I agree looks like Dayton wire wheels. I suggest to stay away from wires too much hassle cleaning them. Also Finland wouldn't be to kind to the protective coating they come with and they will rust quickly. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
adjusted photo by rickamado.com photo I took in the early 70’s…Buick Skylark wire wheels make this sedan delivery… Hello, Having owned an all black,1958 Impala with an assortment of wheels during the time we drove it around, I have several favorites, but the ones that stand out were the 1956 Buick Skylark wire wheels. They were easy to find back then and when I found a complete set of 5, I jumped at the chance to buy them. In 1964, the price was $150 for the set of 5. They were pristine and only took several hours and coats of Cadillac Blue Coral Wax to make them show quality. The only draw back to this set up was that I had to go to Henry’s Axle Company in Long Beach to get the front hubs re- drilled with a Buick bolt pattern. Also, the rear axles had to be done the same way. I had purchased a set of stock, black 15 inch Buick rims and tires for the trip home. We had the Skylark wires ready to go in the garage, but had special ordered the correct size tires that would fit inside of the Impala wheel wells. While we were waiting for the new tires to arrive, the look of the black 58 Impala with all black rims looked impressive. It was the beginning of the ”black on black on black” look that is so popular on today’s vehicles from SUVs to sports cars. When we rolled into the local drive in parking lot, it looked ready to race all challengers. There was power to match the mean look. But, the blackwall tires and the chrome Buick Skylark wire wheels made the black 58 Impala look outstanding. When rolling by the “reflections” huge windows locally, the car looked ready for any car show around. The draw back to this story was that within a couple of months, my 58 Impala got stolen around 11 pm and after a thorough search of the neighborhood “dark” spots, we found it around 2:30am on milk crates in a dark corner of a playground known to all of us. We thought it was an inside job, because it was not hot wired or stripped of anything other than the 4 tires and rims. Nothing else was taken, just those 4 Skylark wheels. The 5th wire wheel was in the locked trunk and I still had that one that I sold by itself, later, for $150. So, cash was redeemed and gone were the rims. The following years saw small hubcaps, silver rims, moon discs, small hubcaps and rings with black rims, etc. But the car never looked the same as with those cool, Buick Skylark wire wheels. Jnaki Later on in 1965, when I bought my new El Camino, I sold the black Impala to another friend and had to tell him about the Buick bolt pattern in case he wanted to buy new wheels. He drove it for a while black on black.
I too had a triple black 58 Impala. Still remember the turquoise stripes on the seat inserts. I ran blackwalls and 57 Plymouth hub caps. Gary
Got the 15 x 7 steel rims- painted close to body color- mounted new black walls- installed on 61 with poverty caps- mags and tires that were on it sold-
I think the elCamino & Olds in the first post, may have Cragar Starwires on them. But, my eyes aren't what they used to be. In my opinion, one of the best looking wheels of all time, just not "HAMB friendly." I like the way the Impala looks. If you do too, why paint it just because somebody on this board spouts his opinion? If you are planning to keep it, build your car your way. If it's for resale, then I suppose a poll of what looks "best" might make sense. So, maybe these guys who want you to paint it red & put Cragar SS wheels on it, will pony up the cash. Then they can be "different'" and have a car that looks just like everyone else.
I really like the wide whites with the full size hubcaps (sombreros?) in the pic. My other choices are wide whites chrome reverse (steeliness) and baby moon hubcaps, or wide whites painted wheels with dog dish hubcaps and chrome beauty trim rings...
Whatever wheel and tire you pick, make sure you like it. You might go through a couple sets till you find what you like. I am still looking for the perfect wheel myself.
If you look in the classifys I'm selling some radars with wide whites and cragars with skinny white walls if your interested but I can't figure out how to access my pictures to show you Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
IMHO painted steel wheels with stock small hubcaps only look good on performance oriented (read; 409) Chevys, on regular cars they just look cheap - especially with your cars "patina". Astro Supremes look good but lean heavily towards Low Rider. They'll look great when you 'flake the top. American 5 spokes or Cragars also look good but they also lean toward a performance image. Chrome reversed wheels seem like the best choice since they can look "performance" when paired with black side wall big-n-littles, or "mild custom" when paired with spiders and '50s width wide whites or low rider with narrow white walls and Bellflower tips. As always - your car, your budget, your call.
Thank you for well arqued views. Similar thoughts on the subject. If a miracle happens and someone desides to sell me Gragar star wires, ill go for them.
Evenings! Agree, agree. If i find and can afford, ill go for Gragar star wires, timeless yet dandy. Also because my buddies all say go Gragar SS or Torque Thrust.
This is what my 60 chevy looked like when I bought it. I thought it looked pretty good in the wheel department. Gary
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