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Old Mar 22, 2014 | 10:43 PM
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Default Knock off wheels

G'day,

A friend just bought a C3 that is fitted with what appear to be genuine knock off wire wheels. He wants to keep the car "original" and plans to sell the wire wheels. Any idea what they could be worth?

I know I should post this in the C2 section, but you guys always come through with the right advice.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn
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Old Mar 22, 2014 | 11:07 PM
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It's going to help if you can further id them better then that. Or pictures will help
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Old Mar 22, 2014 | 11:13 PM
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If they are original Knock Off rims in great shape they could be worth a lot to the right buyer. Here is an EBay auction on 67 restored knock off rims.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/67-B-O-WHEEL...-/201027615495
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 01:48 AM
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Originally Posted by aussiejohn
G'day,

A friend just bought a C3 that is fitted with what appear to be genuine knock off wire wheels.
Corvettes never had wire wheels of any kind, in any year.

Originally Posted by MakoJoe
If they are original Knock Off rims in great shape they could be worth a lot to the right buyer. Here is an EBay auction on 67 restored knock off rims.
Corvettes did not have knock-offs in 1967. They were bolt-on wheels in 1967.

Knock-offs came available on Corvettes from 1964-66, with some reportedly available from dealers in 1963.
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by MakoJoe
If they are original Knock Off rims in great shape they could be worth a lot to the right buyer. Here is an EBay auction on 67 restored knock off rims.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/67-B-O-WHEEL...-/201027615495
those will never sell for that price
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by aussiejohn
...A friend just bought a C3 that is fitted with what appear to be genuine knock off wire wheels....
There were no knock off wheels available from GM for C3s. None of the C2 factory knock off wheels were wire spoke. Your friend has a set of aftermarket wheels, my hunch is Tru-Spoke, but that's only a guess. Are his wheels actual knock offs?

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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 11:21 AM
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Originally Posted by qwank
those will never sell for that price
Dont ever underestimate 67 owners and what they will spend
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 07:04 PM
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Default Thanks guys.

Thank you for the response. I'll get more info and post back.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn
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Old Mar 23, 2014 | 10:36 PM
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Hi John,

I do like the look of the knock-offs mounted on a C3. Western Wheel did make a 15x8 wheel that I think looks pretty mean. I think I'll be throwing mine back on this year, give the P02s a break.



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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 11:17 AM
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Werent the c2 knocks offs a bolt on adapter? I know they did "knock" off the wheel parts, were any "real" knockoff hubs/spindles?

I used to see the c2 aftermarket "stock" knock off for sale all over,
And I recall a few aftermarket wheel outfits made the adapter style knockoffsthat the wheel part did knock off,

Now days in the ghetto thug status donk world wire/spoke knock offs are very common....
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 11:48 AM
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They look like the hub caps for 68-69
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by The13Bats

I used to see the c2 aftermarket "stock" knock off for sale all over,
And I recall a few aftermarket wheel outfits made the adapter style knockoffsthat the wheel part did knock off,
Bats,

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "the wheel part did knock off..." but this is the adapter that is used for the knock off wheels. Under the knock off center cap is a safety pin that gets removed, then give the spinner a hit with your lead hammer.

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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 12:26 PM
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C2 optional P48 wheels were actual knock offs. The 67 N89 wheels were bolt on wheels with a knock off look. It is my understanding true knock off wheels were banned in the USofA.

Last edited by Easy Mike; Mar 24, 2014 at 12:35 PM.
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Easy Mike
C2 optional P48 wheels were actual knock offs. The 67 N89 wheels were bolt on wheels with a knock off look. It is my understanding true knock off wheels were banned in the USofA.
Pete , this is what I was trying to say, and think of the irony, true knock off are illegal but a weird adapter that allows a knock off is okay....yet more to fail.....
I consider "real/true" knock offs being cars with spindles that have the big threaded part in the center and not some adapter bolted to the 5 studs.
The ones like in your picture to me are still a fake knock off, because part still bolts to the same hub a standard wheel could,
but they are not as fake as putting a spinner cap on a hub cap or mag wheel that still runs it's several lug nuts to remove the wheel.....

