Yenko Wheels
 

What was the correct wheel that is supposed to be on a Yenko? Most everyone says that American Racing Torque Thrusts are the closest you are going to get. I have also heard that Atlas and Alliance are good choices as well. Does anyone make anything that is a close match?

Thanks,
Brian

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Atlas was actually the wheel Yenko used, but they were never sold anywhere, and unless you find a set that were actually on a Yenko car, you pretty much aren't gonna get a set. Appliance made a nice wheel that is similar, and an OLD set of Americans are a good choice, as long as the spokes are straight and have sharp peaks to the spokes (not rounded) Dragmasters were close too, as were a handful of other various mags produced during that time-frame. I attached a pic of an old set of americans for reference.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Thanks a lot Joe. You have been a tremendous help.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Are you sure Atlas wheels weren't available to the public for sale as a set? I distinctly remember my uncle telling me he had a set on his '69 GTO. Who knows? Maybe they were from a Yenko car?

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

where The YENKO rims 14" or 15"?? I have an OLD set of 4 American Racing Torque Thrusts that were on a 55 Chevy I had. I am pretty sure They are 14". The Cars last inspection was 1977!

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

I believe 15x6 was the size used although i am sure there were exceptions.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

[ QUOTE ]
Atlas was actually the wheel Yenko used, but they were never sold anywhere

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Joe...if Atlas didn't sell them outside Yenko they would have gone out of business after they made the first set...maybe they made them for other stores or shops..they were knock offs of Americans along with the rest of the look alike wheels...pretty sure American came up with the design and it was just copied by all the rest.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

My belief is that they were a low cost knock off and obviously sold elsewhere. Only a handful of Yenkos were actually equipped with them. We know how price conscience Don was... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...elairSucks.gif

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Since the Yenkos were ordered with the sport car conversion, they would have come to the dealer with 15 X 7 Ralleys, correct? How many got the mags? Were all the mags the same brand? What did Don do with all the left over ralleys? (uh oh, now I did it, someone will no doubt be selling Don's "secret stash" of ralleys on ebay now along with a "notarized" letter from Don Yenko vouching for the authenticity - should take about 3 nanoseconds for that auction to start).


Lynn

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

There was a fellow around this site who claimed to have wheels from Yenkos store with receipts...but it turned out to be BS...

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Calling Erik Barr!!

Erik has the complete history of the Atlas wheels figured out. The Atlasburg Foundry in Atlasburg, PA was not in the wheel business, so they didn't really need to make a living on them. Erik can fill in the rest.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Atlas was actually the wheel Yenko used, but they were never sold anywhere

[/ QUOTE ]

Joe...if Atlas didn't sell them outside Yenko they would have gone out of business after they made the first set...maybe they made them for other stores or shops..they were knock offs of Americans along with the rest of the look alike wheels...pretty sure American came up with the design and it was just copied by all the rest.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is fact they were not sold anywhere, as Marlin said, my brother can fill in the details, but basically Yenko commissioned Atlas Foundry to make him some wheels, because (surprise!) he was trying to save money from buying them from American or other "wheel specific" manufacturers. Atlas was also the foundry that cast many other Yenko aluminum parts, including the valve covers for the Yenko Stinger Vega's etc.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

[ QUOTE ]
Since the Yenkos were ordered with the sport car conversion, they would have come to the dealer with 15 X 7 Ralleys, correct? How many got the mags? Were all the mags the same brand? What did Don do with all the left over ralleys? (uh oh, now I did it, someone will no doubt be selling Don's "secret stash" of ralleys on ebay now along with a "notarized" letter from Don Yenko vouching for the authenticity - should take about 3 nanoseconds for that auction to start).


Lynn

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VERY few cars actually got the mag wheels, even though most cars have some sort of mag on them today. I don't know an exact figure, and i don't know that anyone does, but I doubt there was ever any giant pile of 15x7 YH rallys like there would have been with the "rainbow" of XT's in 70.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Great information, can't wait to hear the details. How much could he have possibly saved, and what about the setup and sand casting costs to produce these low volume wheels. If Yenko saved money, the foundry probably lost some on this deal.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

From what i heard, i dont think there was too much overhead or "setup" cost involved, they just used another wheel as a mold and started casting them up as per Yenko's request.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

I guess no DOT certification or special regulations required back then.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

To make the matter worse, these wheels were so poor in quality that they would not hold air. The only way to use them today is to install a tube, as Ed & Phil have done on their deuces with their NOS Atlas wheels.

