What rims were available for the 72 vette back in 72? There is an Ebay listing Item number: 270186139423 and it's for the aluminum slotted rims that were on the 78 up cars. Is this guy full of it or are they original 72's?

Just curious...

Thanks..

To the best of my knowledge, steel rims, either the base Rally style or the optional P02 deluxe wheel covers were all that was available for C3's in '72. It wasn't until several years later aluminum wheels became available. Chevy had trouble getting aluminum wheels to hold air prior to that.  Not sure of the exact year, but Chevy did make aluminum wheels an RPO, but recalled them due to the quality control issues, but allegedly a few got out of the factory and are quite valuable if they can be proven to have been factory installed on those few cars (maybe less than a half dozen sets). 

Just because the aluminum wheels this guy sells will fit doesn't make them original equipment except for later C3's.  If you like them there's nothing wrong with installing a set...they just won't be correct if that matters to you.

Thanks for the reply Gunslinger; I am looking for a set for my 77 and just came across those on Ebay. I don't plan on buying as they are too much $$$ for me.

I am under the impression that they are not the original rims for the 72's

Here is some info I found on the web,

"In 1973, aluminum wheels were again available as an option, but the same problem that plagued the 1963 aluminum wheels, the inability to hold air, kept these out of the hands of customers until 1976."

Thanks,..

Aluminum Wheels were available in 73, many of my classmates ordered there cars with them.  I don't know about them losing air though.

I didn't think aluminum wheels were available on the C3 until 1976.

[QUOTE=rearn2go72]I didn't think aluminum wheels were available on the C3 until 1976. [/QUOTE]

I've got some strange wheels on my "Blu 72"...I'll take a few pics and post them up. Maybe someone can identify them... JimG2007-11-19 20:11:56

______________

Lifetime Member #73

The Money Pit.... and my niece

(click to see a slightly larger version)

All 1972 Corvettes came with steel Rally wheels.  Aluminum wheels were first offered as an option in '73, but only four cars were actually delivered with them installed because of the quality issues mentioned above.  Those wheels would not be offered again as an option until the 1976 model year.

[QUOTE=PSU 98] All 1972 Corvettes came with steel Rally wheels. Aluminum wheels were first offered as an option in '73, but only four cars were actually delivered with them installed because of the quality issues mentioned above. Those wheels would not be offered again as an option until the 1976 model year.[/QUOTE]

And that's the real truth! Records show that four cars were built with the alloy rims in 1973, that somehow got by the people at the plant. The rims had already been pulled from the option sheets due to porosity, and all of the dealers had been told to not accept orders for cars with this option. Four orders were already in the pipeline, and built, before the plant actually realized it. The '73 alloy rims are different from the 76/up rims, as are the lug nuts used on them.
The ONLY other known set of these rims that were factory installed are on Zora's '74 that he took with him when he retired.

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

According to Black Book, all 1972 wheels were painted silver.

______________

The lady selling the rims on Ebay e-mailed me the following info on the rims.

"Okay, I have the information from the wheels, but nobody can seem to tell me anything.  Including the Cheverolet Dealership parts dept. or Eckler's.  I have entered the information in searches on online and have not come up with anything myself.  Do you know of a place online that I can search the code?

Yep, everything I find says that Stephen and Joel are correct. No info about the Western Wheels though. Someone on here may know something about them.

Wouldn't it be nice to have one of those 4 '73s or Zora's '74!!

My guess is that this was a dealer added option to the customer. I know of a pace car with "original" wire wheels on it that I know the guy bought new from the dealer this way. He wanted them he got them new on the car. The dealer bought them had corvette logos put on the center caps and he brought it home...

______________

Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link


(Click on image to see a bigger version)

To my knowledge, Western Wheels was never an original supplier of rims for Corvette. The factory alloy rims were made by Kelsy-Hays. What you are looking at may well be aftermarket rims, that happen to look like Corvette rims. However, the part # listed certainly looks like a GM #.
The rims I have on the '74 came from a '76 car, and are dated accordingly. They are Kelsy-Hays rims.
Without being able to see them, it's really hard to tell.
It may be possible that K/H contracted some of the rims to Western...

I just went and looked thru the GM parts manual, and found the part #s for the '80, '81, and '82 rims.
'80-'81-'82, YJ8 rims all have part #14022120
The '82 CE rims are part # 14050644
The parts manual does not show the YJ8 rims for the '76-'79 years. This is prolly due to this being the latest(at the time) superceded parts list.Adams' Apple2007-11-21 20:39:00

______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I'm not sure about the C3 aluminum wheels, but I do know that Western Wheels did make some of the 63-66 aluminum knock-off wheels for Kelsey Hayes. That were marked "Western Wheel K-H".