I have been trying to describe to some friends a wheel that was only briefly on the market about 30-35 years ago. It was one of my faves, but apparently no one else's, as even then there were very few around, and I've spent a couple of hours with Bing and Google image searches to no avail. I'm hoping someone on here remembers them and knows where I can find a pic. I think (questionable) they might have been made by E-T. They were solid - no thru holes except for the lug holes. The wheel they most closely resembled: CenterLines. But the difference is that instead of a couple of ridges in the transition from center to bead (giving the appearance of center and rim being separate, even tho they aren't), these were a smooth concave surface, interrupted only by the circle of fake rivets like CenterLine's, but slightly sunk in the surface. They always had a brushed finish - I never saw any polished. Anybody know what I'm talking about? Or is this old man just losing it?
Other than the rivets Ford/Lincoln used a wheel like that with a big plastic center cap. I had a set from a Versailles (fancy Grenada)
ET "X". One piece cast with fake screws or rivets around the perimeter to mimic modular wheels. All the one piece cast ET wheels were good quality.
I remember seeing those. Kind of a cheap Centerline-ish knock-off. ET I think & yes, not very popular.
Thanks Steve, I know exactly the ones you mean. I have 4 on my '30 A coupe. They are similar to the aftermarket ones I'm thinking of, as you say, except the Versailles wheels have 5 small kidney bean holes just outboard of the bolt circle and no rivets as you've noted. Dunno why the old aftermarket ones appealed to me so much, but it was love at first sight. Guess I shudda bought some when they were still around! Phillips - Thanks. I just tried Bing and Google for "e-t x wheel". No luck. Do you know where I might find a pic?
Ta-da! A friend on another forum found some pix of an OT car he had many years ago with these wheels. Confirmed E-T, but did not know what they were called. Anyone have any other guesses besides the "X" Phillips suggested?
I had two of those in 15x10 I put on a Vega drag car. Sold the car before it was finished, and the wheels were given to me to start with, so I'm no help...
I have no proof to back up my claim of the "ET X" name, just my suspect memory. I will dig through my '70s magazines and see if I can find an ad. In the meantime here's a pic courtesy the interwebs with some sweet small letter Polyglas GTs.
Gotta 39 ford on the way with those ugly ass wheels on it. I'll sell em to ya as soon as I get them off.
We have spent a bit too much time on a non-HAMB friendly wheel. I still like them regardless. If you have a chance please look at the back, ET used to state the wheel name on the back (i.e. ET IV for the cast slots). Curious if these have the name on the back as well. Good memory, look close at the picture, those have allen head screws.
Phillips, your "suspect" memory is better than you thought. It is an E-T/X. A friend on another forum found a 1975 ad for the wheel. Note there was a version with a fugly wire basket on it.