Frankie the Fink

Wow - I've heard three rumors in the last couple of weeks of new repro parts headed to market.

The NCRS forum has a thread about Corvette Specialites reproducing '63 wheels based off an original wheel supplied by an NCRS member; supposedly a few sets are already 'in the wild' for evaluation.

I also heard the rear window stainless for the split window will be coming out very soon (before fall) from an owner of a high-end coupe (no other details).

Then somebody told me that the rare coupe window garnishes are going to be reproduced (although I also heard that Long Island may have them - haven't confirmed yet)

It would be really nice if some high quality repros started appearing for those one-year-only parts

BADBIRDCAGE

Hey Frankie:

I agree with you that a source of high quality reproduction "one year only" parts would be nice. I think for manufacturers the issue is limited market versus cost of setup and manufacture. If they don't see a good profit margin they aren't going to make the investment.

Rich

morly1963

Do you mean 63 hubcaps?
or steel wheels?

gbvette62

The rear window stainless is coming, but it will be a little while before it all hits the market. I understand that the price will be quite high too.

The plan is to produce the rear window moldings, one piece at a time, and it may be a couple years before all of the pieces are available. The first pieces being made are the short lower horizontal pieces. I've seen a sample of them, and they looked good, though I didn't have an original to compare them too.

I was told by the manufacturer that the complete repro set will be very expensive, possibly not much less than an original set. The cost of developing them, making the tooling, approving samples, etc., is not cheap and the potential market for them, is just not that large. The per part cost to make them, will be very high, which is why they will be expensive, and will take sometime to come to market.

The convertible door reveal moldings are available, and the coupe ones are coming. The moldings are being marketed as 63-67's, but I don't believe they are technically correct for 63's. The ones currently available, are the larger (wider?) moldings, found on 64-67's. I haven't heard anything about correct 63 reveal moldings being repro-ed.

I have heard rumblings about a 63-64 wheel, but don't know any of the particulars.

Frankie the Fink

Wheels.

vettebuyer6369

I have to wonder about the value of a repro 63-64 wheel. At what cost? The only specific identifying feature, when mounted is the conical shape of the inside of the rim. Is there enough interest for that? For judging, or as a spare?

The repro wheels out there for the 65-66 15.5 stepped design wheels are perfectly useful on 63-64 cars.

I bought a set of '63 steel wheels and the entire value to me was being able to photograph the K stamp and the 63 date. I guess the use of the repro wheel would be attractive if you go from the $4-500 per wheel cost down to something similar to the 65-6 repros.

Dougs63

The correct repro wheels for 63-64 are already for sale on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1964-Corvette-15X5-5-Steel-Wheel-New-63-64-Rim-/191652016555?hash=item2c9f59b1ab&vxp=mtr

MikeM

I believe those are GM service replacement wheels. Not repops and not without issues.

project63

The wheel in that auction appears to be the correct repop and is not a common service replacement 8080 wheel. Availability of these will likely bring down the cost of the originals.

gbvette62

The ebay link is from Corvette Specialties of MD (now in California). They have been making the 65-66 wheel for a few years, and I guess they've now made the 63-64 wheel too. If they are coming from Corvette Specialties, they should be pretty close to the originals.

Their spaces are just down the row from me at Corvette Carlisle. I saw them there, but it was early morning, and they were just getting set up. Brian usually stops to see me, and let me know what new parts he's got coming, but he never came by, and I never had a chance to stop and see them.

Now I wish I had stopped by, as I'd like to have had a look at those wheels.

MikeM

His description says part #3838080 so I don't know what he's selling?

From his ad:

Item specifics

Condition: New Manufacturer Part Number:
3838080

Other Part Number: 1118

Frankie the Fink

Yes Corvette Specialties is supposed to make the repro wheels according to the NCRS forum.. much cheaper than $2500. Somewhere in the high $800 range.

Rich Yanulis

$650 for 4 wheels

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-1964-Corvette-15X5-5-Steel-Wheel-Set-of-4-Rim-63-64-/191652015717?hash=item2c9f59ae65

Ausbrian

I have seen reproduction 63 rear window garnish molding available. But it was made of some type of composite material that you had to have chromed and was almost the same cost as n.o.s.

Dougs63

The only external difference I see between the original '63 steel wheel and the Corvette Specialties wheel is the lack of the "GM" stamp on the center spider.

C2Racer

I hope the rear and front window stainless will match up with the pieces I have already collected. On the rear windows the short pieces are what I need along with the corners. My race car might get all of its trim back on! Cool!

Steve

Ken Sungela

A few years ago I spoke to the fella repo-ing the rear molding corners. He said he spent $40K in tooling to make them. I think he gets $900 a set.

vettebuyer6369

Who is getting $4500 for what?

Frankie the Fink

SORRY! Typo -- that should have been $2,500 (I fixed it)..

The $800+ figure for the repros was for 5 wheels (spare included) and I should have stated that. That puts the number in line with Rich's ebay ad above...