Bill,
Not trying to dispute your word by any means, .... and like you mentioned, I'm CERTAINLY no expert on these wheels (or anything else for that matter [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/wink.gif[/img] ). Andt it appears you may be right.
Terry Vaughan knows more about ARE TT wheels than anyone I'm aware of. Here's what he had to say in a discussion on the H.A.M.B. a while back. This is what I based my statement from:
"I have been buying - selling - working on 60's 70's aftermarket wheels for well over 30 years and own a lot of Original wheel company literature that I use in my business. I do not talk about wheels that I have not had in my hands;
The first American Racing ALUMINUM Torque Thrust wheels came out in 1965. There where 5 different sizes 14x 6 & 7 inch and 15 x 6 - 7 & 8.5 all five came in 5 lug patterns only 5 on 4.5" - 4.75" - 5" & 5.5". In the 60's there wasnt anything added to the name. Just Torque Thrust. 1965 catalog / price list dated 1 Feb 1965 .
The wheels where one piece cast aluminum and had American Racing Torque Thrust - size & offset cast into back of the wheel. The exception to that is
A) The first 14" (6 & 7"
wheels came with round spokes. This was changed to straight spokes in 1966.
B) The 15x6 was always called Sportwheel "NOT" Torque Thrust
The 1966 A (dated 1 Jan 66) catalog has the American Racing Aluminum Torque Thrust "D" in 15 x 6" & 7" and thats the only 2 sizes made.
The American Racing one piece cast Aluminum Torque Thrust "D" ( VN105D & VN605D ) that came out in 1988 and is made today " IS NOT " the same wheel as the 60's wheel. ** You can not get different back space on the one piece cast wheels because it would require a 2nd mold and they are not cheap.
The Torque Thrust II has a cast center section welded into a Billet outer and that's why you can get different back spaces. The spokes on the TT II are different than the new TT "D"
The TTO which stands for " Torque Thrust Original " VN109 TTO and VN309 TTO " IS NOT " an exact match to the 60's wheel. The center cap has a larger base diameter than the 60's wheel. There is no bevel between the outer barrel and the spokes. Old wheels used shank lug nuts. new wheels use conicle seat lugs. The 15x8.5 TTO has the same outer lip as the New TT "D" and its not even close to the 60's 8.5 lip.
Advertiser's did a good job of confusing people that really dont know one wheel from the other by using the words Original - Vintage - Nostalgic.
I have a lot of pictures names and sizes of 60's - 70's wheels on my web page
www.torquethrustcentral.com I hope this helps with some of the confusion. Terry"
Good Luck Kurt. Hope they're worth some Big $$$ [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]