Wheel color 1971 corvette

[Randy C.]

I am currently restoring the wheels on my '71 Corvette. I note in the judging manual that it says "all wheels are rally style 15X8 and painted argent silver" and "wheels in 1970 had a greenish tint, while the 1971 and 1972 wheels were bright silver".My car was built on December 15, 1970 (#04001). When the judging manual says what it does above, does it mean the wheels produced in the year 1970 have a greenish tint (in which my wheels should have that same greenish tint) or does it mean the wheels on 1970 model Corvettes have a greenish tint (in which my wheels should be bright silver)? The wheels on my care are dated August 21, 1970.Also, and maybe I'm just splitting hairs too much, when it says wheels in 1971 and 1972 are "bright silver", does that mean they are just painted the silver color that I can get from any spray can? Or does it mean the 1971 and 1972 wheels were painted argent silver, which apparently is a different color than the "greenish tint" argent silver?Thank you in advance for your responses. I just want to get this right!Randy C.

[Mike F.]

Re: Wheel color 1971 corvette

My understanding is that for 68-70 and partial 71 production, argent silver had the greenish tint to it. From 71-??, argent silver did not have the greenish tint to it. Same color name (argent silver), but two different shades.
As explained to me by a 400 Level Judge, early 71's could have either color wheel. Some early 71's could have the green argent silver and later 71's would have the silver argent silver. Some cars could have a mix of both colors.

[Terry M.]

Re: Wheel color 1971 corvette

I am currently restoring the wheels on my '71 Corvette. I note in the judging manual that it says "all wheels are rally style 15X8 and painted argent silver" and "wheels in 1970 had a greenish tint, while the 1971 and 1972 wheels were bright silver".My car was built on December 15, 1970 (#04001). When the judging manual says what it does above, does it mean the wheels produced in the year 1970 have a greenish tint (in which my wheels should have that same greenish tint) or does it mean the wheels on 1970 model Corvettes have a greenish tint (in which my wheels should be bright silver)? The wheels on my care are dated August 21, 1970.Also, and maybe I'm just splitting hairs too much, when it says wheels in 1971 and 1972 are "bright silver", does that mean they are just painted the silver color that I can get from any spray can? Or does it mean the 1971 and 1972 wheels were painted argent silver, which apparently is a different color than the "greenish tint" argent silver?Thank you in advance for your responses. I just want to get this right!Randy C.

Mike is right, but your best option would be to match the color of your original wheels. I assUme that is not an option or you would not be asking. Perhaps others can benifit from your experience and learn to "listen" to what their car tells them.

[Randy C.]

Re: Wheel color 1971 corvette

Here's what is going on. Back in the early 80s, I thought my wheels looked sad so I had them bead-blasted and primed. Then I painted them silver - just plain silver, not argent silver or anything different from just plain silver. I was so proud! And now, as I go through the car again (my 35-year old lacquer paint job is looking a bit sad), I'm really getting into the details and I know my wheels are wrong. But when I did my wheels in the early 80s, I didn't touch my spare. And in comparing my spare with an early June 1970 production '70 coupe I'm working on with a friend, my spare wheel looks very similar to the spare in that '70. The color in my spare wheel appears to be the green argent silver, but not as strong as in the '70, but also not like just silver argent silver. I'm leaning towards using the same mixture of green argent silver we used to restore the wheels on the '70 since I already have that mixture code. I just wanted to check with the experts first before I move forward. And both of you (Mike and Terry) have given me the answer I need to proceed! Thank you!Randy C.

[Terry M.]

Re: Wheel color 1971 corvette

Here's what is going on. Back in the early 80s, I thought my wheels looked sad so I had them bead-blasted and primed. Then I painted them silver - just plain silver, not argent silver or anything different from just plain silver. I was so proud! And now, as I go through the car again (my 35-year old lacquer paint job is looking a bit sad), I'm really getting into the details and I know my wheels are wrong. But when I did my wheels in the early 80s, I didn't touch my spare. And in comparing my spare with an early June 1970 production '70 coupe I'm working on with a friend, my spare wheel looks very similar to the spare in that '70. The color in my spare wheel appears to be the green argent silver, but not as strong as in the '70, but also not like just silver argent silver. I'm leaning towards using the same mixture of green argent silver we used to restore the wheels on the '70 since I already have that mixture code. I just wanted to check with the experts first before I move forward. And both of you (Mike and Terry) have given me the answer I need to proceed! Thank you!Randy C.

Thanks Randy for "the rest of the story."

The term Argent is not a specific color, but rather a term for a range of silver colors. My observation is that original 1970 wheels are far greener than earlier 1969 wheels or early 1971 wheels, so it is not a good idea IMO to compare 1970 to any other year. There are even shade variations within the 1970 model year. I don't think a great deal of quality control was put into the wheel color in early C3s.

You have the original color on your spare wheel. Match it. If it were me, I would leave the spare wheel as it is and suffer the condition loss. That points loss will not be great and you will be able to proudly and truthfully say: "I matched the road wheels to the original spare." Good judges tend to appreciate that level of effort and dedication.

[Paul O.]

Re: Wheel color 1971 corvette

Randy

Here is a photo of my original 1971 rim S/N 1914 spare tire as Terry stated it has a softer green shade. Tire is a replacement and the rim was used 2 times that is why it has marks from the PO2 covers. Hope that helps it is a Sept car do not remember rim dates.