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MODERN OFFERINGS FOR ’50S AND ’60S -ERA RODS AND CUSTOMS
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Cragar and Wheel Vintiques have been producing custom wheels for decades. Shown here are two
definitive styles from the ’50s and ’60s: chrome steelies and Supremes. The left two wheels are
Cragar’s direct drill (single bolt pattern) Supreme and dual bolt pattern Smoothie steel wheel. The
two on the right are Wheel Vintiques’ Uni-Lug Supreme and direct drill OE Chevy/Ford Chrome steel
wheel. Not shown are Cragar’s direct drill steel wheel, the Vegas, or Wheel Vintiques’ dual bolt
pattern Full Chrome Smoothie.
By Curt Iseli
Photography by Geoff Miles
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A
s hot rodding and customizing evolved from its
pre-WWII infancy through the ’60s, wheel choice
became an element that identified a car with a
particular era. In the ’40s, painted steel wheels
and aftermarket or modified factory wheelcovers
were the hot ticket. By the late-’50s chrome-plated steel wheels
became popular, and in the ’60s mag-style composite wheels
took off as a large number of manufacturers produced an even
greater number of custom wheel styles. We wanted to take a look
at some of the options available today that replicate the styles of
those later eras: chrome steel wheels and the venerable Supremestyle chrome composite wheels.
To learn more about them, we turned to Wheel Vintiques
and Cragar, two companies that have earned their reputation
through decades of providing strong, stylish, high-quality
custom wheels to hot rodders worldwide. Wheel Vintiques
entered the picture in 1986, and since then have developed a
line of wheels encompassing everything from vintage artillery
wheels to Buick Skylark-style wires and Rallye wheels for
muscle cars. Cragar’s history goes further back, with roots in
the early-’30s speed industry and a history in the custom wheel
market that began with the 1964 introduction of the Cragar
S/S mag-style wheel.
The Supreme wheel design also debuted around ’64 as magstyle composite wheels emerged as the latest goldmine for the
growing hot rod aftermarket. The term “composite” wheels came
about because unlike their fully-cast magnesium and aluminum
counterparts, mag-style composites (which we’ll call mags) are
constructed from a cast aluminum or sometimes stamped steel
center that is screwed, welded, or riveted to a steel rim.
Like most mag wheels, Supremes are a variation on a fivespoke design, incorporating a deep dish and handsome conical
spokes radiating from the hub. Paired with narrow one-inch
whitewalls, they were an instant hit with both custom guys
and lowriders in the mid- to late-’60s. Although customs went
underground for a period beginning in the ’70s, Supremes
remained popular among lowriders throughout that decade and
into the ’80s. The resurgence of ’60s-style customs in the ’90s led
to their rediscovery by hot rodders and customizers. Since then
they’ve joined the ranks of other prominent chrome or polished
five-spoke mags like the aforementioned Cragar S/S.
The Supremes offered by Wheel Vintiques and Cragar are
visually faithful to the design popularized forty years ago. Both
are constructed from a cast aluminum center welded to a cold
rolled steel outer rim with a chrome-plated finish.
The Wheel Vintiques center has reinforcement tabs welded
on the back of the center where the spoke meets the rim. It has
a Uni-Lug hub to accommodate standard bolt patterns, and
is offered in several widths and offsets in 15-inch and 14-inch
diameters, the latter of which is virtually standard equipment
for lowriders and lowrider-influenced customs. Wheel Vintiques
Supremes come with a chrome push-through cap with the
Wheel Vintiques logo in the center.
Cragar’s Supreme is designed with five cleats cast into
the spokes that are pressed into the steel rim and welded. It’s
a construction method pioneered by the company to increase
the strength of its S/S wheel when it was introduced in ’64,
and it’s remained an integral part of their manufacturing since.
The Cragar Supreme is available as a 15-inch wheel in a variety
of widths and offsets fitting 5 on 4 ½, 5 on 4 3/4, and 5 on
Cragar’s Smoothie (Left) is constructed from a stamped steel center welded to a cold rolled rim. They offer various dual bolt patterns, including one with an early
Ford 5 on 5 ½ pattern, making them an off-the-shelf option for most applications. Although its not shown, baby moon caps are included. Their Supreme (Right)
is a cast aluminum center pressed and welded into a steel rim. They are available in 15-inch diameter with a variety of bolt patterns and offsets. Cragar can also
customize the offset for your particular application. A push-through chrome bullet center cap is included.
