Hi,

I'm wondering if anyone is reproducing the mag wheel covers (RPO N96 I think) that were optional on the 65/66 SS396's:
http://chevelles.com/years/66/optional.htm

If not, any idea where I met find a set in good condition and what kind of price they might bring?

I don't know about the rest of you but I really like the way these look. I saw a chevelle at the Peach State Chevelles Show last summer sporting a set and they were sweet. Kind of stand out over the mormal rallye wheels, and they're more correct too.

Thanks,

-Ken

Im sure their not making them any more, but I would check the swap meets for them or ebay. I saw 2 of them at the swap meet in perfect condition for 25.00. I have them on my 65 elco and yes they are cool. I had to take mine apart and do a litte resto work on them and they came out pretty good, but I think the center insert could use rechroming. good luck

Thanks for the info bigmoe.

If I can find a whole set of these I'll have to dwitch from 15" to 14" wheels, which won't bother me that much except for the fact that 14" wheels might not clear my front disk brake calipers. I'll have to research this a little more. I really do like those wheel covers though. Got any pictures of your car with them on?

The Simulated Mag Wheelcovers were also made in 15" as I have a NOS set I got last year off eBay ($400) Also have a set of 14" that look like dead ringers for the 15's so am thinking of going 14 in front and 15's in the rear to get a cool stance out of my ride... 2 of the 14's are a mess, but the other 2 are like NOS almost, no pitting and little fading even on the paint...

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'65 Maliblue 406SBC/PG TC #811
'97 HD Softtail Springer
'99 FORD Ranger Xtracab 4X4

I didn't realize that those covers came in 15" also. $400???? http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif I like them but I'm not sure I like them that much. At that price I think I would kick in a little extra dough and buy some Torq Thrust II's instead.

Thanks for the info.

I checked for those through various Chevy dealers until in 1987, when when a parts guy was determined to try and scare up a set. He wanted $150 each! I passed.
In 2000 I found a set of 4 N.O.S. mag style in the later style. They had charcoal on the spokes (as I later found to apply to 1970 - '76 style, a dealer option now). $400 Cdn. I was surprised to see 15" since I didn't know they made them. I thought they were 13" & 14" as shown in the 1967 Options & Accsessories booklet.
Here's a quick picture of my car with 14" wheel covers: http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Cam1.jpg

Mike 'MysteryChevelle' has a stunning '66 with a set. Maybe he can post a link.

KJ,

it might have been a bunch of $$ for em, but the look is hard to beat and on a 15x8 rear I can run up to a 275 series meat and I just barley rub the inside in a hard turn, but the outer side never makes contact and that retro stocker look is killer...

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'65 Maliblue 406SBC/PG TC #811
'97 HD Softtail Springer
'99 FORD Ranger Xtracab 4X4
Army Retired (Feb 02)

Cam,

thanks for the link, great looking car! What kind of tires are those you're running (whitewalls?)?

harleighguy,

You're right. I was hoping to talk myself out of wanting these as they're hard to find and not cheap. But that look is hard to beat. I'm with you all the way on the 15" wheels and bigger meats. I have 15x8's out back now with 275/60/15 BFG Drag Radials. I just wonder how these wheel covers would look with a black wall? Most of the cars I've seen them on use redline tires which won't work for my intended use. Would the 15" mag wheel covers work with my Wheel Vintiques 15" wheels? I assume the would clip on in the same place as the beauty ring.

Thanks again.

I noticed that there are a number of folks selling these mags on E-Bay. My question is how difficult is it to restore these mag covers? Any practical experience or suggestions are appreciated.

thanks

Kjett, the tires are Firestone FR480s, a premium radial that they used on Lincoln Continentals in the early nineties. Mine are P195/75R14 size. After taking measurements from the original spare, I discovered that the FR480 had the same 3/8" stripe, 1" from the bead. The car left Oshawa on Firestone Deluxe Champion 7.35-14s, so it was O.K. that they were OEM. They even have a sort of square look to the sidewalls in the way that bias-ply tires did, not the budging sidewall that's typical on radials. What an inprovement over the bias ply E78s that were on the car when I bought it! Terry Boyce's 'Super Sports' book (pg. 93) shows an original GM photo of a '67 ElCamino Custom with 7.75-14 whitewall tires and the Mag-style wheel covers. Mine look just the same except for the tread.

Those wheel covers are heavy, so a lot of times you'll find the odd one with scratches on it (from flying off!). Since you're in the sun belt it probably isn't much of an issue for you, but I find that these things often rust on the steel ring that the wheel retainer clips are mounted in. In extreme cases the wheel cover can separate (I have one like that). As for dissassmbly & restoration, they use rivets on some parts and probably some little tangs that get crimped. Those tangs are really not meant to be bent repeatedly.

2 NOS 65-66s brought $1500 recently on ebay.

67s are similar but obviously different if placed beside a 65-66. the easiest way to tell the difference is that the center cap on the 65-66s stick out about 1/2" the 67s are flat. 67s are cheap and easy to find at swap meets, and unless you're doing a perfect resto, most people won't notice the difference.

KJ,

You should have no trouble with the Wheel Vintiques rims. The covers mount like a Rally trim ring and should be nice and tight. Just make sure the lil tabs are all bent out and not pushed in so they will grab. Remember one thing though, those lil tabs will leave marks in the rims surface and will ruin a powdercoated or nicely painted rims finish. I think my 14" covers must be the later '67 up style as when I looked at them again I see that BOTH the 14" and the 15" covers use the exact same center spoke part. It's the outer trim ring diameter that's different. I have looked at those eBay covers and some are nice and some are way too much $$ for me. Been told that the RedLine tires and the mag covers were designed to look like the "HotWheels" wheels of the day... and I do believe they do!

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'65 Maliblue 406SBC/PG TC #811
'97 HD Softtail Springer
'99 FORD Ranger Xtracab 4X4
Army Retired (Feb 02)

[This message has been edited by harleighguy (edited 02-22-2002).]