Rally Trim Rings C3

[Sheldon S.]

I just purchased some new NOS rally trim rings still in the GM boxes and they are the 4 Clip style but after looking at my old ones off my 71 have noticed that the one clip on the ring is right beside the valve stem hole on the old one and about 3 inches away on the new GM ones. Other than that they look identical. Is this location of the clip judged and will the newer ring be OK?
Thanks in advance
Sheldon

[Jack H.]

Re: Rally Trim Rings C3

Yes, that's a judged item (position of clips relative to valve stem hole). The early Shark cars are considered 'correct' when the clips are mounted such that one clip is nearly adjacent to the valve stem hole. The 'later' version of the trim rings ('77 and later, if memory serves) re-orient the clips such that the valve stem hole is approximately centered between the clips.

Some buy trim rings solely on their being 'NOS' in GM box without questioning whether they're the early or late version, discover they've purchased the wrong version for their car and wind up 'dumping' their fresh/new purchase!

[Chuck S.]

Re: Rally Trim Rings C3

Jack, where have you seen NOS early version trim rings lately? I think most of the "NOS" trim rings I saw a few years back were all the late versions.

[Warren F.]

Re: Rally Trim Rings C3

The original production trim rings on the early sharks had a flat surface on the narrow section that the clips are attached to. Later trim rings this surface is slightly convex.

[John M.]

Re: Rally Trim Rings C3

E-bay item 200048864769 might be the early design.