CRAGAR
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2233 E. Philadelphia Ave., Ontario, California 91761 | www.cragarwheel.com
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5-inch bolt patterns. A chrome-plated bullet cap is included.
Incidentally, Cragar also owns the Unique line of wheels, which
includes the popular Unique Supreme. The Cragar and Unique
Supremes are identical wheels, the only difference being the
center cap for the latter has the Unique logo cast into it.
Winding the calendar back about 10 years from the heyday
of the Supreme, chrome-plated steel wheels were a popular
option for an even broader range of enthusiasts. The ’50s
were a spectacularly colorful time for rods and customs, and
chrome steelies were seen on everything from hot roadsters
and coupes to lowered, candy-painted mild customs. They were
often accessorized with baby moon caps, shallower policestyle caps, or spider caps with tall chrome bullets over the hub.
But accessories weren’t necessary, as the look of the chromeplated wheel centers with chromed lug nuts was as cool as any
wheelcover available. And best of all, they were easily attainable
to anyone with a set of factory steel wheels and access to a
chrome shop.
The popularity of these wheels has never really waned,
and over the years slight variations on early-style chrome steel
wheels have become available through most hot rod wheel
manufacturers. Wheel Vintiques and Cragar both offer dual
bolt pattern chrome steel wheels, and now they also offer single
bolt-pattern versions for those who like the look of the exposed
wheel center without the extra holes. Steel wheel offerings
from both companies are constructed from stamped steel
centers welded to a cold rolled rim and chrome-plated.
Dual bolt pattern smoothies offer the versatility of
combined 5 on 4 ½ and 5 on 4 ¾ bolt patterns, as well as 5 on
5 and the early Ford 5 on 5 ½-inch patterns, among others.
The extra holes are inconsequential when you’re running a
hubcap because they’re not visible unless you’re changing a
tire. Some industrious hot rodders leave the centers exposed
and dress up the extra holes by filling them with chromeplated knock-out hole plugs. The plugs are available—and
cheap—in the electrical aisle at most hardware stores, and
it’s a great way to add an element of visual interest to modern
dual-bolt pattern wheels.
Wheel Vintiques’ dual bolt pattern Full Chrome Smoothie
is available in a number of widths, in diameters ranging from
14 inches to 18 inches. A variety of accessory caps are available,
including the aforementioned baby moons and police-style caps.
Cragar’s Smoothie is available in varying widths in 14- and 15inch sizes, and baby moon caps are included.
As convenient as dual bolt pattern wheels are, some hot
rodders prefer the look of a factory center on their chrome
smoothies. Wheel Vintiques’ OE Chevy/Ford Chrome wheel
captures the factory look of an early steel center and can be
fitted with any number of accessory hubcaps. Cragar’s single
bolt-pattern option is the Vegas chrome steel wheel, which
is designed to run with either an accessory push-through
chrome bullet or a spider cap. It does not have any dimples or
provisions for a hubcap.
We can all benefit from modern technology. It’s good to
know there are options available that take advantage of modern
materials and construction methods to create vintage-style
wheels that are stronger and more readily available than their
vintage counterparts.
Wheel Vintiques single bolt-pattern OE Chevy/Ford Chrome wheel (Left) is a stamped-steel center welded to the steel rim. It’s available in a variety of standard
bolt patterns including early Ford. These replicate the factory wheels, with four small slots around the inner lip of the wheel where the center meets the rim. Their
version of the Supreme (Right), constructed from an aluminum center welded to a steel rim, is offered in both 15- and 14-inch sizes to satisfy the need for 14-inch
wheels sought in particular by the lowrider crowd. Uni-Lug hubs will accommodate a number of standard bolt patterns. Wheel Vintiques can also manufacture the
Supreme with the rim and center reversed for a deeper offset.
WHEEL VINTIQUES
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4955 Don Julian Rd., City of Industry, California 91746 | (800) 959-2100
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