1967 Ralley Wheels - Here We Go Again

[Kirk M.]

Re: 1967 Ralley Wheels - Here We Go Again

Again, thanks for the good advice. My bolt-ons are older repros and definitely not originals. I bought a set of 215/70/15 Supreme Redline Tires from Diamond Back Classics back in 2006 when I got the car. They are radials and I love the way they handle. It may not be worth the investment to get a whole new set of rims just for judging - but maybe I could get some original rims and put a similar set of whitewall radials on them and that way change the look of the car and least have original rims. I'm pretty sure my rims aren't original as I can find no markings on them. Thoughts?

[Joe R.]

Re: 1967 Ralley Wheels - Here We Go Again

Hi Kirk:

When you say you are "pretty sure" your rims are not original, are you referring to the bolt-ons or do you have an extra set of Ralley wheels?

The differences between the original bolt-ons and the early reproductions are best described with some photos, but I do not have any photos of the details to post. Check the archives to see if you can find some photos. There are differences in the thickness of the "spokes," the profile of the outer lip, and the casting shape on the inside.

Once you clarify whether your existing bolt-on wheels are originals or older reproductions (there is a newer, better reproduction available now from AFC), you can start thinking about how to best equip your car with a set of the Ralley wheels you want. If your bolt-ons are originals, they can becone your "show wheels" and your Ralleys can be just your "driving wheels."

For starters, price out a complete set of service replacement Ralley wheels (correct size but incorrect markings) and reproduction trim rings and center caps. I think a complete set of four will come out to about $700 from Paragon. If you already have a set of non-original Ralley wheels, your net cost will be much lower. This option will give you the appearance you seek but it will lose some points in judging because the wheels and trim rings differ slightly from the originals. However, only an NCRS judge will know the difference.

With the baseline cost established, you can look into the option of getting original Ralley wheel parts and restoring them. This will likely cost more, and will only be useful for judging purposes. I would expect a full set of original, restored wheels, trim rings, and center caps to cost at least $1500, and possibly more. In particular, original 4-clip trim rings in restored condition are expensive.

In any event, what I was trying to convey in my earlier posting is that the decision about how to proceed with wheels and tires is complicated. The combination that gets the highest possible NCRS judging score will not be much fun to drive on. Depending on your priorities, it might make sense to knowingly compromise a few judging points to develop a solution that is a compromise between NCRS judging and driveabiliy.