History Halibrand Wheels: The Original Mag

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Halibrand Wheels: The Original Mag

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16x5 not for sale

 

My dad, Ira Hassad, bought these 15" x 4.25" wheels in 1950. His good friend, Roy Richter, owned Bell Auto Parts and distributed Halibrand products. Dad also bought the quick-change differential, which uses model axles, at the same time. Wheels were listed at $15 each and the diff at $225. I still have the invoice! In 1992 I painted the wheels (the polished shine lasts about 2 days with magnesium) and mounted them reversed because I like seeing the little "ribs". I have also ran them tubeless since then, with very little "leak down". After 4 years of vintage track racing on pavement, I have retired the car, and wheels, to local driving and car shows.

 

omg, that car is exciting. thanx for sharing. I feel any "mag" wheels are for race cars. Steel wheels rule my universe.

 

great topic. Hope there's more pics.

 

Simichrome keeps them shiny for more than 2 days. The only thing that I've used for over 50 years.

(Salt water doesn't do them any good.)

 

Two of my favorite examples...

 

I have several more sets and they are NOS the quick change is new and are the lobsters. PM me if interested. I have several more sets. Thanks Frank

 

Hi Stan

Not if you are running a fueler at the Beach at 10 at nite when the fog starts to roll in, you can watch them get dull right in front of your eyes in short order

Been there done that more than once, DND

 

Here's some little windows on my sedan:



That set belongs to my Dad and has been passed around the family a bit. They've been on three cars so far. I own a bunch of old Halibrands, the smoothie style being my favorite. I've been collecting them for the last 30 years.

 

halibrands

 

In the 70's I collected Halilbrand wheels and did a lot of trading to obtain the ones I needed for my roadster. They were not too expensive then but still difficult to find in good shape. My first set was for my Corvette while I was in college. They were 5-spoke magnesium and difficult to keep polished. The spokes were as cast and only the rims were polished. I liked that look. The roadster was equipped with the 15 x 4 1/2 and 16 x 10 which I had fully polished in LA and shipped back to Boston. I still run them today on my delivery but they are made of aluminum and stay fresh without much work. I used to put garbage bags over the mag ones.






My current ride is also equipped with Halibrands installed by Pete and Jakes when they had the car.

 

This link convinced me to try Gibbs Brand. http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/
Scroll down a bit from the top to where the examples are shown. I've bought a couple of cans and used it some on various raw items. I have had good results using it on my daily driver chromed aluminum wheels with no pitting or flaking. It also helps prevent that white oxidation between the inside rim and the tires. Your results may differ.

 

Love your Sedan Delivery, wish mine looked that good. Frank

 

Here's a set, gotta polish them again..

 

Halibrands were an option on Studebakers. I believe 1963 and 64. The are now being repoped in aluminum. Here is Paula Murphy with a Halibrand wheel and Sears Allstate tire in front of the #9 Studebaker Avanti she drove at the Bonneville Salt Flats, October, 1963. Allstate was a major sponsor of Studebaker's record setting attempts on the Salt Flats

 

I've been enamored with Halibrands for nearly 50 years.
My first exposure was from seeing all those 60's dragster wheels with their Dow 7 coating in the magazines, there just wasn't anything like the hue of those gold wheels.
I even painted my used Ansen Sprints with Krylon gold on my 65 Malibu drag car because that is all that was in my budget.
I have no vintage wheels but I sure have supported the brand over the years.
15x12" and 15x6" Sprints on my 66 Suburban.



16x8" and 16x7" five spokes on my wife's 67 Nova.

View attachment 3492393


These are my P.S. Engineering 15x10" and 15x4" kidney bean "tribute" wheels to those cool Corvette and Thunderbird Halibrand knockoff wheels from the 50's.

 

Real magnesium Halibrand Cobra II from probably the last run poured of these in 2002 or so. That was the last time Halibrand could get enough customers to pony up the money to justify a run of these. Something like $5000 a set back then. Supposedly the molds are still at M & A Casting in Michigan. Beautiful pin drives.

 

Simichrome is the only thing I've found that works on MAGNESIUM wheels. All other "Mag Wheel" polishes are about as good as water. If you've got chromed aluminum wheels, soap and water ought to work as good for a lot less money.

 

15X9 and 15X4, 1961 small windows.

 

Polished inside and out...16x10's and 15x4 1/2

 

Brasso works good too, and is cheaper.

 

Lord, somebody's a glutton for punishment!!

 

I was about 6 years old when my dad first "let" me polish the wheels with "Bon Ami" polishing compound. When I was a teen, we found "Neverdull" metal polish, but when I reached my Forties, I was DONE. One last pic to show my mom after polishing, Ha,Ha.

 

Always wanted a set, but could never afford them...

 

Should have bought a set in 1961. Cheap then.

 

Bought the 15X9's on my '28 Tudor in 1972 at a swap meet for $90. Had to buy the 5x4's brand new. Shelled out a whopping $63 each for those. Got the knock off's from Joe Gemsa.

 

Halibrand solids on my roadster.

 

I have a magnesium illness.....
I need to recoat my wheels on the Fly. Kinda looking bad.

 

A shot of Dow 7 should get you back on your wheels