Chrome Wheels Or Wheel Covers

[sprice]

I remember when Cragar S/S wheels came out in the later 1960s. The "In" wheel as everybody that perceived themselves as "car oriented" had to have a set on whatever they were driving. THAT got boring! I was not that excited about them to start with. But the Magnum 500s, THAT was a nice wheel! Not sure why Chrysler was "behind the curve" on 15" sizes and narrow 5.5" rim widths? Ford put 15x7s on their HOT Mustangs of that era.

Some wheels, by observation, just seem to be "accepted" on Chrysler products if the particular ones never were available on Chrysler Corp vehicles. Notably the Magnum 500 15x7 4.25" backspacing full-chrome wheels.

To each their own . . .

CBODY67

Agree, this is why I will never buy a Cragar wheel. They were the craze in my high school days and became quite "non-special, boring". I avoid to look at their offerings today. For some reason the period correct factory mags (including magnum 500's used on various models) were always appealing. The designers perhaps, earned their money.

 

[Dante64]

Some will disagree but I replaced the chrome wheels and white letter tires on my 69 Monaco with whitewalls and factory wheel covers. My thinking is on a 4dr the chrome wheels make it look like I'm making it into something it's not. I just think the stock factory look fits this car much better.
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I completely agree… especially when the hubcap in question is one of the nicest in years. Nice Land Yacht

 

[xxcarguy]

Some will disagree but I replaced the chrome wheels and white letter tires on my 69 Monaco with whitewalls and factory wheel covers. My thinking is on a 4dr the chrome wheels make it look like I'm making it into something it's not. I just think the stock factory look fits this car much better.
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Covers!!!
They look great!

 

[Big_John]

I remember when Cragar S/S wheels came out in the later 1960s. The "In" wheel as everybody that perceived themselves as "car oriented" had to have a set on whatever they were driving. THAT got boring!

Agree, this is why I will never buy a Cragar wheel. They were the craze in my high school days and became quite "non-special, boring". I avoid to look at their offerings today. For some reason the period correct factory mags (including magnum 500's used on various models) were always appealing. The designers perhaps, earned their money.

In the Syracuse area, every Camaro and Chevelle had Cragars or some variation of that style.

The Mopar guys ran everything else, and often you would see Keystone wheels. There were a few Cragars here and there, but Keystones were the wheel of choice for a lot of the Mopar fans.

The wheels I absolutely hated were the "wire baskets". I think most of them came "pre-rusted" and that didn't help. Way too many guys liked these and I never understood why.

 

[polara71]

In the Syracuse area, every Camaro and Chevelle had Cragars or some variation of that style.

The Mopar guys ran everything else, and often you would see Keystone wheels. There were a few Cragars here and there, but Keystones were the wheel of choice for a lot of the Mopar fans.

The wheels I absolutely hated were the "wire baskets". I think most of them came "pre-rusted" and that didn't help. Way too many guys liked these and I never understood why.

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Those were good on the big Montes 73-77 same with the 71 up Impala/caprice.

I loved the Keystone classics and you are right they did appear on more mopars than anything else. Here however Cragar S/Ss were by far the favorite chrome wheel.

 

[GregG48203]

"wire baskets"

The popularity of these peaked about forty years ago in Detroit. However, all I saw was the bare chrome rim; the wire portion was usually missing. My guess is the basket was either stolen, or removed to prevent it from being stolen.

 

[CBODY67]

The ONLY place we saw the wire baskets in DFW was on the fully-customized vans done by the many van conversion companies in the region. Suddenly, every one that was built had wire basket wheels on it. In a few years, the birdcage started to surface rust and then also rattled (worse than a W23 center cap with loose bolts!), so suddenly we had solid, naked chrome wheels instead. All of this ended by the later 1970s.

CBODY67

 

[Gerald Morris]

The ONLY place we saw the wire baskets in DFW was on the fully-customized vans done by the many van conversion companies in the region. Suddenly, every one that was built had wire basket wheels on it. In a few years, the birdcage started to surface rust and then also rattled (worse than a W23 center cap with loose bolts!), so suddenly we had solid, naked chrome wheels instead. All of this ended by the later 1970s.

CBODY67

Maybe the owners of the baskets chucked 'em all into Lake Worth, Benbrook, Grapevine et al, after CROOOOOZING out to the Lake* for some serious smokin' an drankin'. Seems the lakes were nigh ringed with "fuktrux" in the later '70s, just before 4WD caught on big.....

 

[CBODY67]

Maybe the owners of the baskets chucked 'em all into Lake Worth, Benbrook, Grapevine et al, after CROOOOOZING out to the Lake* for some serious smokin' an drankin'. Seems the lakes were nigh ringed with "fuktrux" in the later '70s, just before 4WD caught on big.....

There was on "rich guy's daughter" who had a van with those wheels on it. They found a bong in the flower bed, when they were looking for something else in the house. LOL Those were the days!

 

[Gerald Morris]

There was on "rich guy's daughter" who had a van with those wheels on it. They found a bong in the flower bed, when they were looking for something else in the house. LOL Those were the days!

Indeed, those were The Daze!