Faux Wood Wheels

I saw this car and especially the wheels. I fell in love with the stealth
concept and the fantastic execution.

I have more in my album.

Does anyone know of others. In particular, those that might
be made / available in the US?

I have looked for about 5 years and not found a single one. Nor,
have I seen a photo of others.

Thanks for looking,
David

 

I believe those are one-off custom wheels done to fool the AACA-ers, as the car looked stock but it had a hot rodded, contemporary I-4. I think it was in Street Rodder. I'd like to find some wheels like that, also. Gary

 

That is the Model A that was done by MAT.

Give them a call.

Their English is probably better than your Finnish.

Mäkelä Auto-Tuning Oy
Välskärintie 3
69100 Kannus
Finland

 

Yes, No languages here.

Bet, I could NEVER afford them too.

David

 

Any discussion of that car deserves a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFSGSL3Nrmc

 

Here,s someones 1980s WesternWheels with old Ford hubcaps fitted. These would probably be wider and not as tall as on the model A in the OP.

 

In the late 70s? there were commercial horod wheels available based on the white spoke off road wheels of that time that came with real wood covers for the spokes. The rims were chromed with the real wood covers. I almost bought them for my 26 Ford roadster...the last year for the model T wood wheel. They were not great sellers so they will be hard to find. They took the reproduction Ford hub caps also.

 

I just saw an ad for them in a ´79 HRM, so I took a photo.

Piranha Manufacturing, Romoland CA.

Not the best looking wheels, but thats just my 2c...

 

I think that is the car with the cosworth engine in it, The guy had installed it with a miss module that would make it miss every third cylinder untill it was at so many rpm, to make it sound like an original banger. I believe that he had the wheels cast out of magnesium. I think it would be fun to have more money than god.
Here is a video of the car, Its fun to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFSGSL3Nrmc

 

Thanks to all who replied. I just looked a some of my old notes and this is the
link to the Hot Rod Magazine article.

http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/hrdp_0803w_1929_model_a_touring_car/

I would love to find some more esp. those made / sold in the US.

The other links are fantastic since I remember different ways
and things than each of you.

I really appreciate all the new information.

Kindest regards,
David

 

I was reading a thread about a 1926 Durant Star at
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=713380

The OP knows some folks who created exactly what I think
are so perfect.

They are from an original wooden wheel of a 1913 Mercer Replica.

I would like to know all about them.

Photo below.

 

The Model A is a really neat car with some amazing engineering in it, and I'm not knocking it, but Model A's never came with wood wheels, so it's obvious right up front that the car isn't stock.

Again, it's beautiful workmanship and my hat is off to them for building it, but you'd have to be fairly unfamiliar with Model A Fords or old cars in general for the wheels to fool you.

 

Squablow,

As I recall, the builder is / was a racer. I don't believe he wanted a 100% accurate car. Just something 'fun' to drive.

Did you get a chance to look at he video and the Hot Rod Magazine article - links listed above.

My wish is to find affordable close to real for something fun to drive.

David

 

Saw the build and the video, the car is super awesome and has engineering on it that I personally could never even get close to. And it hauls ass too, especially for what it is.

I just thought it was odd to want to simulate wooden spoke wheels on a car that never would have had them. I've seen a few old sets of General Jumbo wheels painted up the same way, I suppose that'd be a way to get the look without having to cast your own rims.

 

I seem to recall that they were commercially available spoked style aluminium wheels that were extensively modified and then wood grained to make them look old timey.

 

Awsome i love it.

 

I got this Vintage Wheel Works mag off the www.newstalgiawheels.com site. Wide at 17x7 though.

 

My first thought as well. An "A" with "T" wheels just doesn't make sense.

 

The right spoke wheels wouldnt hold the power, and the wrong spoked wheels would look worse.

And solid steel wheels would give it away immediately as a modified vehicle.

Having something that looks like stock wood spoked wheels must be the option that keeps the illusion of a nice stock restored Model A the longest.

Specially in Europe, where people probably dont have all the stock Model A and Model T parts and options memorised...

 

Hello fellow hot rodders and collectors... I have a set of 5 of these rare wheels new .. they have never had tires mounted on them . They where purchased back in 1970 at hot rod nationals in Ohio and put away since . If anyone is interested in purchasing the set of 5 wheels please let me know