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

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.

 

Cool find.

 

Use aircraft stripper it won't hurt the chrome or alum. If it's spray paint it should come off pretty easy.

 

don't know bout 'em but they're pretty bad ***, nice find

 

I dont think ive ever seen that style before. Good purchase there bud.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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?

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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..

 

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!

 

Cool find. Wanna sell 'em?
I'm running the new Radirs on mine (Tri-Ribs), but your vintage wheels are waaaay cooler.

 

Same here Felco ?? or maybe be Eelco ,,but still seems like everyone was in on it

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345564&highlight=felco

 

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?

 

think he means these

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241829&highlight=mickey+thompson+spinner

 

When they first came out, they were banned at Englishtown, N.J. because the spokes broke away from the rim.
Nice wheels. Enjoy.

 

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.

 

Hoop spinners is only what I call them because of their design. Heres a good shot of what they look like. 3 hoops and crossed flags. Steve
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338697&highlight=spinners

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

garage sale? lucky!!

 

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.

 

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 depending on size

 

<<<< love them wheels! got em on my wagon.

 

Anybody know anything specific about the "RADAR" wheels? Who made 'em?, etc.

 

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