Randy what is the bolt pattern? 4 3/4 a 68 69 70 olds cutlass or 4 1/2 it a ford but i am no expert just owned a few in my day.
Thankyou Bill I think the LE stamp should give this away like the W codes on the buick wheels.. These are stamped just like the buicks..So I was about 75% sure it is oldsmobile..If it is these are probably pretty rare.. to bad I only found one.. I will let you know what I found out..Thankyou Randy..
Sorry, I don't know what "LE" is. The "M" means the wheel was built by Motor Wheel Corp. I believe the "12 10" means December 10; I know that's how it works for Kelsey Hayes wheels. But what is that digit underneath "M4"? Is it a 5 or an 8? Regardless, that should be the year the wheel was built, so that should give you some clues. So if we're looking at a wheel built in December of '68, it may be an Olds SS-I from the 1969 model year? Except that I think the SS-I in '69 used a trim ring and wasn't chrome on the rim? Somebody needs to verify the "LE."
Are there any other numbers anywhere else on the wheel? The ones you posted are on the rim lip near the valve stem hole right? I'm assuming it's a 14" wheel. The Chevelle SS wheels look too similar to the Olds ones for me to tell. This is fun I'll do some research!
I'm gonna guess a Magnum 500 wheel. There should be more stampings on the front interior part near the lugs I think? Or, measure the bolt pattern. I think all the stamping locations should be similar regardless of the application because they were all made by the same manufacturer. What do we win if we guess right? :laugh:
Holy moly I never knew that, they always looked like a natural steel dull-type finish to me but I never saw one up close. So were the spokes painted argent silver or something? The ones pictured don't look chrome plated either though. More like a satin non-mirror finish. I know some of the Olds SSI wheels were like that.
It was option code P05 and is referred to as the SS1 style. They were 14 x 6. Olds started using them in 1966 and ran them until early 1968 model year when it was replaced by the SSII, N66 wheel option. Also 14 x 6, painted with separate trim rings. After much complaining from customers and dealers, they brought the wheel back for the 1969 model year and offerred both types. In 1970, the SSI and SSII went to 14 x 7 with a deeper offset to clear the disc brakes. They both used trim rings, but the SSI had a chrome plated center section. In 1971 after only one month of production, GM had an 8 week UAW strike, and was even longer at Motor Wheel Corporation. A second source for the wheels was found that supplied 14 x 7 with a chromed outer ring that required no trim rings. Chevrolet got most of the Motor wheel inventory even once the strike was settled, so Olds stuck with the all chrome 2nd source SSI wheel for most (if not all) of the 1971 model run. In 1972 they reverted back o the Motor wheel type which required the trim rings. Option was gone forever in 1973. The 1971 Olds SSI all chrome wheel is by far the most rare and popular of all Olds styled wheels. The 14 x 7 clears disc brakes, whereas the early 14 x 6's did not. They therefore, are much more valuable. Aftermarket repros are the same as those 1971 all chrome units, but much lighter steel. Also the lug holes are soft and wallow out if not torqued properly. So how about that? This is chapter 33 of my forthcoming book. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Sheesh! I didn't know you were going to devote an entire chapter just to the SS-I wheel! ou: Somebody buy the man a beer. :beer
Great info Dave, esp the connection to the 67 day strike! :TU: Def miss the days of pulling nice LZ's for $6-10 a pop in the cheap yards. Got Posi? :3gears: Roger
If the truth were to really come out dave is really is Dr. oldsmobile (I think that is the name of Rusty's avatar ou :bglasses:
My Buddy recognised these right away as the SS1 style oldsmobile wheel date coded 12-10-68.. He says they only came in 1969-69 years.. Yes they are 14X6 non disc wheel. Thankyou for all your help I learned alot!! Randy
thats what i said. : : My set does clear single piston disc brakes B/C I ran them on a 71 chevelle convertible for awhile. :beer
