Projects Who's making 14" Chrome Reverse (NOT smoothies)?

I appreciate any help that can be given. I'm working on making my '64 Impala into a traditional inspired kustom (not lowrider). I looked into wheel vintiques 64 series, but they're standard offset 15" wheels. I called Wheel Smith and they said they're not able to make 14x7 chrome reverse with the Chevy 4.75 bolt pattern - they only offer the multilug wheels that you can buy from summit and speedway.

This might be a silly question, I've scoured the web and aside from what few listings come up on a mere few rusty chrome reverse on ebay - are there any companies that make 14x6 or 14x7 chrome reverse wheels, 5 lug? I know there isn't much support for 14" wheels. Only 8 years ago, I bought a brand new set off a guy on Marketplace, who had them custom made for a 'Milner coupe clone', but claimed the offset was wasn't right so they were open box. It was perfect for my ride at the time. I only paid $400 for the set...it was the best deal. I wish badly I had kept the wheels when I sold the car just a couple years ago. I kinda figured if I ever needed to have a set, I know I could rely on Wheel Smith or another company to make them. I remember he said there was a company out of Rhode Island or Connecticut that made them, that's all I know.

Thanks for reading and for your help!

 

Wheel Vintiques is the ONLY new wheel company making non-smoothie '50s/60s style steel wheels currently, but don't offer a chrome version in 14" for some reason. That leaves you with two choices; contact them and see if they'll custom-build you a set or buy a plain set, disassemble them by grinding the welds away, send the parts out for plating, then reassemble. As an alternate, if you can track down a good OEM set (good luck with that!) you could drill the rivets out, weld up the holes then plate the parts and reassemble them. I doubt that any of these options will be inexpensive...

I'll note here if you decide to go the DIY route, make sure you tell the plater to skip the copper base. This will contaminate any welds and they'll fail. Virtually all modern chrome wheels only have nickel/chrome plating.

I'll throw this out here... This guy (Full Chrome Five Slot Wheel — Pavement Equipped) builds-to-order these Astro Custom style wheels that are very much a 'traditional' wheel for that pre-alloy-wheel era. These were everywhere in the early '60s but fell out of favor when aluminum wheels came in. These aren't quite identical to the originals as he's slightly redesigned them to fix the original's flaws of excessive weight and a reputation for cracking around the lug nut holes, but you'll have to be an expert to see the differences. I bought a set from him after Wheel Vintiques strung me along by continuing to move delivery forward on the 15" wheels I ordered. After waiting six months, they moved it out another couple of months so I canceled that order and went with these. He builds a first-rate product, I couldn't be more pleased. As a bonus, he'll do custom offsets at no charge. Downside is you're back to 15" wheels and he doesn't have the hub covers/knockoffs. But those are now available from this guy (Lug Nut King - online) to complete them. You'll have the only set around!

 

I'm not aware of anyone making chrome reverse in a 14" size. I respect your commitment to keeping it truly period-appropriate with the 14" wheels even when popular culture seems to hate all forms of 14's, but I doubt highly you'll be able to find new ones.

If you look around long enough, you'd probably be able to find a set (or make a set) of NOS ones, but it'll take a while. To build a set and have them chromed is also possible but will be extremely expensive. I worked in a chrome shop, plating is pricey but plating wheels is especially difficult with a deep dish to them, you have to have a tank set up specifically for that purpose.

I really like a 14" wheel on the right application but the rest of the buying public seems to shun them, I'd be pretty surprised if there was enough market for someone to manufacture new ones in a proper-looking chrome reverse.

I have a pair of little chrome stamped covers that look like the center of a chrome reverse wheel, although I have no idea who made them or where you'd look for more. But a set of those, in the right bolt pattern to cover up the ugly lug pattern of the smoothie wheel, might also work.

 

Years ago- were talking 20 or so- Stockton Wheel and Tire made me a set of 14” wheels. Since then the company has gone through a rough patch or two and the people I dealt with are no longer there. However, maybe they have a set of NOS 14” wheels stuck off in a corner somewhere? Dunno….

Worth a phone call, at least.

 

Thank you guys for your feedback and help on this. I shouldn't be surprised there's not much for options in the world of 14s, I know the interest in them is few and far between, let alone chrome reverse in particular.

