Kelsey Hayes 2-bar gear drive K.O.'s

[Robert Shull]

Hello, I am looking for anyone that has info about the rare K.H. 2-bar gear-drive K.O.'s. I have a complete set of 5 - I just recently pulled them out of the crate they've been sitting in for over 30yrs - I did not realize until recently how rare they really are! I've learned some info on why the design was used, etc, but that is about it. I have never seen another set in-person, & have only seen a couple of pictures with them on a '63 Z06. There seems to be
no documentation about these wheels, I have an original shop manual dated from '62 for the '63 that shows a diagram of mounting knock-off wheels that shows 2-bar knock-offs. I have seen one site that states there are only a couple known sets in existance today. After hearing this, I am afraid to even mount them on my '63, as I drive it frequently. I would like to learn more about these wheels if anyone has more info!
Thanks,
Robert Shull

[bill stephenson]

Re: Kelsey Hayes 2-bar gear drive K.O.'s

Robert,

-------Dayton Wire Wheel was a supplier to GM for many custom "Autorama" type applications all thru the fifties and sixties. Thier adapters and wheel centers had many similarities to GM gear-drive KOs. I have often wondered wether GM went to "D.W.W" for assistance when they made the decision to offer an optional wheel on the Corvette. Maybe someone else on the board can tell us wether the Corvairs "wire wheels" were a factory option and wether they were made by Dayton or not (they sure looked like Daytons). Since the Dayton wires still favor the same gear-drive attachment method and seem to have no problems with loosening spinners that I have heard of, it was always a puzzle to me why GM found the need to re-invent the wheel (so to speak).
-------You definetly have a set of collectors items there in any event. Dont know if I would run them either. They would be cool made into coffee tables. Id be first in line for one!!!!!.............Bill S

[William C.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes 2-bar gear drive K.O.'s

Corvair wires (circa 1964) were indeed a Dayton Wheel, my old college housemate had one, straight from the Chevy Fleet Sale, one of the most expensive Corvairs Ever in that year...

[Robert Shull]

Re: Kelsey Hayes 2-bar gear drive K.O.'s

I had read about the Daytons on Corvairs - I think they were about a $400.00 option back then! I believe the spinners on the Dayton wires are identical to the K.H. 2-bar spinner (chrome spinner with brushed center with chevrolet encirling a black bowtie) - later Corvairs with the Daytons had a spinner with a black center & I think a gold? bowtie?

[John H.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes 2-bar gear drive K.O.'s

Bill -

About 350,000 Corvairs came past my Foreman's desk at Willow Run from '64-'66, my wheel room mounted about 1.75 million wheels and tires for them, and I never saw a single wire wheel. Musta been a dealer accessory item.

[Robert C.]

Re: Kelsey Hayes 2-bar gear drive K.O.'s

Robert, Your 2 bar spinners are probably very rare. These wheel center's were never installed on 63's or any other year, GM used the wheels with 2 bars on there advertising vehicles only at the intro of the 63. I would love to see you post a close-up of one. I would contact Noland Adams and ask him about the 2 bars.Check his E-Mail on the board.
Bob Cook

[Mike McKown]

Search this site about the Kelsey-Hayes

knock off wires for background on the wheels.

These were the basis for the '63 Corvette KO's. At least as far as the adaptors went. The Corvair wheels used the two bar spinner. The early release on the Corvette KO was also two bar, then changed to three bar and then the KO wheel option was cancelled. So, if you have two bar spinnners, they are Corvair exclusive. It is true the early pre-production photos used the two bar spinners on Corvette photos but the last engineering release before cancellation of the option was intended to be three bar, just like the '64 release.

GM and Kelsey-Hayes got into a patent squabble with Dayton over the design of the gear drive adaptors on the '63 wheels which were similar to the Dayton design. GM folded and went to the pin drive wheels for '64 which was a totally different design than the gear drive '63 wheels.

In any case, young man, you have an extrememly rare set of wheels. If I were you, I'd wear 'em and be proud of them. You are one of a few that has them and they do nobody any good stacked up in your garage.

[Mike McKown]

Here's the site

http://www.corvaircorsa.com/witte01.html

[Robert Shull]

here is a couple pics. of one of them

Here are a couple pictures. I took these about a year or so ago. Since then I have cleaned this one up and blasted the hub & have it sitting in my den. The other 4 I have had out to take pics, but are back in the crate. If anyone wants more pictures I can e-mail the original size images, along with pics. of the others if you would like. Thanks to all for all the info you have given me!

http://www.villagephotos.com/members/album.asp?folder_id=1211198

[Robert Shull]

Re: Kelsey Hayes 2-bar gear drive K.O.'s

SORRY! Here is the corrected URL:

http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1211198