hoop is what does it for me. They are certainly worth the time to get them cleaned up. Steve
     

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  11. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 64,925

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Back in the mid 60's I worked at Sears,Roebuck & Company after school and weekends and they sold those in the automotive department,,as I recall they were around 16 bucks each. HRP
     
  12. James D
    Joined: Feb 8, 2007
    Posts: 4,991

    James D
    Member

    Aren´t these the originals? The subsequent copies/knock offs have just changed the spelling slightly so you think they´re still the same thing.
     
  13. plodge55aqua
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 1,710

    plodge55aqua
    Member
    from Alberta

    I think radars are very original.. this is the same type of wheel also used on a Fireball 500,

    A real nice find too. congrats..
     
  14. vertible59
    Joined: Jan 25, 2009
    Posts: 1,058

    vertible59
    Member

    One of the best looking "mag" wheels ever made, and probably the first I ever saw on a car. Guy I went to high school with received a brand new, red '63 Impala Super Sport for his 16th birthday and had a set of 15X7, M/T Radirs put on it. What a disgusting display of wealth that was to a gear head kid (me), that was always broke!
    Fast forward to 1975. I was living in North Carolina and working on a 1941 Plymouth, Deluxe 2dr sedan. I spotted a set of those wheels at a gas station in Madison, NC with a for sale sign on them and stopped to have a look. They were 15X7 with a 4 1/2" bolt pattern and included the centers and spinners, all for 50 bucks. I snapped 'em up and ran them on the '41 until I sold it, with those wheels still on it, many years later. That old Plymouth was all home built and took me everywhere for 10 years, including the Street Rod Nationals in '78. Not a week goes by now that I don't think of that old car. Wish I had it back, and that set of wheels too!
     
  15. Nappy
    Joined: Jul 6, 2001
    Posts: 797

    Nappy
    Member
    from York, PA

    Cool find. Wanna sell 'em?
    I'm running the new Radirs on mine (Tri-Ribs), but your vintage wheels are waaaay cooler.
    [​IMG]
     
    7car7 likes this.
  16. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,565

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

  17. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,772

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    What the hell is a three "HOOP" spinner?
    I've seen 2 and 3 blade spinners, 2 and 3 fin spinners, 2 and 3 wing spinners, but HOOP?
     
  18. Little Wing
    Joined: Nov 25, 2005
    Posts: 7,565

    Little Wing
    Member
    from Northeast

  19. mcsfabrication
    Joined: Nov 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,067

    mcsfabrication
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    When they first came out, they were banned at Englishtown, N.J. because the spokes broke away from the rim.
    Nice wheels. Enjoy.
     
  20. super-six
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 191

    super-six
    Member

    Here is a set of M/T's on the front of my Comet, taken in 1966. The 14" single-rib type. I never ran any center caps.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. mecutem
    Joined: Oct 6, 2002
    Posts: 603

    mecutem
    Member

  22. super-six
    Joined: Nov 20, 2008
    Posts: 191

    super-six
    Member

    I remember these wheels were not the best quality. The rims tended to rust easily and the spokes would bend or, as mcsfabrication said, would break.
     
  23. SinisterCustom
    Joined: Feb 18, 2004
    Posts: 8,277

    SinisterCustom
    Member

    I see those kinda wheels at every swap for $100 or less for a set of 4....
    Now if they were aluminum, rim and center.....different story.
    Still a neat looking wheel...as long as the chrome rim is perfect.
     
  24. LowKat
    Joined: Nov 29, 2005
    Posts: 10,016

    LowKat
    Member

    There was also a cast, 3 hoop, swept spinner that had a red center with the Radar name. I got one on a GTO in the 70's. Sold it on ePay in 2001 for too much money.

    Good score Vector.
    They'll look great on the right car.
     
  25. mr.smith
    Joined: Jul 1, 2008
    Posts: 203

    mr.smith
    Member

    garage sale? lucky!!
     
  26. vectorsolid
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 498

    vectorsolid
    Member
    from Montana

    Thanks guys, totally appreciate all the help and the cool storys.

    Anybody know anything about the "RADAR" name for a fact? Somebody had these made and sold them. I don't care if it was harbor freight... ...lol.. I just want to know how they came to be. :)
     
  27. ratdaddytattoo
    Joined: Apr 6, 2009
    Posts: 63

    ratdaddytattoo
    Member

    www.Radirwheels.com


    the spinners are 229 a set and 189 a set if you buy a set of wheels

    wheels are 289-549 each:eek: depending on size
     
  28. chopt55bc
    Joined: May 10, 2008
    Posts: 886

    chopt55bc
    Member

    <<<< love them wheels! got em on my wagon.
     
  29. vectorsolid
    Joined: Apr 28, 2008
    Posts: 498

    vectorsolid
    Member
    from Montana

    Anybody know anything specific about the "RADAR" wheels? Who made 'em?, etc.
     
  30. Kerry67
    Joined: Apr 11, 2005
    Posts: 2,606

    Kerry67
    Member

    Please pick up a set and I will buy them from you then.
     

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