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Hot Rods Can anyone identify these rear wheels?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by BatRestorer, Dec 11, 2017.

  1. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    I am building a replica of the Mongrel T. It was driven by Elvis in the movie "Easy Come Easy Go" and later used in in the Batman TV show as The Jokermobile. The photo of it as the Jokermobile shows them better than any other photos I could find.

    Thanks to the members of this forum the front wheels have been identified as Rader DBR 990.

    Now I'm trying to figure out what kind of wheels are on the rear of this car. Does anyone recognize them? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Joker2.JPG
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,941

    squirrel
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  3. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Yes they were changed at some point. The car is normally at the Petersen but is on loan to Graceland right now. Not sure why all the changes were made but many of the parts remain original. Here's the car as it looks today:
    IMG_2681.JPG
     
  4. reminds me of modified chrome steel slots
     

  5. GearheadsQCE
    Joined: Mar 23, 2011
    Posts: 3,375

    GearheadsQCE
    Alliance Vendor

    Looks like it could be saved but as my son would say, "Whywouldaguy?"
     
  6. cretin
    Joined: Oct 10, 2006
    Posts: 3,066

    cretin
    Member

    Do we need 2 of those?
     
  7. flatmotor40
    Joined: Apr 14, 2010
    Posts: 621

    flatmotor40
    Member
    from georgia

    Kinda looks like American Bearclaw wheels like the ones I have for sale 0817151300.jpg
     
    farmalldan likes this.
  8. [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Possible magnesium? Unsure of the brand here.
    When The King drove it, the driver's side porch light was blue, and there were 2 Cal Custom scoops on the bat wing air cleaner. Details count. Possible slot & dot Cragar wheel also.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  9. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Yes Cretin looking for 2 of those rear wheels. Chevy57dude: Already got the Cal Custom scoops, the Batwing, bulb horn, Rolls Grille, Flying Lady and headlights. Working on the wheels now. Really hope to get same wheels or very close match.
     
  10. Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Joined: Apr 20, 2008
    Posts: 4,670

    Hot Rods Ta Hell
    Member

    "When The King drove it, the driver's side porch light was blue, and there were 2 Cal Custom scoops on the bat wing air cleaner. Details count."
    Those were the same in the lead photo with the Joker driving it but apparently got changed along the way with a lot of other stuff; Body gold was repainted yellow, Joker stickers and bulb horn removed, Batwing air cleaner painted black from gold. Wood hood sides swapped out (originals look like 1960's interior paneling that just may have lit on fire). Interior "fur" changed from red to green (why???).

    May have been the first Rat Rod.:rolleyes:
     
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  11. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Someone at the Petersen Museum may know details on the recent history of the car and why the changes were made. I'm currently investigating. Won't help much with the build.
     
  12. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    IMG_2783.JPG I'm also wondering what those chrome things are sticking out of the front and back of the Batwing air cleaner. They remained intact when used as the Jokermobile. IMG_2678.JPG
     
  13. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    IMG_2653.JPG IMG_2668.JPG Also wondering what kind of funky fabric/material they used to cover the doors. They really put some crazy stuff on this car.
     
  14. treb11
    Joined: Jan 21, 2006
    Posts: 3,948

    treb11
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'd wager the things on the A/c are drawer pulls.
     
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  15. SASROD
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 149

    SASROD
    Member

    The seats/surfboard things and the graphic stickers on them change in almost every photo.
     
    38 mopar_fan likes this.
  16. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,390

    Squablow
    Member

    Yes, definitely drawer pulls. Common to use on custom made grilles but odd to see on an air cleaner as wing nuts. Here's a whole bunch used in a '62 Chrysler grille hanging on my office wall.

    20171209_135434.jpg
     
    big duece likes this.
  17. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,412

    ClarkH
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    You'd think when it came time to replace the fur interior, somebody woulda said, "Gee, while we're at it, maybe we should do something about these misfit plywood hood sides." I mean, even a little paint would help.
     
