C1 Big Brake Cars With Or Without Wide Wheels

[Justin B.]

I thought I would share a little more evidence that RPO 684 cars could be equipped with the standard 5x15 wheels. It is my understanding and first hand experience that some judges without a doubt think that all big brake cars only came equipped wide wheels. My early production unrestored 1958 RPO 684 has wheels with the Inca Silver paint as did all standard production cars in 1958. They also have the rubber inserts (stone guards)unlike 1959 and later C1's because of the slotted hubcaps. I have had the same judge say that they were probably swapped at some time with other 1958 wheels which would explain the Inca Silver paint. Well, I showed him pictures of my car back in 1963 with the full wheel covers. Didn't seem to change his opinion. So,
1. Inca Silver paint which was standard on all 1958 5x15 wheels
2. Rubber stone guards (used on 1958 and earlier)
3. 41 year old pictures

This still wasn't enough. This judge should have been one of O.J.'s defense lawyers!
Well, I just removed the wheels , had the old tires removed, sandblasted them, and 3 out of 4 were dated 11/57 and the fourth was dated 10/57. The spare was missing. My car rolled of of the assembly line either November 26th. or 27th. of 1957. Wow, that's one heck of a date coincidence. Well, you guys be the judge.

[Mike E.]

Re: C1 Big Brake Cars With Or Without Wide Wheels

I'll speak as one who was team leader for 61's and 62's for over 15 years. Long ago we documented a 62 FI RPO 687 regular wheel car. Dates on the wheels were all correct, and the car had been pujrchased recently from the original owner.

Just this weekend, at Carlisle, on the flip side, was a 300-HP, powerglide, power window wide wheel car purchased from the original owner's estate. Original everything, includin soft top fabric, paint, etc.

The options were not mutually inclusive---they were separate.

I own a 62 FI maroon car purchased from the owner who bought it in 65. Three wide wheels were still with it, painted black, and two had snow tires on them. He lost the other two---they were maroon underneath, and dated correctly. It is NOT an RPO 687 car--it is RPO 686.

Hope this helps you understand that your narrowly-opinionated judge was not speaking for all of us.
Mike Ernst

[Loren L.]

To quote from the Dec 9, 1957 Price list

"Brakes: Heavy-duty (Includes heavy-duty suspension)(With
3-Speed or 4-Speed transmission, Positraction axle and Fuel
Injection High-Lift Cam engine only)............................................. .........684

Wouldn't it be nice if Team Leaders were ALLOWED to participate on this Technical Discussion Board............?

[Dennis C.]

I am a firm believer...

...that wide wheels, certainly from 1958 to 1962, were a stand-alone, no cost, not attached to anything, wheel option. I do believe its that simple. I mean, you could get them on a Yellow Cab... How special it that !!!

[Justin B.]

Re: C1 Big Brake Cars With Or Without Wide Wheels

Three responses from three "tried and trued" well known and HIGHLY respected names which helped to promote our hobby and passion to where it is today. Thank you guys for your input. Its nice to know that you all are still there.

[James W.]

Re: C1 Big Brake Cars With Or Without Wide Wheels

Justin,

I beleive the original 62 RPO 687 car that Mike refered to was my fathers. The car did in fact come from the original owner with the standard wheels and hubcaps. When he bought the car it had a set of Ansen Sprint wheels and the original standard steel wheels and caps came home with us in the trunk. If you have a copy of I beleive the November 2003 issue of Vette Magazine you will see my fathers car with the wheels and caps you are refering to. We also have pictures of the car from 1980 before the restoration that shows the car with the original wheels in the trunk after driving the car from Arizona back to Iowa, what a trip that was for a 17 year-old kid and his dad! Contact me and I'll see if I can get you some pictures.

Best Regards,

James West
Omaha, NE.
NCRS Nebraska Chapter Co-Chairman

[Justin B.]

Re: C1 Big Brake Cars With Or Without Wide Wheels

Excellant story, James! What a trip that most have been.

I think that it would be great to try to do a survey of all 1957-1962 RPO 684/687 cars documenting colors, wheels, fuelie or carbs, and other options. So many unanswered questions and speculations are still floating around about these legendary machines and with the help of our organizations members who own or have owned one or more of these jewels, we could for the first time put together a good documentary.
Through the years, the NCRS family has done so much for our cars, the hobby, and the value of Americas most famous sports car although there are still alot of questions to be answered and mysteries to be solved. As a younger member, most kids my age grew up in the 80's interested in comic books or Atari computer games. I grew up reading my step-fathers Restore magazines hundreds of times over and rushing to the mailbox eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new edition. The founding members were heroes to me...the role models and the leaders and I very, very seldom heard any bad gossip about them. I see alot of the famous guys... alot of the names I remember from decades of Restorer magazines making there appearances now and then and the thought of them not being around anymore scares me. These guys unlike some, not all, but some of the judges and spokespersons today banked on their actual knowledge and experiences, and were open minded about issues that they weren't familiar with. These were the true leaders of our hobby and they kept it fun.
Today, over and over I hear the same complaint that I have from many members about a few of the judges. Why do there have to be a few bad apples which turn our judging experiences into nightmares.
The team leader looked at my unrestored car, swore my wheels and leaf springs were incorrect and that was absolutely the end of disscussion, no exceptions, of course until I should him a Restorer article written by some of our knowledgable NCRS veterans in regards to our previous 5 leaf-spring debate. The article described my springs exactly...top 4 leafs grooved, 5th/bottom spring without groove and held together by steel clamps and large steel rivets. He said that they looked like springs from a mix-matched set with totally incorrect clamps. He had never seen anything like them and he knew for a fact that they were wrong. Until he read the article.
Maybe we the members should score some of these judges for correctness and matching numbers. For everything they are incorrect about and are unwilling to be somewhat opened minded about, they lose a point, or a stripe.
Sheriff Andy Taylor was a role model and an all-around excellant leader, like alot of our organizations' founders and earlier members. Barney on the other hand was a power hungry goof-ball who carried an unloaded gun.
Please understand that I feel that 99% of the judges do a wonderful job and there committment to the hobby does not go un-noticed. Hats off to todays true leaders and yesterdays heroes. Thank you NCRS for what it has done for our dream machines!

[Mike M.]

Re: C1 Big Brake Cars With Or Without Wide Wheels

my 61 big brake car's original (definitly) wheels were 15 x5 but i'd prefer they were dog dish caps. way neater than full hubcap. good luck with the resto, justin. mike