vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

[Sean S.]

Guys,

I've got a 1968 Corvette with American Racing Torq Thrust D wheels.

The previous owner had the car for 25 years and they were on it when he acquired it. He was able to track the car's history back to the 2nd owner, who asked if the "wheels" were still on the car. The "story" goes that the wheels were dealer installed per the original owner's request upon initial delivery. The original delivery dealer was John Geer Chevrolet, Redding, CA. Apparently, this dealer did some of the "Hot" muscle car upgrades similar to Nickey, Motion, etc., so the wheel swap wouldn't be out of the ordinary for the day.

I have searched online, but can't seem to find any information to determine the wheel's vintage. We're these installed in '68 or ...'88...or...? I don't see any casting number. The center caps are obviously newer. The wheels were originally a lighter gray, but were painted a darker gray later in life.

Are these true American Racing wheels?

Any ideas what to look for?

Thanks!!!
Sean

[Michael H.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Sean,

GM/Chevrolet sold American wheels through the parts dept with GM part numbers for a short time in 1968. If I remember correctly, there were 8" and 10" wide wheels for racing. I may have some info somewhere. I know I have the original part numbers.

[Jim B.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Sean--the best website I've found for info on vintage American Racing Equipment (ARE) torque thrust wheels is www.torquethrustcentral.com and while the website is still up, I can't get some of the photos to appear. I do not believe it is being actively kept current. I emailed the guy behind the website several times, but never got a reply. If you've got ARE torque thrust D ALUMINUM wheels, I believe all of them had American Racing Equipment, and the offset, and maybe some additional info, cast into the wheel's backside. For the real MAGNESIUM wheels, none of this info appears on the wheel. However, they did have ARE Magnesium stickers (which probably didn't stay put for very long). I believe the first torque thrust D wheels started appearing in the ARE catalogs in early 1966. Remember that several manufacturers made their own versions of the torque thrust wheels as well, since ARE didn't patent the design at the time. So in summary, if your wheels are aluminum and they don't have the above-mentioned info cast into the backside, they are not ARE wheels. If you want to email me, I can send you some photos of some vintage '60s ARE torque thrust D MAGNESIUM wheels, if that is any help. By the way, the screw hole-to-hole dimension for the center caps on vintage ARE wheels is also different from the newer wheels. I believe it was 2 1/8" vs. 2 1/4", but don't quote me.

[Sal C.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

As Jim said, the aluminum versions will have American Racing Equipment on the back. The spokes on the wheels in you're photos tell me they are not "D"s however.

[Roy S.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

As Jim said, the aluminum versions will have American Racing Equipment on the back. The spokes on the wheels in you're photos tell me they are not "D"s however.

I agree, these do not appear to be "Torque Trust D Wheels" could be the picture but the back of the spoke does not appear to be configured correctly.

[Carl N.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Agree with Roy & Sal - these are not "D" spoke which would provide clearance for caliper - these would require a spacer which happed a lot in the 60's to clear the caliper - GM offered a 15x6 true "D" mag over the counter in late '64 thru '66 which showed up on a few Vetts and Camaros - in '68 the sizes mention above were offered also with "D" spoke not straight spoke as show - also the over the counter wheels back then were not DOT approved and did not have the inner lip to hold the tire bead in place - thus many were drilled and had machine screws threaded into the sidewall to prevent the tire from slipping on the rim. The real mags were much lighter than the aluminum rims and very brittle thus easy to chip and break if curbed.

[Steven B.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Does anyone have copy of GM Parts document with TT's listed they can post? Thanks! Steve

[Richard M.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Sean,
The original Torq-Thrust "D" was released around 1965, and was configured to provide disc brake caliper clearance on then-current Corvettes. The hub of the wheel was moved outward a half-inch, and the spokes curved inward at the ends.

The original aluminum Torq-Thrust "D" was only produced in 15 by 6 and 15 by 7.

The wheels that are pictured here were originally made as 15 by 6s and then narrowed on the inside to 15 by 4 1/2s.

Magnesium versions of Torq-Thrust "D" and Torq-Thrust wheels were produced in a variety of styles. Sizes ranged from 15 by 4 to 16 by 13 bolt-on for bolt-on wheels, as well as a 15 by 3 1/2 spindle-mount that was often used on Funny Cars. They had either straight or "dog-leg" spokes, the latter being made for race cars with disc brakes, and known as the Torq-Thrust D. Straight-spoked wheels were offered with spokes that were peaked along the center, or rounded. Early magnesium rear wheels are most commonly found with straight spokes, and about equally divided in popularity between peaked and rounded spokes.

Although American Racing hasn't made magnesium wheels for decades, and no longer makes the original Torq-Thrust, the company currently produces several modern versions of the aluminum Torq-Thrust wheel. The Torq-Thrust "D" and the newer TTO are the only ones that are one-piece castings.

The only vintage racing wheels that American Racing Equipment ever made without casting their name into them were made out of magnesium.

If you are looking at the inside of an old aluminum wheel, unless the name "American Racing Equipment" is cast into the wheel (along with the wheel's size and offset), it was made by someone else.

[Stephen C.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Just found a set of these (what I believe to be original aluminum Torq-Thurst "D") wheels,and installed them on my 1966 GTO.

[Dan A.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Nice wheels. These are from the mid 60s to early 70s. They are real ARE or American Racing Equipment Torque Trusts. They Are not Torque Thrust Ds. They will not clear '65 and later Corvette disc brakes. Thus the need for the Torque Thrust D.

The Torque Thrust D has the name Torque Thrust "D" cast in the back just like Torque Thrust is cast in the back of your wheels. The most noticeable difference is he shape of the spokes in order to clear Corvette calipers. In days gone by the spoke shape was referred to as an eagles beak. The much later Torque Thrust II (Two) spoke is reminiscent of the Torque Thrust D spoke. The later Torque Thrust II is not inclined to clear the Corvette caliper either. I have recently noticed that ARE is making a version of the Torque Thrust D again. For me it looks a lot like the Torque Thrust II but will fit on disc brake Corvettes. As for visual differences between the current Torque Thrust D and Torque Thrust II, I don't know. Mostly because I have little interest contemporary wheels.

The current version of the original Torque Thrust called TTO for Torque Thrust Originals differs from the original Torque Thrusts. I don't think they clear Corvette calipers.

The name Torque Thrust D has become a buzz word very frequently and mistakenly applied to the classic Torque Thrust wheel.

Romeo Palmides a 1950s drag racer and originator/designer of the first magnesium wheels designed the Torque Thrust among others. Which became known as mag wheels. The Torque Thrust first known in the 6 inch size as "Sport Wheel" never patented his designs. So they were widely copied. Romeo partnered with machine shop owner Jim Ellison and engineer Tom Griffin to form American Racing Equipment in 1956. I believe the company has changed hands more than once since.

Of note, this thread is almost 5 years old.

[Daniel S.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

If you want to sell the wheels, I'd be interested. Thanks, Dan

[Mark L.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

I have these on my 66. I believe they were made in CA in the 90's? If I recall they are 7 inch but I'm not sure.

[Lawrence M.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Mark,

Your wheels look like they were made by Phil Schmidt at PS Engineering in California. I had set made for my 69 about 9 years ago.

[Mark L.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Larry, I think you are right on..thanks for the help. They certainly are period correct for these cars.

[James G.]

Re: vintage AMERICAN RACING wheels...How can you determine their age?

Phil sold out Cobra collector LYNN PARK in So. Cal. SEE http://www.trigowheels.com/ for the wheels being made today..