<VV> Kelsey-Hayes Wheels

[Charles Lee at Proper Pro Per]

Like so many misunderstanding engendered by the Corvair at the time, like 
"oil is oil" so they put multigrade oil in them, and "all tires should have 
28 lbs of air," which caused so many of them to crash, etc, etc, wire wheels 
were "rotated" and ended up spinning in a direction that caused the 
knockoffs to come undone.

On the correct side, wire wheel knockoffs were supposed to be 
"self-tightening" but many were serviced by mechanics who simply did not 
know about such peculiarities.

It was a BIG investment for an economy car, for sure.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Loving" <ral1963 at comcast.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 8:28 PM
Subject: RE: <VV> Kelsey-Hayes Wheels


>I had a set on my 63 vert and at one time did a little research on them.
>
>
> As the story goes GM contracted Kelsey Hayes to make 2000 rims.  This
> would equal out to about 400 sets of 5 (4 and a spare)
>
> Due to the option cost being so expensive compared to the cost of the
> whole car, few sets were sold.  I suppose there were not a lot of good
> references for them by other owners and it wouldn't surprise me if
> salespeople steered people away also.  They required a tube, needed to
> be checked frequently as the spinners would loosen up, and were hard to
> clean.
>
> It was a around a $300 dollar option on a $3000 dollar car, so it was a
> major investment.
>
> Rick Loving
> <SNIP>
> In a message dated 9/18/2006 7:45:56 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> john at nfdc.net
> writes:
>
>> Does anyone know how many Kelsey -Hayes wheels were produced for the
> 13"-4
>> lug early Corvairs?  Also, were they a $300.00 option as I have heard?
> I
>> have a set of 4 with spinners plus an extra wheel w/o the hub and
> spinner.  I
>> just want to know how rare an option I have.
>>
> ================================================
> Let's put it this way....almost every meet I go to I see a 65-6 Corsa
> Turbo
> vert..supposedly real rare......
>
> I've only seen a few dozen real K-H  wires in 40 yrs......why they go
> for
> $2000+
>
> Matt Nall
>
>
>
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