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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by The13Bats
The ones like in your picture to me are still a fake knock off, because part still bolts to the same hub a standard wheel could,
but they are not as fake as putting a spinner cap on a hub cap or mag wheel that still runs it's several lug nuts to remove the wheel.....
My C2 knowledge is minimal, and certainly does not cover original knock-offs. So how does a real knock-off mount if it does not mount like the set I have? I was under the impression that real Kelsey Hayes knock-offs in '64-'66 sported the exact adapter that I have. I can't imagine that GM engineered a completely separate hub and rotor for a couple thousand P48-optioned cars.

I would like to see a picture of a P48-optioned hub.

Last edited by LeMans Pete; Mar 24, 2014 at 02:58 PM.
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 05:09 PM
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Originally Posted by LeMans Pete
My C2 knowledge is minimal, and certainly does not cover original knock-offs. So how does a real knock-off mount if it does not mount like the set I have? I was under the impression that real Kelsey Hayes knock-offs in '64-'66 sported the exact adapter that I have. I can't imagine that GM engineered a completely separate hub and rotor for a couple thousand P48-optioned cars.

I would like to see a picture of a P48-optioned hub.
My c3 savvy is limited to the grand sport, the customs including my 66 and then the things they shared with c3's IE chassis etc,
Things like factory wheel options are not my savvy.

I was under the impression that the knock offs like in your picture were a knock off conversion or adapter not a true knock off like race/euro cars had were as the spindel would only accept the correct knock off wheel, there was no adapter to take off and run a lug nut style wheel,
I was pretty sure my dads old jag was like this .

Besides being jazzyed because I would love to find a set of the aftermarkets in a 10x15 and 9x15 I really shouldnt have said a word here....c2 owners are savvy enough to know what is what.
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 09:16 PM
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I think the C-2 knockoffs look really nice on C-3s the only thing is the rim is I believe 7inch wide as opposed to the C-3 wheels being 8 inch wide. The C-3 wheels are narrow enough as it is. Now the the ones I really like are the similar looking wheels that were on the 82 SE. I would like to get my hands on a set of those.
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Old Mar 24, 2014 | 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by persuader
I think the C-2 knockoffs look really nice on C-3s the only thing is the rim is I believe 7inch wide as opposed to the C-3 wheels being 8 inch wide. The C-3 wheels are narrow enough as it is. Now the the ones I really like are the similar looking wheels that were on the 82 SE. I would like to get my hands on a set of those.
Hey Persuader,

Western Wheel did make reproduction K-H wheels that were 15x8. I also like the look!

82SE wheels are some of my favorite.
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Old Mar 30, 2014 | 02:04 PM
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I bought a set of knock offs so I could put my originals in storage. I like the knock off look better. The actual knock off has the twin flag emblem on them. I paid $500 for the set. They are crager wheels.
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 02:45 AM
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Originally Posted by The13Bats
My c3 savvy is limited to the grand sport, the customs including my 66 and then the things they shared with c3's IE chassis etc,
Things like factory wheel options are not my savvy.

I was under the impression that the knock offs like in your picture were a knock off conversion or adapter not a true knock off like race/euro cars had were as the spindel would only accept the correct knock off wheel, there was no adapter to take off and run a lug nut style wheel,
I was pretty sure my dads old jag was like this .

Besides being jazzyed because I would love to find a set of the aftermarkets in a 10x15 and 9x15 I really shouldnt have said a word here....c2 owners are savvy enough to know what is what.
You are pretty much correct but the nomenclature used can create a little confusion.
GM probably opted to use adapters to allow for cost effective wheel options. If only pin drive wheels were available, then different drive hubs would probably have been used.

This is not Corvette specific
-the modern term "knockoff" has become mainstream but it is really the correct term for the "knockoff spinner" not the wheel. Single nuts were and are also used.
-the original wheels are either called "pin drive" or "spline drive" wheels (no adapters used)
-lots of British (mostly) cars used spline drive wheels with no adapters, Astin Martin, Austin Healy. MG, Jag, Lotus and so on.
-Kelsey-Hayes back in the day did build pin drive wheels for racing other than those for Corvette.
-all original street Cobras (with leaf springs) came with pin drive wire wheels
-the use of a drive adapter increases the track width so original and adapter pin drive wheels are not the same.
-I think it's just the winged knockoff spinner that is outlawed, nuts are still good.
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