Yenko Wheels

[427TJ]

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Cragar S/S junkies

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As a so-called "Cragar S/S junkie," let me begin my remarks by first stating (...) and furthermore (...) and in closing let me say (...) I thank you.

(I edited all the long-winded stuff.)

You rare wheel snobs are really something!

[12bolt]

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Still the best looking wheels made IMO..

[/ QUOTE ] Perhaps the most brand friendly aftermarket wheel. Looks great on 68-72 Ford-Chevy-Mopar all the same. I'd say they were best too BelAir, but I'm afraid all the Cragar S/S junkies will come out of the woodwork to argue it. Americans sure have seen a resurgence in popularity as of late. Nice complete sets are getting very tough to come by. Seems everyone wants Chevy 4 3/4" pattern too, as even the street rod guys typically run GM pattern front end set ups.

What will be the next vintage wheel to be the thing to run? I've always kinda thought these were underrated...


[/ QUOTE ]Those wheels are actually a pre cursor to what is being made today only in 22" rims!! These were Futuristic at the time and Tame by Todays standards. I never cared much for them then or now. Torq Thrusts or Cragars!!

[427TJ]

So does anyone have a photo of an actual Atlas wheel? An old photo or a recent photo?

I just bought a restored set of 15-inch 1960s peaked Torq Thrusts from a local wheel guy* and we got to talking about the different brands of '60s five-spokes: American, International, Mickey Thompson, and Atlas, and this guy has all but Atlas in his collection.

I read Erik Barr's description of the Yenko/Atlas deal and now I want to see what an actual Atlas looks like. No, I am not trying to clone Atlas wheels, just trying to answer a question.

(*Not the same wheel guy--different wheel guy. )

Thanks in advance.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Here is a pic of an NOS Atlas wheel, not much to go on but...

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Here is the backside, again, not much to look at since these wheels look very similar to the other wheels 'of the day'.

[CamarosRus]

Which repop/newer wheel currently available is generally the most accepted/popular for having the original "look" in 14x???

Thanks

[Xplantdad]

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Here is a pic of an NOS Atlas wheel, not much to go on but...

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Hey Marlin, what is this wheel? It's a pic of the Yenko Nova formerly owned by Kevin Hand

[427TJ]

Thanks Marlin, looks like an original unrestored set too.

Chuck, when I went to get my wheels I talked with the wheel guy for two hours. He had old TT's and new TT D and TTO wheels and we discussed all the differences between them.

Both the new TTO, or Torq Thrust Original, and the '90s D-spoke are not an exact copy of the popular 1960s wheel we all know and love. Both the TTO and the D lack the machined 'lip' or step-down between the polished outer rim area and the as-cast spoke area. The TTO and the Torq Thrust D (released back in the '90s) also have a larger hub to accomodate application on newer vehicles and that means that the center cap bolt spacing is a larger diameter than the old ones. Most people can't tell the difference but once you learn them the differences pop right out at you. The D-spoke version currently available is for disc brake applications but until recently they would not work on mid-year Corvettes, according to the guy I bought my wheels from. He says that American is supposed to, or already has (can't remember which), re-worked the D-spoke to fit mid-year Vettes.

American Racing has been advised that most of us want original 1960s type TT's but I guess there's too many 20-something manager types at AR who don't get it when it comes to what we the people want. That's why I ponied-up for the original restored '60s wheels. AR is also tooling up for a remake of the Vector wheel since the Dukes movie and General Lee Charger fever has been revived. I guess AR is trying to do the Vector wheel on the cheap too and not just exactly as the '70s version was.

Here's a pic of one of my new (old) TT's I bought over the weekend, this one's a 15x6.

[427TJ]

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Bruce, that's a newer Torq Thrust D spoke with silver painted spokes. Notice that there's no step-down lip between the polished rim and the cast portion. Look at my old wheel and you'll see that lip. Center caps on new ones have wider screw spacing for larger hubs and won't fit the old wheels. American makes old-style caps but you might have to drill the screw holes out a little for them to line up.

[DarrenX33]

I wish my car had the TTOs. I like the look over the Ds.