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  18. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    The stickers on the seat back originally were related to the surfboard manufacturer.

    IMG_2787.PNG

    Then they were covered for the Elvis movie with plain covered stickers and then covered again without noker sticlers when used in the Batman show.

    Drawer pulls! Yes that's what that is. Thank you.

    Looks like they just slapped this car together with whatever was laying around.

    Anyone seen that fancy fabric or Naugahyde?
     
  19. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    IMG_2682.JPG With all the stickers removed I think the underlying surf board label survived underneath. Above is the mongrel when it was first done showing the surf board labels.
     
    nailhead29A likes this.
  20. That's a negative on the Cragar wheel. All slot, no dot. Could be a Superior.
     
    lothiandon1940 likes this.
  21. a version of MT medallions?
    mt.jpg
     
  22. redo32
    Joined: Jul 16, 2008
    Posts: 2,137

    redo32
    Member

    I'm thinking that's a made up wheel. Chrome rim and painted center... no backspacing to get clearance for the body.
     
  23. Toner283
    Joined: Feb 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,327

    Toner283
    Member

    I think it might be these. Best pic I could find. I think I have a picture of the car straight on the side showing the wheels but it is on my computer home not on my phone. The gentleman who owns that car told me that they are a fairly scarce produced wheel, not a custom made rim. He did tell me who made them but it was fairly late at night at the jalopy jam up this past summer and I do not recall exactly who he said made them.
     

    Attached Files:

  24. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Although the view is limited these may in fact be the same wheels. If you could post the picture of the car straight on from the side I'd really appreciate it. I have my doubts that they would have made up a custom wheel to use on the Mongrel.
     
  25. Toner283
    Joined: Feb 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,327

    Toner283
    Member

    The gentleman who owns the car built it as it sits in 1961. Wheels included. He did say that they were a relatively mass-produced wheel. The rear wheels are the same center with a different width rim and deep offset. I will have a look for the side on picture when I get home. However it will be several hours before I could post it as I am at work right now.
     
  26. Toner283
    Joined: Feb 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,327

    Toner283
    Member

    Ok, good news/bad news. I cannot find the straight on the side shot that I thought I had however the picture I do have is a very high DPI so you can zoom in on it.

    The picture that I posted before was one I grabbed off of the net. I attached the original pic that I took to this post as well as a cropped zoomed in view of just the front wheel.

    The gentleman who owns it I believe his name is Robert and the car is from Quebec and as I said it has been built the way it sits since 1961 other than it has been repainted. Pretty cool guy that owns it. He had told me that there were several different hubcaps that would fit on the Wheel. The steel center is about a quarter inch thick so they are pretty heavy duty wheel. I know that Jeff Norwell had talked to him extensively at the show and could maybe tell you who made the wheels or give you some contact info for the gentleman who owns the car.

    Hope this was helpful.
    20171213_015859.jpg 20171213_015815.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2017
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  27. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Toner283 Thank you so much for your help. With the higher resolution you can see the hub much better. While there are many wheels with similar slots, the hub is very unique and looks like a match. The time period is correct too. At this point it pays to pursue this further. How. An I get in touch with Jeff Norwell to see if he knows who made these wheels or if he has contact info for the gentleman who owns the car?
     
  28. BatRestorer
    Joined: Dec 9, 2017
    Posts: 36

    BatRestorer
    Member
    from New Jersey

    Does the symbol on the hubcaps have any significance to the wheel manufacturer?
     
  29. bowie
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,098

    bowie
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Those hubcaps are ‘33 or’34 Ford. I’m thinkn’ those wheels might have been made by a company called Tacoma Wheel.
     
  30. Toner283
    Joined: Feb 13, 2008
    Posts: 1,327

    Toner283
    Member

    Jeff is on here with the screen name Jeff Norwell. He is a great dude and I'm sure he will help you if he can.

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/members/jeff-norwell.1566/
     

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