1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

[Bill O.]

Looking at an old Route 66 segment today...season 2, volume 2 "How Much A Pound For Albatross"...mounted on a 1962 Vette is what looks like the old reverse chrome wheels, but with knock-off hubs with the Chevrolet Corvette and crossed flags distinctive casting.

Was this an option for 1962?

Thanks

[George C.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Looking at an old Route 66 segment today...season 2, volume 2 "How Much A Pound For Albatross"...mounted on a 1962 Vette is what looks like the old reverse chrome wheels, but with knock-off hubs with the Chevrolet Corvette and crossed flags distinctive casting.

Was this an option for 1962?

Thanks

Bill, Those wheels were never available as an option in 62. I remember seeing an episode back when it was originally on Friday nights that Todd and Buzz hocked those wheel for fast cash to help somebody who needed money. Love to see that episode again.
What you are seeing is some back door, special GM styled wheels for the show Route 66 back in the day. A gift from (GM) Chevrolet to a very successful series. Here's a complete list of all the episodes of Route 66. Hope this helps.It was a Great show, way ahead of its time. Save the Wave.

http://epguides.com/Route66/

[Bill O.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Thanks George,

I met one of those guys back in 1962 at Pacific Ocean Park during filming. Never forget it.

[George C.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Bill, I believe these are the wheels (you saw mounted on the 62 stock Corvette) from an earlier episode they used off the Mako Shark in the "Once to Every Man" I never forgot that episode, (Oct 27, 1961) seeing that GM styling Corvette. It was breath taking then as now.

[Richard T.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

The early cars on RT 66 used Dayton wire wheels with knock off hubs. Rich

[Gary C.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

1961 dated Dayton wire wheels I took off of a '61 Corvette years ago. These are painted instead of chrome and that's probably why the spokes have survived in good condition. The Dayton wire wheels were dealer installed options. Knew several people in '61 when I came back from S.E. Asia that had them installed by a dealer on their new Corvair or Corvette.

Gary
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[Richard T.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Gary,
They look to be in nice condition. I looked for a set for many years to use on my 62 but never came across anything decent. I found some that were chrome but all needed complete restoration. Maybe someday. Rich

[Bill O.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

That's not the one I was referring to.
Attached is a compressed screen print of the wheel from the DVD.
Not very large but maybe you can make it out.
Thanks

[Gary C.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Bill,

Looks like it could be a small hubcap with a knock off spinner on a regular wheel. They used to do those in the 60's as well.

Gary
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[Richard T.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

I believe Cal Custom or one of the other after market guys made the centers. They appear to be mounted on chrome reverse wheels. I have all of the RT66 episodes and never noticed those wheels before.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Gary, love those Daytons! As you know Daytons were used on the '60 and '61 Rt. 66 Corvettes. In '62 chrome wheels with the aftermarket knockoff as shown. As stated, Cal Custom and others sold the chrome hub adapter and spinner. The '61 and '62 Corvettes on Rt. 66 were modified by George Barris with the wheels. I had the opportunity to speak with George and Tim Considine as they judged a friend's car at Amelia Island a few years ago. George said the studio wanted to add a little flash to the Corvettes and contacted him. His answer was the wheels. The studio said no to him adding the Barris Customs decal, however. Also as stated earlier a number of custom and auto shops sold the spinners. I remember Hires Automotive in Fort Wayne, IN as having them. There were two types. The first had an adapter of 5 "legs" (for 5 lug wheels) that had holes on one end and were mounted on the brake drum. The "tower" portion of the adapter fit through the hub hole of the wheel and a spinner was mounted (screwed) to that. The second type is shown in the picture. It has a more stylized "tower" cover. I have looked for years for a set of the latter. Barris used this style on a number of his customs.

Steve

[George C.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Bil, Here's a couple of pic's of the two bar spinners I thought you meant.

From episode "The Strengthening Angels". Going to do some digging to see those other wheels you saw. Anyone else seen those chrome reverse style wheels in any other episodes ??

[Gary C.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Steve,

Great info. Only got to see some of the '61 episodes. Rest of the time they were on the air I was in some miserable God forsaken AH place.

George, those photos look to me like the Dayton 2 bar knock offs I have and posted a photo of.

Gary
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[George C.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Gary, They sure do. Check the black 62 Vette on page 31 of the this months Corvette Restorer (volume38,number1 Summer 2011)
Maybe we can get "Cadillac" Bob Clark on here to tell us about his "old" Black 62 with the wire wheels back in the day. Save the Wave. >George

[Richard T.]

Re: 1962 Wheels with Knock-Offs

Wally Knoch (Al's brother) from Mich. still has his black on black 62 F.I. car he bought new. It has chrome Dayton wires that he had installed right after he got it at around 500 miles or so.Rich