63 Wheels - Was there another prototype?
03-26-2014, 09:50 PM
#1
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63 Wheels - Was there another prototype?
I was talking to an engineer that used to work at Western Wheel back in the day and he told me that they had produced another prototype for the 63 corvette that was a wire-wheel and that it was supposed to have been sold at the Chevy parts counters. The wire-wheel sported the same 2 prong spinner that came on the knockoffs. Eventually the project was not approved and the molds were destroyed but a few sets left the foundry in Los Angeles off the 5 freeway.
Myth or old age?
Myth or old age?
03-26-2014, 10:06 PM
#2
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I was talking to an engineer that used to work at Western Wheel back in the day and he told me that they had produced another prototype for the 63 corvette that was a wire-wheel and that it was supposed to have been sold at the Chevy parts counters. The wire-wheel sported the same 2 prong spinner that came on the knockoffs. Eventually the project was not approved and the molds were destroyed but a few sets left the foundry in Los Angeles off the 5 freeway.
Myth or old age?
Myth or old age?
There were two designs for the KO wheel - the first one was "gear-drive", which infringed on the Dayton Wire Wheel Co. patent, and was never released for production (although it went on several prototypes and pre-production cars). The second one was the "pin-drive" wheel we're all familiar with, which was released for production for the 1964 model year.
03-27-2014, 04:48 PM
#4
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Photo below shows the "gear-drive" KO wheel & adapter design that infringed on the Dayton Wire Wheel patent.
03-28-2014, 01:01 AM
#5
Team Owner
And then in the 70's/80's!
You could find a bunch of copycats! Heck you could just pick up the JC Whitney Catalog and order knock off to your hearts content and wires!
To look to the variants, the Prototypes and GM Show vettes had all of this stuff that never made it to production!
Actually John Z is so knowledgeable, the rest of us should just try to stay out of most topics!
To look to the variants, the Prototypes and GM Show vettes had all of this stuff that never made it to production!
Actually John Z is so knowledgeable, the rest of us should just try to stay out of most topics!
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Greg (04-10-2021)
04-10-2021, 03:36 PM
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If the adaptor and back side of the wheel look like the photo in #4, I'm impressed. If it doesn't, just another wannabe. The two bar Corvair spinners and related repops are a dime a dozen.
Last edited by MikeM; 04-10-2021 at 03:37 PM.
04-10-2021, 03:36 PM
#8
Just another Corvette guy
Hi Eric,
Welcome to the forum.
This is a pretty old thread you've posted on but the wheels are certainly interesting!
Perhaps you could start a new thread with these pics. I'm sure many would be interested to know about them.
Cheers, Greg
Welcome to the forum.
This is a pretty old thread you've posted on but the wheels are certainly interesting!
Perhaps you could start a new thread with these pics. I'm sure many would be interested to know about them.
Cheers, Greg
04-10-2021, 03:37 PM
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04-10-2021, 03:45 PM
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