Two Eared Knock Off's

[Tom H.]

I have a picture of what appears to be a 63 ZO6 FIA race car that was shown with other historic Corvette race cars at Carlisle about three or four years ago. The car was liveried in USA racing colors of white with blue stripes under Gulf Oil sponsorship and wore #1. It had rear fender flairs, either brake or diff cooler scoops on the rear deck, real hood vents and a small hood spoiler immediately in front of the hood vents. However, the most interesting thing about the car was the aluminum KO wheels without the chrome cone and the MYSTERIOUS- NEVER KNOWN TO REALLY EXIST- TWO EARED KO SPINNERS!!!! What gives??
Anyone know more about this car?

[Bob R.]

Re: Two Eared Knock Off's

I don't know about that car but I have seen an early 63 with 2 bar spinners before. The owner told me they were rare but did exist.

[William C.]

Re: Two Eared Knock Off's

Two bar knockoffs from a Dayton wire wheel package (Corvair) have also been reported to fit the Corvette adapters

[Tom B.]

Re: Two Eared Knock Off's

Here's a '63 ZO6 with 2 bar knock offs.

Tom




"63 with 2 bars

[Loren L.]

Bill is correct again - the Corvair 2-bars

were not discontinued until 1970 and 1971 - RH & LH. There were a small # of 2 bar Corvette wheels but ALL used a "gear" drive NOT a pin drive - a short note from Dayton's attorney citing the patent # ended the career of the Corvette gear/2 bar wheel.

[Tom H.]

Re: Bill is correct again - the Corvair 2-bars

Loren- The car at Carlisle "appears" to be pin drive. I'll scan the photos & email them to you. I think the car was campaigned by Dr. Dick Thompson.

[Jerry Clark]

I Respecfully Refuse

Comment BUT
pilot #15 displays two bar PIN drive KiOs
I have been sold on Lorens hypothesis

[Loren L.]

I know the car - I was at Carlisle with

the owner, Rich Mason. The Grady Davis team actually did have one set of the gear drive wheels and each of the two cars raced with them on occaision - probably because Davis had the initial idea and expressed it to Chevrolet. The ones on the car were added by Rich.

[Loren L.]

Jerry is already aware of this, but

to quote again from an October 22, 1982 letter from Birum G Campbell, then president of Kelsey-Hayes Company:

"2. Our records do not indicate that the pin drive wheel was

ever shipped with a two bar spinner.".