Knock Off Spinners

[Paul L.]

I recently saw a 1963 Split Window coupe with Kelsey Hayes wheels (I assume that they are). The spinners had two wings instead of three as I am accustomed to seeing. Did these wheels ever come with two wings on the spinner or are these some reproduction or other replacement?

I didn't think to take a picture of these but this has been haunting me since I saw them.

[Duke W.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

Those were the first design KOs that were never released for production. Some of the 25 '63 pilot line cars were equipped with them, and I believe there was also a small inventory not installed on the pilot line cars that somehow got into the public domain.

Duke

[Joseph T.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

Interesting low volume production and pre preproduction parts surface occasioanlly. I have found it is best to take a picture or or note when I see the unusual. Back about 20 years ago when I talked with the Chief Inspector of the Corvette plant he said he would travel to Detroit for pre production meetings where samples of each part were organized for review by the 11 different plant managers ( speaking Chevrolet ). Who knows where these parts ended up.

He advised that ( show jobs ) Corvettes that were shipped for motorama and other events sometimes came back to the St.Louis plant. They were disassembled is some cases and the parts were reused in production. This could present some challenges for restorers of cars that received these parts.

[Bill W.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

These spinners could also have come from a Corvair. Bill

[Dick W.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

About 20 years ago I saw a pallet of two bar spinners that had never been plated. Do not know if they were GM or aftermarket. I passed on the opportunity to buy them.

[Paul L.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

I finally found a picture of the two bar spinners.

63 split window-2.jpg

The red '63 FI coupe is
parked next to my '66 coupe.

[Loren L.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

These spinners could also have come from a Corvair. Bill

As Bill states, the two bar spinners for the CorVAIR knockoff wire wheels served as the lawsuit "prize" for Dayton when the first "gear-drive" K-H KOs saw the light of day. Dayton said
"I don't think this is going to fly unless some $$$$ end up in my pocket". I think there are 2 or 3 styles of VAIR KOs and yes, they do have GM #s.

[Steven B.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

I finally found a picture of the two bar spinners.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]52281[/ATTACH]

The red '63 FI coupe is
parked next to my '66 coupe.

Great pics Paul! Thanks! In early '84 I saw a non-radio, PW, Riverside Red/black, big tank Z-06 with two-bars. The aluminum wheels had been added per the owner. Price was $16,000! By the time I got the $$$ together it was sold. Steve

[Mike E.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

It looks to me that at 14:35 in this old GM video linked below the prototype cars shown have 2 bar spinners.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ccYdSDv5o

Mike

[John H.]

Re: Knock Off Spinners

It looks to me that at 14:35 in this old GM video linked below the prototype cars shown have 2 bar spinners.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ccYdSDv5o

Mike

Mike -

Several of the prototypes and pre-production cars were known to have been equipped with the "gear-drive" wheels and 2-bar spinners.