The quality, and the DOT product liability risk may have been the reason why Atlas didn't even put their name on them. You won't find the mfg name anywhere on those rims.

The centercap was interesting as well, the A/a decal - was it already in use on their other products? I know the centers and the decals came with the wheels, as the NOS sets included them. I find it hard to believe that Atlas or Yenko would have spent the extra dough for the centercap decal when the YENKO version was already available.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

The story on Atlas wheels goes like this...and keep in mind this is what I've been told by Warren Dernoshek, head wrench for Yenko's race team and a key player who experienced the heyday at Yenko Chevrolet first hand. As Warren explains, the Atlas Foundry was not in the business of making wheels, valve covers, or other speed parts. Primarily they produced aluminum cores that were somehow used to make electric engines for locomotives. They were a large industrial casting facility, producing mainly large indurstrial castings. Don happened to be close friends with a gentleman who happened to be employed by Atlas as a sales rep, and who also happened to be at least partly responsible for developing the core design Atlas relied on as their bread and butter casting. The rep was a fellow Corvette owner and racing aficianado, so naturally Don worked his connection with the Atlas rep, and had them tool up, and then cast a limited quantity of the 5 spoke wheels. Warren explained that the Atlas wheel mold was made directly from a period American Torq Thrust (peaked spoke) at the time, because Don liked the look of the wheels on an employee's vehicle, and even borrowed the wheel to lend to Atlas in helping copy the design. Why go to all this trouble instead of simply buying from American, because Atlas could and did do it cheaper. Anything to save a buck and help the profitablibilty of resale. Warren explained that when they were ready, the sales rep would bring the wheels into Yenko's dealership on a pickup truck, with no special packaging for retail sales or anything like that. More like "here's your castings, do what you will with them." From there Don simply marketed them as his own mags as a substitute to the more expensive Americans, but aside from the lack of American Racing text cast into the backside, a legit Atlas wheel will be very comparable in design to an early peaked spoke Torq Thrust. So if anyone tells you they have Atlas wheels in Atlas boxes, or that they bought them somewhere other than Yenko (or stole them from the foundry) they're blowing smoke. Atlas was also responsible for casting the Yenko crest Vega valve covers, as well as some other special one off race parts of Don and Company's design. The wheels were cast in both 14 and 15 inch sizes. Hope this helps clear up the controversy guys.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Unbeleivably great story you guys...and it makes perfect sense too....I wonder if they supplied Pennsy RR with the aluminum for train engines...big Pennsy shop was in Altoona...Baldwin Locomotive wasn't far either...in fact a lot of Locomotive shops were out that way...

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Erik, What cars would have came with these mags 67,68,69?? https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/dunno.gif

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

I have some photos of Atlas wheels with the yenko logo centercaps dated 1969, not sure if they were offered prior to that or not... come to think of it i don't know that i've seen an original "period" pic of a pre-69 Yenko car with Atlas mag wheels.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

[ QUOTE ]
Unbeleivably great story you guys...and it makes perfect sense too....I wonder if they supplied Pennsy RR with the aluminum for train engines...big Pennsy shop was in Altoona...Baldwin Locomotive wasn't far either...in fact a lot of Locomotive shops were out that way...

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Belair, i live about 40 miles from Altoona, the next time i drive through I'll check to see if any of the locomotives have Atlas mags on them. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Wait for them to stop moving first.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Thanks for the tip. Will you stop them for me?

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Sure. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...mlins/wink.gif

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

About 5-6 years ago, two sets of 4-14" Atlas mags were purchased from the Atlasburg foundry in Atlasburg, PA. Both sets are on Deuces at this time.

I believe the atlas mags started in late '68 early '69, and continued through '70 for the 14" version. To my knowledge, the only Yenko Nova to ever receive the mag wheels is Kevin Suydam's '69 Yenko Nova as advertised in Yenko's Bulletin in '70.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Wonder what it would cost to have some new ones cast?
No markings etc.
Shhhh lets keep the DOT out of it....they might get https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/mad.gif
My dad is having some parts cast at a local Aluminum Foundry right now. Hmmmmmm

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

[ QUOTE ]
If Yenko saved money, the foundry probably lost some on this deal.