@Crazy Steve thank you - those chrome slots would be pretty cool, they remind me of the wheels on Mox Miller's '58, and those were actually 15s but they looked right on the car. Usually I feel a 14 looks best on the late greats, but it definitely worked. I hate to say I tried the link, and to see what options would come up, those wheels are currently sold out!

@Squablow yeah, I'll continue my search on marketplace and craigslist, maybe something will come up. It's weird - there's a chance that because there's so little interest in 14s, a set might come up reasonably as the few I've picked up - I did get one pretty nice 14x7 chrome reverse rim last year, but I had VIP (first mistake) install a white wall tire, and they screwed up the rim pretty good and gouged the shoulder. I do have 3 other rusty 14x7 chrome reverse, I was ambitious with a brass brush and polish, but they're not worth plating since the centers are pitted. I guess I'll bide my time. My other thought is to kinda go the Barris route with the candy fogging and maybe do that? That could be a cool alternative on a set of reversed wheels.

@phartman - dude, that looks awesome! It's a shame all these companies have either phased out of 14s or gone out of business.

Just for kicks, here's my '63 I fixed up some years ago and the chrome reverse I had on it I wish I'd kept. I should've swapped on the set of 14" cragar knock offs when I sold it! Live and learn....

 

I think they aren't offering 14" wheels simply because there's not much demand, plus there just aren't many options for 14" tires in sizes appropriate for full size cars unless you go to Coker for expensive reproductions. As far as I know the biggest 14" tire available from mainstream tire sources is a 215/75, when you really need a 225 or 235.

 

Stockton Wheel is no more

 

Other than us few anal detail freaks who cling to things, will anyone notice they're 15s without reading the tire? Not to mention, price a 14" tire these days. 15s are more plentiful and more price friendly. So that all said maybe consider moving forward and on 15s. When the right set of 14s comes along (could be a year or more) swap em out and sell the 15s. All set up and ready to go you'd likely get almost all of your money back. Yes, I get it, we want what we want, we have our "hive" of those few who might notice, but to the casual observer it may be a detail you can work around and accept for now.

Just a suggestion. Best of luck...

 

Not so fast there:

https://www.stocktonwheel.com/

 

I went there a couple of months ago. Shop closed. Auto repair shop next door told me they were closed up for a long time

 

Just tried calling. Phone disconnected. Oh well....

 

Don't believe everything you read... He doesn't stock anything, but if you contact him he'll build them for you. It said the same thing when I contacted him, I had mine in about six weeks once he received payment.
https://www.pavementequipped.com/shop

These are not a mass-market wheel, you'll have the only set locally!

 

These are the things I was talking about earlier, couldn't post a pic yesterday. Not sure where you'd find a set, or even who made them, but these would make a set of dual pattern smoothies much nicer to look at.

 

There are these for sale in the classifieds, although there's multiple diameters and bolt patterns. There's a couple more also for sale in another ad, maybe you could build a set. 6 cragar caps | The H.A.M.B.

Or if you could find a set of these...



... but these are rarer than hens teeth these days... but not non-existent.

 

As an alternative to the chrome reverse, why not a set of 14” Astro Supremes? Awfully good looking and easy to find.

 

I used the Early Wheel Company, and they made me a set of chrome reversed 6-inch Ford rims to fit my Econoline Axel. I had it done a while ago and the chrome still looks great. I looked them up and they are still in business but under new ownership.

 

Wheel Vintiques made me a set in the late 90’s. 14x7” reversed 1inch. I always ran G78’s. When I called to order them they were confused as to why I wanted stock style wheels reversed and chrome plated. They said the centers wouldn’t have a smooth finish like outer rim. Apparently, that wasn’t as popular back then.

 

I think these were made by Wheel Kid? I remember seeing another thread about these centers that were made years ago for those ugly multi lug wheels. That'd be an optimal solution! It's too bad they're not making those anymore. I'd think there would be a market for them.

 

I picked up a pair on facebook, couple hour drive, but was going anyway. They should clean up enough for the stuff I drive, tires are 200 - each new.

 

I remember him making some very similar ones, but his were thicker, his were almost actual wheel cutouts that were chromed, these are very thin and also much older than that. I'm not sure if he ever actually sold the ones he was making or if he was just experimenting with them, but I do remember that. I think the ones I have may have come in a Cal Custom blister pack.