Is this an A-Mold wheel?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,236
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
Is this an A-Mold wheel?
I need some opinions... I came across a 17 x 9.5" ZR-1 five spoke wheel. It's silver with a polished lip, and I'm wondering if it's an A-Mold wheel or not.
It does NOT have the A-Mold "uc" symbol, but has a cast "GM" symbol on the rim. Is this an A-Mold wheel? Something made by GM? Reproduction? Thanks for any help.
It does NOT have the A-Mold "uc" symbol, but has a cast "GM" symbol on the rim. Is this an A-Mold wheel? Something made by GM? Reproduction? Thanks for any help.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,236
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
Midnight 85: Sent you email.
Froggy47: I've seen the term "a-mold" used as a generic term for ZR-1 style five spoke wheels on the forum before, but it's really not correct. A-Mold is the name of the Japanese company that made the wheels for GM, so A-Mold really refers to the factory original wheels. Wheels made by any other company are properly refered to as reproduction ZR-1/Collector Edition/Grandsport five spoke wheels.
Incidentally, A-Mold also made the stock sawblades, as evidenced by the cast "uc" mark on the rim. A-Mold also made a lot of the Toyota and Honda alloy wheels, so you'll see the same mark on those wheels.
I'm just wondering who made a wheel with the "GM" cast mark.
Froggy47: I've seen the term "a-mold" used as a generic term for ZR-1 style five spoke wheels on the forum before, but it's really not correct. A-Mold is the name of the Japanese company that made the wheels for GM, so A-Mold really refers to the factory original wheels. Wheels made by any other company are properly refered to as reproduction ZR-1/Collector Edition/Grandsport five spoke wheels.
Incidentally, A-Mold also made the stock sawblades, as evidenced by the cast "uc" mark on the rim. A-Mold also made a lot of the Toyota and Honda alloy wheels, so you'll see the same mark on those wheels.
I'm just wondering who made a wheel with the "GM" cast mark.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
That's very interesting
I also have a set of Saw Blades made in Japan with the symbol on them that looks like a J and a w or is it m all pushed together.
The AFS replicas are also made in the "Orient" stands for Autumn Fleet Sales.
I thought A-mold had something to do with the actual "mold" that the wheel is cast from.
Seems we have an international car that we all love so much
Thanks for the post
I also have a set of Saw Blades made in Japan with the symbol on them that looks like a J and a w or is it m all pushed together.The AFS replicas are also made in the "Orient" stands for Autumn Fleet Sales.
I thought A-mold had something to do with the actual "mold" that the wheel is cast from.
Seems we have an international car that we all love so much
Thanks for the post
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,294
Likes: 0
From: Amateur driver on open course.
Originally Posted by froggy47
I could be wrong, but I think A-Mold is a generic term for the ZR1, Grand Sport type rims. They can be oem or several aftermarket companies (like AFS) make them.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by BlackbirdZ07
A-Mold is the name of the Japanese company that made the wheels for GM, so A-Mold really refers to the factory original wheels. Wheels made by any other company are properly refered to as reproduction ZR-1/Collector Edition/Grandsport five spoke wheels.
The above appears to be correct except for the company location:
"A-Mold Corporation, Mason, OH, manufactures automotive aluminum wheels. Recently it installed a new powder coating line for clear coating the wheels it produces.
The squeeze casting method used by A-Mold produces wheels so strong and light that some OEMs insist on them for their top-of-the-line models such as the Corvette, Riviera, Cadillac and the Chrysler 300M.
Squeeze casting involves slow die filling and applied high pressure as the metal solidifies. It shares characteristics with both low-pressure and high-pressure diecasting. However, squeeze casting offers improved microstructural characteristics, including low porosity levels. Because of this, these castings can be heat-treated and welded if needed. "
The squeeze casting method used by A-Mold produces wheels so strong and light that some OEMs insist on them for their top-of-the-line models such as the Corvette, Riviera, Cadillac and the Chrysler 300M.
Squeeze casting involves slow die filling and applied high pressure as the metal solidifies. It shares characteristics with both low-pressure and high-pressure diecasting. However, squeeze casting offers improved microstructural characteristics, including low porosity levels. Because of this, these castings can be heat-treated and welded if needed. "
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
Hi Steve,
I think we are getting down to it. Thanks. BTW I have seen may "high performance" aftermarket wheels fail - usually the ones going for low weight, but never have seen an A-Mold or my AFS replicas fail. Damn strong wheel, course mine weigh about 25 lbs, I think the oem's are a bit less.
I think we are getting down to it. Thanks. BTW I have seen may "high performance" aftermarket wheels fail - usually the ones going for low weight, but never have seen an A-Mold or my AFS replicas fail. Damn strong wheel, course mine weigh about 25 lbs, I think the oem's are a bit less.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Blackbird, I didn't receive any email from you. Froggy 47 described the A-mold wheel as I know it but you said it had a polished lip, so that's why I wouldn't make a guess without seeing it. Try the email again if I can help.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,236
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
Originally Posted by Midnight 85
Blackbird, I didn't receive any email from you.
I have pictures, but the forum email form has no provision to attach or insert pictures. Basically I can't send you the pictures unless I have your email address.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,236
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
Originally Posted by steve9899
I have always heard them used as a generic term for the wheel style.
The above appears to be correct except for the company location:
The above appears to be correct except for the company location:
I seem to remember seeing an ad somewhere that said the A-Molds were made in Japan, but I may be wrong. They're on a lot of Japanese cars including my mom's Toyota, so maybe they're manufactured in Japan by a U.S. company??
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by BlackbirdZ07
A-Mold is the company name, so the generic use often seen on the forum is not correct. You don't see AFS or any of the other aftermarket companies advertising A-Mold wheels, they advertise ZR-1 style wheels.
I seem to remember seeing an ad somewhere that said the A-Molds were made in Japan, but I may be wrong. They're on a lot of Japanese cars including my mom's Toyota, so maybe they're manufactured in Japan by a U.S. company??
I seem to remember seeing an ad somewhere that said the A-Molds were made in Japan, but I may be wrong. They're on a lot of Japanese cars including my mom's Toyota, so maybe they're manufactured in Japan by a U.S. company??
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Well Blackbird, I am glad I didn't give you an answer at the beginning of your post because I did not know that the factory wheel you described even had a polished lip on it. I guess I should be more observant. I just bought chrome ZR-1 wheels from O.E. Specialties and was looking at all the colors they offered in this wheel and none had polished lips except the black ones if I recall correctly. I thought A-mold was just a term used to describe this style wheel. I knew I wasn't sure enough to answer you without pics and I'm glad I didn't. We do have some pretty knowledgable members here but I'm not one of them. Anyway, glad you got your question answered.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,236
Likes: 355
From: Albuquerque, NM
Originally Posted by Midnight 85
Anyway, glad you got your question answered.
