1963 Knockoff Wheels

[Robert K.]

How do I know if my 1963 Knock Off Wheels are original? I'm told they were not date coded but are there other markings besides KH on original wheels?

[Duke W.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

It is generally accepted that no '63s built for sale to the public were equipped with KO wheels from the St. Louis plant.

There were some pilot line cars built with "two-bar", "gear drive" KOs, and several of these sets got into the public domain through other means. This is the design shown in the 1963 Corvette Shop Manual.

When KOs were finally released for the '64 model year they were of the "three-bar", "pin-drive" design, and they could also be bought OTC through service parts to retrofit on earlier Corvettes.

In February 1963 I was told that KO wheels would delay my order due to air leaks, so I dropped them from the order, however, there was also a lawsuit over patent rights for the two-bar, gear-drive design that I found out about years later, and this was probably the reason they were not released until the mounting system was redesigned to avoid patent infringement.

Duke

[Loren L.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

The infringement had already occurred, resulting in the Dayton KO wheel option for the Corvair AND a source for the two bar nut can be found in the Driveline occasionally, usually under a heading that begins "RARE".......

It is generally accepted that no '63s built for sale to the public were equipped with KO wheels from the St. Louis plant.

There were some pilot line cars built with "two-bar", "gear drive" KOs, and several of these sets got into the public domain through other means. This is the design shown in the 1963 Corvette Shop Manual.

When KOs were finally released for the '64 model year they were of the "three-bar", "pin-drive" design, and they could also be bought OTC through service parts to retrofit on earlier Corvettes.

In February 1963 I was told that KO wheels would delay my order due to air leaks, so I dropped them from the order, however, there was also a lawsuit over patent rights for the two-bar, gear-drive design that I found out about years later, and this was probably the reason they were not released until the mounting system was redesigned to avoid patent infringement.

Duke

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

The infringement had already occurred, resulting in the Dayton KO wheel option for the Corvair AND a source for the two bar nut can be found in the Driveline occasionally, usually under a heading that begins "RARE".......

And then, to confuse the issue, there's always these .

[Steven B.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

Wayne, are those the OTC result of the "abolishment" of KO's, side exhaust and covered headlights?

Steve

[Michael H.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

And then, to confuse the issue, there's always these .

Wayne,

I saw a set of these on a 66 coupe at Road America in the early 70/s. Only set I've ever seen. I ordered two sets from GM in the early 70's but they never arrived.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

And then, to confuse the issue, there's always these .

Those would not be all that hard to make if you have a properly equipped machine shop. Three-four hours in a CNC center and a trip to your friendly plater.

[Dick W.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

And then, to confuse the issue, there's always these .

Interesting. Note that the revision date on the instruction sheet is dated 1974.

[Donald T.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

And then, to confuse the issue, there's always these .

These must have made Ralph Nader giddy with delight.

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

In 1973 I bought one of the last Ferrari Daytona Spyders built (and spent two weeks in Maranello watching them build it), with Borrani wire wheels. About six months later I got a package from Ferrari with four similar nuts, caps, and a similar "wrench" to use with them; left them in the box and sold them with the car four years later.

The Nader-inspired revision to the MVSS regs which made "winged projections" on wheels and wheel covers illegal must have become effective in 1974, although it didn't affect vehicles built prior to that point. Just imagine the THOUSANDS of lives that have been saved from the terrible consequences of being mowed down by "winged projections".

[Loren L.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

Not to mention that rear end collisions have simply ceased since the adding of the extra brake light.........

Any idea where that Daytona is today, John?

[John H.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

Not to mention that rear end collisions have simply ceased since the adding of the extra brake light.........

Any idea where that Daytona is today, John?

Loren -

Don't know who owns it now, but I'm sure it's in a very nice climate-controlled garage somewhere. The 1979 proceeds from that car, invested in a Carter-era 9-1/2% tax-free municipal bond, put both my kids through college, bought me about six cars, and a house; timing is everything.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

And, contrary to what a number of folks in like positions enjoyed, yours was merited through what you have provided to others - your name BELONGS with the Kennedys, Cluppers, Amgwerts, McCaghs, Adams, Ernsts and others too numerous to mention.

[Steven B.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

In 1973 I bought one of the last Ferrari Daytona Spyders built (and spent two weeks in Maranello watching them build it), with Borrani wire wheels. About six months later I got a package from Ferrari with four similar nuts, caps, and a similar "wrench" to use with them; left them in the box and sold them with the car four years later.

The Nader-inspired revision to the MVSS regs which made "winged projections" on wheels and wheel covers illegal must have become effective in 1974, although it didn't affect vehicles built prior to that point. Just imagine the THOUSANDS of lives that have been saved from the terrible consequences of being mowed down by "winged projections".

I can't begin to count the great number of people I know, or heard of, who came within reach of spinners shredding their legs and throwing them to the ground with their pantlegs wrapped around them, the number of people with back injuries caused by rear end collisions from cars with covered headlamps (clearly the light distorted by headlamp covers prevented the driver from seeing the car ahead), and unfortunately the people blown off their feet by the power and intense heat of the side exhaust. Wait, yes I can--- zero. I did burn my leg once on a Hooker sidemount but that was my own fault!

[Philip C.]

Re: 1963 Knockoff Wheels

How do I know if my 1963 Knock Off Wheels are original? I'm told they were not date coded but are there other markings besides KH on original wheels?

Hi Bob, Dukes right its generally accepted, But thats doesnt mean its true. The 63-64 wheels had ink stamped info on them, so any wheel without stamped in date codes could be used for any 63 64 car. Phil 8063