[/ QUOTE ]That's entirely possible Steve. I don't remember the name of the gentleman from Atlas specifically, but Warren did mention it and I likely have it jotted down somewhere. Warren explained he was a wealthy thirtysomething who had inherited the rights and royalties of this core design that was being produced in great quantity for locomotive engine/power generation use. The design had apparently been originally conceived by his late father, who left the rights of it to his son. Warren commented on the gentleman's fast cars and equally fast lifestyle, and that he thought he sort of got a kick out of hanging out with a real race team and being around fast Corvettes. He didn't need his job at Atlas and he didn't really need to work anywhere because of the residuals he was receieving for the use of his father/family's design. He likely cast the items for Yenko as a favor, in which Yenko likely repaid him in Corvette race parts, service, etc. Just two intelligent businessmen putting their resources together.

Belair hit it on the head though. Yenko used suppliers that were close to him. He ran a small family owned operation and he liked to use similar suppliers whenever possible. Regency trim shop and the Atlasburg foundry are only a few. The tire shop across the street helped with mounting Magnum 500's up for the Deuces and local kids were employed to help stripe and prepare Supercars for delivery. Gulf Oil's headquarters were also based in Pittsburgh when Don sought their sponsorship. He was a local guy who wisely used his local connections. Heck Don even went to Penn State where he likely spied Stocker Chevrolet who he would later endorse as a SPAN/Yenko network dealer.

The local Pittsburgh connection is part of what makes the Yenko operation so interesting to me today. Don really made an impact on the hi-performance car scene here in the 'Burgh, the likes of which we'll likely never see again. Here's to you Don. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif To Don, and the young guns who do the research on this stuff!

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

I know one 67 RS Camaro in original paint that sold new from Yenko with SW tach and Atlas mags. Still on the car to this day. I cannot tell you for sure if they were bought in 67 or 68 but the car for sure came from Yenko..BKH https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

bkh, Is that the car we saw at the show in Canonsburg a few years ago?

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Yes, the Royal Plum RS..BKH

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Which is more like Yenko's original Atlas wheels, Torq Thrust D "Silver Edition", or Torq Thrust Original (TTO)?

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

old International Dragmasters !!!

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

The TTO copies the original straight "creased" or "peaked" spoke that American Racing made popular in the '60s. The D-spoke American is curved outward (to clear disc calipers) and rounded. I think the TTO is only offered in 15x7 and 15x8 currently but I've read that a 15x4 and a 15x10 are in the works.

Vintage Wheels makes the popular 16-inch "Vintage 45" in both creased and round spokes and they recently began offereing several 15-inch sizes.

ET makes a nice straight-spoke 15-incher as well.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Are you saying the TTO is more like the Atlas? Will it clear disc brakes?

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

The TTO looks more like an Atlas, which was a copy (ripoff) of the original Torq Thrust. The new TTO's will probably fit on a disc car but check with American Racing to be sure. They probably have a tech line (e-mail) on their website.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Thanks,
I'll do that.

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

Does any one have a pictures of an orginal Atlas wheel that they could send me? what are some destint things i should look for on my wheels to determine if they are ATLAS or not? thanks

Re: Yenko Wheels
 

[ QUOTE ]
Which is more like Yenko's original Atlas wheels, Torq Thrust D "Silver Edition", or Torq Thrust Original (TTO)?

[/ QUOTE ]
Neither of these really look much like an Atlas wheel when you look at the details, but if I had to pick one I'd say the TTO, since it's supposed to be "patterned" after an original Torq Thrust, and the Atlas molds were patterned after an original straight spoke American Racing Torq Thrust.

As BelAir mentioned, vintage International Dragmaster wheels do look similar to Atlas and early American wheels, but they too are different in several distinguishable ways. They also aren't any cheaper or easier to come by than vintage Americans these days. I say this as I've been searching fruitlessly for a restorable pair of 14x7s to match a pair I've already got. These wheels came in many offsets which affect the depth of the lip on the front. Not all same sized Dragmasters have the same backspacing, but that's a whole 'nother thread entirely...

If you're going for the looks of a true Yenko Atlas wheel, you won't get any closer than a set of 60s vintage American Racing Aluminum Torq Thrusts with STRAIGHT PEAKED SPOKES. (Yes they came in a straight but rounded spoke version too) While they aren't cheap or easy to come by, they are available from limited sources, which is more than I can say for legit Atlas wheels.

Good luck in your search. Paydirt looks like this.
https://www.yenko.net/attachments/131679-14x61.jpg