Hello,
After I clean the backside of the wheels, I will hopefully be
able to find the markings. Also, there's another factoid I was
unaware of - American Racing merging with Ansen.
It's all becoming much clearer.

In regards to the re-finishing work on the wheels -
600 wet/dry paper. Initially sand wet, then dry?
Polishing - What kind of finishing compound
do you recommend?

Thanks.

Rudy

 

It appears this thread has been properly hijacked.

OP? Did ya give up?

 

Hey vettebuyer5869- Your wheels are not Ansen. They were made by Appliance and the model is called the "Wiremag". They also probably have a strange lug configuration called "Rotolug". Had a set of these in 1976...
Reid '72 T-top

 

Ted Halibrand, the Torrance, California builder of quick-change rear ends, was supplying Indy race teams with his ribbed and slotted knock-off magnesium wheels by 1950. John Fitch used a bolt-on version for the first Corvette factory race team at Sebring in 1956. And of course they were on the 1957 SS and the 1958 Sting Ray race cars.

American Racing Equipment started making the magnesium Torq-Thrust for drag racers in the San Francisco area in 1956. By 1960 they were starting to show up on street Corvettes and T-Birds. Because of difficult appearance maintenance and curb breakage, most people gravitated to chromed steel wheels.

The aluminum American Torq-Thrust "Sport Wheel" was the top street wheel in the late '60s. I still have a set of 15 X 6 I bought for my C2 in 1967 for a little under $200. The car is now flared with 8 1/2 X 15 American 200S (Trans Am or "daisy spoke") wheels. I got them from a wheel junkyard. Somebody dropped 'em off for a rim polish and never came back. I paid the polish bill, 99 bucks!

By the '70s the Torq-Thrust became "old school" and was not as impressive because of the dozens of copies released by other companies. The 200S did not catch on, except in the four-spoke version for import sporty cars like the Datsun Zs, 914s and Capris.

Ansen's fully polished "5 bean hole" wheel came out around 1966 or '67, but was limited mostly to drag racing cars for a couple of years. By 1970 it had replaced the Torq-Thrust as the "go-to" street wheel. This one, too, was copied to death.

The wheel to have in the '80s was the Centerline, plain with no holes or spokes.

 

Really? I'll have to investigate that further. The lugs pattern looked pretty straightforward... are you talking that Unilug pattern like the old Cragars?

I sold the wheels immediately after I got the car, so I can't see them now. Thanks for the info.

 

I've got a set of 15x10's they are made by U.S. Mag and the style was Indy.
Its cast right into the back side of the wheel.
BTW they are for sale. 15 x 10, 5 on 4.75 lug pattern, 4" backspace

 

Spot-on assessment, Reid. Nice catch...

 

Very interesting.
Thank you to all for your information.
Now I'm looking forward to tackling these wheels.
However, not until fall. I'm still busy at work and at home.
Not to mention, I want to enjoy my car as much as I can before
the snow flies.

Rudy