Keystone Wheels History????

I've looked on Cragar wheels history page, and although they sell them now, they offer no indicator as to when they were released. Anyone have any idea?

 

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="1063" width="668"><tbody><tr><td colspan="3" height="70" valign="top" width="595"></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="960" width="34">
</td> <td height="960" valign="top" width="322">[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Keystone&#8217;s original products in 1947 were replated chrome bumpers and other chrome auto parts. The concept arose as a result of the sandstorms that were common in then underdeveloped areas of California. The storms would sand blast the paint and chrome on cars causing owners and insurers to perform expensive repairs. Paint and body shops would do the repainting but the chrome parts were generally replaced with expensive new parts. Keystone&#8217;s founder Mr. Virgil Benton, had a small chrome plating shop in Ontario, CA and realizing the opportunity, convinced insurers and body shops to let him replate the damaged chrome parts at a significantly less cost than replacing them. Due to the cost savings, the concept gained acceptance and in a short time, expanded into straightening, repairing, as well as replating, collision damaged bumpers. During the 50&#8217;s, 60&#8217;s and 70&#8217;s with encouragement from the auto insurance companies and body shops, Keystone established bumper recycling plants in the Midwest and Northeast states, and a new service was established.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Beginning in the late 70&#8217;s to early 80&#8217;s, the use of painted plastic bumpers started to gain wide acceptance by the new car manufacturers. Keystone responded to this market change by developing recycling techniques to restore collision damaged plastic bumpers to &#8220;like new&#8221; condition and today operates over 30 plastic bumper recycling centers across the North America.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Beginning in the mid to late 80&#8217;s brand new replacement body parts such as fenders, hoods and grills became available from independent parts manufacturers. Keystone&#8217;s long established distribution system to the collision repair industry was a perfect compliment to the manufacturer production expertise and Keystone quickly became the nation&#8217;s leading supplier of independently produced collision repair parts.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The most recent addition to our product line is our aluminum wheel-remanufacturing program. Started in 1996 with a single location in Denver, Colorado, Keystone is now the nation&#8217;s leading wheel remanufacturer with 10 regionally located plants offering a top quality, environmentally friendly alternative to new replacement wheels.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In June of 1996, the company completed it&#8217;s Initial Public Offering and currently trades on NASDAQ exchange under the symbol KEYS[/FONT]
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I do remember then in the late 60's to early 70's somewhere around there . I think they tried to compete against Cragar SS back then but didn't work out to well . they were big in the later 70's in the VAN days .

RetroJim

 

Keystone wheels...........the official wheels of Monte Carlos everywhere!

 

Kevin -- here are a set of Keystone Rogues that were released I think around '68-'70. Rogues were the precursors to the Keystone Klassics that were rampant in the '70.

 

Thanks guys. We're trying to determine what can and can't get into the Pile Up, and wheels are always a stickler. Over the last few years I've been researching what wheels were released and when, and trying to get HARD FACTUAL dates of release to base our decisions on. Like the Cragars. Promoted in 1963, and released under the Cragar Wheel Co. (a newly formed division based on orders received on the road during the 1963 campaign) in 1964. That's FACT, straight from Cragar. I even have film of the original Shake Rattle and Run gasser in 1964 sporting a set of Cragars. Now we know, and they meet Pile Up criteria.

The Keystones were next on my list.

 

After a quick search, this is the earliest reference I could find.

Hot Rod, August 1965.

 

Wow. That means if someone can find an ad, or actual history one year earlier they'd make the cutoff!!!! Wow. I thought for sure they were 70's also.

 

I had these on this 65 satelite around 1971. I bought them at
K mart...John

 

Hot Rod, November 1964!

 

Even if they make it would you WANT them in !?

 

I've never been a big fan of them either. I guess if he wanted, they could turn a few away for having the later black webbing and or center caps.

 

The Keystone "Kustomag" wheel was in the 1965 Moon Equipment catalog also.

 

When I was in high school they were the SHIT! I could never afford 'em though, I ran chrome 'Astro' slots on my '67 Mustang.

To me now though, they only seem to look right on late 60 early 70's muscle cars.

 

I know I'm in the minority, but on certain cars nothing looks better than a 15" Keystone. I think they're all post '64 though. B and E body Mopars, AMXs, drag style early Mustangs.

 

I have a set of 4 spokes all aluminum but boy is they rough.

 

Sox & Martin made them more visible as a major sponsor in Super Stock late 60's. I have a set on my '69 S/S Barracuda - 15x4.5 fronts, and 15x12 rears...The early wheels had silver painted inside the spokes (like mine) and then later were black as in the '70 GTO in the movie Two Lane Blacktop.

 

Another early S&M

 

I have the set I bought used in about '72 hanging on the garage wall. The rears still have the Concorde L60-15s mounted. Always figured I'd get another Mopar someday. They're like the ones in the b/w photo above. Big center caps, positive offset. No Ronnie Sox tires though.

 

Hahaha. Nice Tman. That's not the point though. If you're going to say, "The Criteria
To get into the show, your car must be a 1964 or earlier &#8220;Hot Rod&#8221; or &#8220;Custom&#8221; built in a &#8220;Traditional Style.&#8221;" then you have to at least be able to say, "ok, those don't get in because they were made after 1964."

I've been railro, uh, put in charge of the inspection for the last few years. And am happy to do it. But I want my judgment on parts to at least have some fact based years behind it.

And before anyone brings up rally wheels, we've talked about those for years. And we're still on the fence with them. For young guys with no cash, they are a cheap steel wheel. Hence us being on the fence about them for years.

 

Dick Landy ran them in 64.

 

When did aluminum slots come in? Sorry not trying to change the direction but sure you'll need to look into it.

 

Slots? Like Ansen Sprints and Fenton slots? I've seen them on drag cars that I believe were photographs taken around '58 or '59. Anyone? Anyone?

 

Yes. Just wondering. Saw a few sets up there this year.
Guess I'll keep the chrome reverse so I can come back next year.

 

Been digging through old Hot Rods this morning and it looks like Ansen did'nt introduce the Sprint until late '67.

 

Do Ya think my 49 jeepster makes the cut? for the pile up

 

I put this set of 5 spoke Keystone's on my '67 Camaro in '67 when I bought it new. They're still on it today.

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I've got a set of these 4 spoke Keystone Klassics on my VW Caddy (rabbit pick up) and i want to know if anyone knows of their sort of age




I'm also after a centre cap #209576 if anyone can help?

 

1977

 

The ones I had, I bought in 80 at J C Penny auto store. 13 in., 4 0n 4.