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I have not been keeping up with the site and a while back I received a PM about the wheels on my '56 SR replica. When I built the car ('04-08) I wanted to be as accurate as possible about what went on the car. Original Halibrands are absurdly expensive and actually no longer road worthy. The wheels I used were 15X6 American Racing "Salt flat racers" which are very similar to the original Halibrands but are bolt on's. The problem with these wheels was that a few were not true and the fake plastic knock-off, over time, seized and I had to ruin at least one to get them off. With them seized you can't get at all the lug nuts. Then I found the current wheels. They are distributed by Southern Calif. Speed Shop, are 16X6 (no 15" rim size), and claimed to be exact duplicates of the original Halibrand "kidney bean". They are alloy wheels, not magnesium. They came like mine, or fully polished. The adapters are excellent but the front hubs presented a few problems. The adapters would not fit directly on the spindles. To remedy this I had to (1st) grind off the out most of the outer material (fore skin) that surrounded the hub nut, about 1/4", and then remove some more material to make the hub narrower, and (2nd) use a 1/4" wheel spacer. I've had no interference problems. The tires are Goodyear 205/70X16. The set up reduces the rpm at 60 by about 200. I've had absolutely no issues with them, but when first installed you have to constantly check to make sure they're tight, it takes several hundred miles for them to seat completely the first time on. Now the bad news, they are expensive, about $500 each, and the adapters are about $500 for four. Hope this all helps.
Love those wheels! Just spent an hour last night researching where to get a set and googled my way to the "new" Halibrand company website - did you check them out before buying from SoCal Speed Shop?
Now that's more like it!!!!!!!!!!!! My kind of car!
Tell me about the brake scoops, how did you come up with those? And do you have them functional?
VERY, VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE on the planet have a clue about the 56 SR cars (the best information shows that 6 were built at St. Louis).
And for those who DON'T know, there is a significant difference between the 4 1956 Sebring Racers and the 6 1956 SR cars (the Sebring and SR cars ARE NOT the same!!!).
The Sebring Racers were built (modified) in Jan 56 and the SR cars were built in May (St. Louis assembly line built).
Very nice SR and the wheels are so perfect looking on it!
More pictures please? Do you have the dual pulley generator and other SR engine bits? Shortened steering column, etc?
Originally Posted by DZAUTO
Now that's more like it!!!!!!!!!!!! My kind of car!
Tell me about the brake scoops, how did you come up with those? And do you have them functional?
VERY, VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE on the planet have a clue about the 56 SR cars (the best information shows that 6 were built at St. Louis).
And for those who DON'T know, there is a significant difference between the 4 1956 Sebring Racers and the 6 1956 SR cars (the Sebring and SR cars ARE NOT the same!!!).
The Sebring Racers were built (modified) in Jan 56 and the SR cars were built in May (St. Louis assembly line built).
Tom, It was 6 SR's, one of each color, correct?
Onyx Black
Aztec Copper
Cascade Green
Arctic Blue
Venetian Red
Polo White
I am aware of a company that makes new "halibrands", they are Uber expensive, but very nice. The rear cooling scoops are functional and I designed them based on photos of SRs. Someone actually found an original set, but that was after I finished the car. It has a '62 (shortened) steering column, finned brake drums, Houdaille accessory shocks in the rear, fast steering adapter, off-road exhaust, electric fuel pump mounted near the tank on the frame, and currently a '56 tach converted to electric and mounted on the column (earlier SunPro in picture). The mechanical'
s are modern.
Very nicely done ! Congratulatory term I'm thinking of might be........"Resto-Past"? I love tributes like this.
Great idea with the tach so you can run a alternator. Wow you went all-in with the SR type gadgetry like the lever shocks and even the fuel pump on the frame, and those finned brake drums fit right in and put it over the top.
62 column sure saves cutting a 56/7 column. Good choice.
Great looking engine bay. Must be a blast driving and having fun at shows and cruise nights. Thanks for the photos.
BTW, I was wrong about one SR of every color. It appears that 6 were made, except Cascade Green. I have a copy of a document coming from a friend that talks about it.
I was going to do a 57 Super Sport tribute with a old 56 project I had but couldn't find time because of other projects. I'm kicking myself I didn't do it.
If you are looking for absolutely perfectly reproduced Halibrand wheels, check out Real Rodders Wheels http://www.realrodderswheels.biz/.
Originally reproduced for Avantis, they are period correct, drilled for Corvette lug pattern, and were used on Corvettes. Take a look! I have an image of the original magnesium wheel next to the reproduction as well as a set on a Corvette. And they bolt right on.
Originally Posted by dgsmith
I have not been keeping up with the site and a while back I received a PM about the wheels on my '56 SR replica. When I built the car ('04-08) I wanted to be as accurate as possible about what went on the car. Original Halibrands are absurdly expensive and actually no longer road worthy. The wheels I used were 15X6 American Racing "Salt flat racers" which are very similar to the original Halibrands but are bolt on's. The problem with these wheels was that a few were not true and the fake plastic knock-off, over time, seized and I had to ruin at least one to get them off. With them seized you can't get at all the lug nuts. Then I found the current wheels. They are distributed by Southern Calif. Speed Shop, are 16X6 (no 15" rim size), and claimed to be exact duplicates of the original Halibrand "kidney bean". They are alloy wheels, not magnesium. They came like mine, or fully polished. The adapters are excellent but the front hubs presented a few problems. The adapters would not fit directly on the spindles. To remedy this I had to (1st) grind off the out most of the outer material (fore skin) that surrounded the hub nut, about 1/4", and then remove some more material to make the hub narrower, and (2nd) use a 1/4" wheel spacer. I've had no interference problems. The tires are Goodyear 205/70X16. The set up reduces the rpm at 60 by about 200. I've had absolutely no issues with them, but when first installed you have to constantly check to make sure they're tight, it takes several hundred miles for them to seat completely the first time on. Now the bad news, they are expensive, about $500 each, and the adapters are about $500 for four. Hope this all helps.
Last edited by MSL212; 11-07-2015 at 03:21 PM.
Reason: Forgot installation information.
If you are looking for absolutely perfectly reproduced Halibrand wheels, check out Real Rodders Wheels http://www.realrodderswheels.biz/.
Originally reproduced for Avantis, they are period correct, drilled for Corvette lug pattern, and were used on Corvettes. Take a look! I have an image of the original magnesium wheel next to the reproduction as well as a set on a Corvette. And they bolt right on.
Oh, man. I think my head just exploded. I have long felt that Halibrands were the best-looking wheels ever on a hot car, but they were unobtainable, and should probably not be used any.
Now they make these, AND they are affordable. Holy Heck! Do want!
10-22-2015, 01:25 PM
"Halibrand" wheels in my '56
Just spent an hour last night researching where to get a set and googled my way to the "new" Halibrand company website - did you check them out before buying from SoCal Speed Shop?
Your car looks great! Those wheels are very period correct and compliment it perfectly. 
