1966 Wheel date

[Joe D.]

I just returned from MD, bought a 66 convertible, trophy blue 327-350. It has 67 wheels and trim rings on it. The guy owned it for m20 years and they were on the car when he bought it. The car was built Oct 1965. Wondering how many months preceding the build date would be correct. I am ordering judging manual and some othe books from the NCRS store. Thanks, Joe

[Steven S.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

FWIW, I had a mid March '66 and the wheels were dated 2 66. Really not a judging issue since the dates can't be seen with the tire on though.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

My 66 is number 2999, made about the 13th of Oct. I am wondering when in Oct your car was made, and what SN it is. My car had 8 inch Rally Wheels (and flares) when I found it, but there was a spare. The next question is - which of my wheels was the spare that came with the car!

My guess on the wheel dates (if that is what you are concerned about) will be anytime within 6 months prior...

This car is now back to the color it had when I first saw it. Original owner is still alive in WNY. Trophy Blue with Dark Blue Vinyl.

[Tom D.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

By the way, service replacement wheels look almost correct. They have some valve stem date codes that you don't want to see...

Are the rally wheels coded such that they are mentioned in the recent "RESTORER" article?

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

Joe

Agree in principle w/ Steve, but if you want to to be exact and why not...if you are going to buy a correct set, might as well get the correct set; the price is the same to get a properly dated set as it is to get another set of wheels with the the wrong dates on them.

Figure out where your car was built in the month and try to get a few accurate original examples. If your car, like Steve's and mine are mid year, the production machine was well oiled and there were not piles of these things laying around unused for six months. Everyone wants to count the extreme outside examples and the modern day production machine is just not that way. Yes a very early car could have had parts sitting around for a little more, and most everyone's cars with show that same trend.

If it was an early month car, for sure the month prior is what you want. If on the other hand, it is a late in the month car, early that same month is what you want. You will find this trend on all original parts on your car. There are date coeds all over.

[Joe D.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

My serial number is 3289. I thought the date was visible, Thanks

[Peter L.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

Joe - Steve has a good example and is in line with would be found on original cars, i.e. a month or 2 and maybe 3; but if you find a set of 65 or 66 original steel wheel for a "reasonable price" no matter what the date and you need/want them for the car, think seriously (I'm not your broker, but you might be after buying the wheels ). And as mentioned, the dates are on the inside of the rim, so unless you take the tire off only you will know. Good luck, Pete

[Joe D.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

Any idea on what I should be paying for a set? Just want some idea of what to expect. Thanks, Joe

[Ronald L.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

A 2nd mortgage is required.

[Joe R.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

Any idea on what I should be paying for a set? Just want some idea of what to expect. Thanks, Joe

Joe,

I would expect to pay around $1000.00 for a set of four. I bought two '66 wheels at Carlisle last summer for $500.00.

Joe

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

.......the production machine was well oiled and there were not piles of these things laying around unused for six months. .....

....If it was an early month car, for sure the month prior is what you want. If on the other hand, it is a late in the month car, early that same month is what you want. .....

Ronald --- in terms of Kelsey Hayes steel wheel production for all of GM, the 15x5_1/2 JK's were a drop in the bucket. You will NOT find any more than 4 or 5 different (batches) stamped dates in a 12-month period. (similar to Harrison expansion tanks; they were not produced every month).

At SOP 1965, there was a HUGE run of 8_64's (pic below); then (maybe) nothing until 12_64. I also have 3_65 and 11_65 (should'a taken notes before mounting other rubber that I have ). If others would report their dates, we could complete a data base of KH production months for JK wheels.

So even if there was ample supply at reasonable prices, some owners would spend an eternity trying to find date codes to match their car production month or one month prior.

[Dan A.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

At SOP 1965, there was a HUGE run of 8_64's (pic below); then (maybe) nothing until 12_64. I also have 3_65 and 11_65 (should'a taken notes before mounting other rubber that I have ). If others would report their dates, we could complete a data base of KH production months for JK wheels.

Agree with Wayne on the 8 64's I have seen many of those aside from the 65's I've owned which were early cars. Even have collected 3 or 4 sets from cars that the owners went to Knock Offs.

Wayne I have seen 8 64, 12 64, 1 65, 2 65, 3 65 and 6 65.

The 11 65 you mention, although the same wheel wouldn't it have been installed on a 1966 model year car?

I have other year dates if interested, for your "RESTORER" article.

All the best Wayne.

Dan

[Larry T.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

I have four 1 66's. Here is a picture of one. The 1 is very faint.

Larry

[John H.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

I have four 1 66's. Here is a picture of one. The 1 is very faint.

Larry

Larry -

Wrong photo? That one says "65".

[Larry T.]

Re: 1966 Wheel date

You're right. I do not know what I was thinking. Thanks for the correction.