The Wheel Vintiques Legacy
Wheel Vintiques has established itself as the premier manufacturer of authentic vintage and classic wheel reproductions, catering to restoration enthusiasts, hot rodders, and custom builders who demand absolute accuracy and period-correct styling. Founded with a passion for preserving automotive heritage, Wheel Vintiques has built an unparalleled reputation for meticulous attention to detail, historical accuracy, and quality craftsmanship that satisfies even the most discerning collectors and concours judges.
What truly distinguishes Wheel Vintiques in the competitive wheel marketplace is their unwavering commitment to authenticity and historical preservation. Each wheel design begins with exhaustive research, often utilizing original factory blueprints, NOS (New Old Stock) examples, and detailed measurements of surviving originals to ensure every curve, contour, and dimension matches the wheels that originally graced classic automobiles. This dedication to historical accuracy, combined with modern manufacturing techniques that enhance durability without compromising appearance, has made Wheel Vintiques the trusted choice for museum-quality restorations and premium classic builds worldwide.
Wheel Vintiques Collections
OEM Reproduction Series
The OEM Reproduction Series represents Wheel Vintiques' flagship collection, featuring exact duplicates of factory wheels from American classics spanning the 1930s through 1970s. Available in original diameters ranging from 14" to 17", these wheels are meticulously crafted to match factory specifications down to the smallest details, including correct center cap mounting provisions, authentic stampings, and precise dimensions. The collection includes iconic wheels like the Chevrolet Rally, Ford Styled Steel, Mopar Magnum 500, and numerous others that defined the golden eras of American automobiles. Finish options focus on historical accuracy with correct paint formulations, plating processes, and surface treatments that match original factory appearances. Each wheel is manufactured using processes and materials that mirror original production methods while incorporating subtle modern improvements for enhanced durability. The OEM Reproduction Series is essential for concours-level restorations and period-correct builds where absolute authenticity is required, allowing enthusiasts to maintain historical integrity while enjoying the benefits of new, structurally sound wheels.
Hot Rod Collection
Wheel Vintiques' Hot Rod Collection celebrates the iconic wheel styles that defined American custom car culture from the 1930s through 1960s. These wheels blend authentic vintage styling with sizes and specifications appropriate for traditional hot rod and custom builds. Available in period-correct diameters from 15" to 17", models like the Gennie, Smoothie, Artillery, and Solid include the distinctive designs that have been staples of the hot rod scene for generations. While maintaining vintage aesthetics, many of these wheels incorporate modern engineering improvements including precision steel forming, improved welding techniques, and enhanced structural integrity. Finish options range from classic gloss or satin black to period-appropriate colors, chrome, and polished treatments that complement traditional hot rod styles. The Hot Rod Collection appeals to builders of traditional customs, street rods, and period-styled hot rods who want authentic styling with reliable performance and correct fitment for vintage tire options.
Vintage Modified Series
For enthusiasts seeking wheels that honor vintage styling while accommodating modern performance upgrades, the Vintage Modified Series offers designs that maintain classic aesthetics but with contemporary sizing and engineering. These wheels feature authentic vintage styling cues in larger diameters (17" to 20") that allow for modern tire options and improved brake clearance. Models like the 5-Spoke Rally, Billet Smoothie, and O.E. Plus showcase traditional design elements reimagined in updated dimensions, creating the perfect balance between nostalgic appearance and modern functionality. Finish options include both traditional treatments and contemporary variations that bridge classic and current styling trends. The Vintage Modified Series is particularly well-suited for restomod projects, pro-touring builds, and custom classics that combine vintage styling with modern performance components. These wheels deliver the distinctive appearance of classic designs while providing the benefits of current wheel technology and tire compatibility.
Custom Steelies Collection
The Custom Steelies Collection offers blank canvas steel wheels perfect for creating unique, personalized designs while maintaining vintage construction methods. These wheels feature simple, clean steel profiles in various diameters (14" to 18") and widths, providing the foundation for custom paint, trim rings, center caps, and other personalization options. Models include the Gennie Steel, Smoothie, and Artillery base wheels, available in raw, primed, or basic finished conditions ready for customization. The collection includes complementary trim components including various styles of beauty rings, baby moon caps, full wheel covers, and center caps that allow for countless custom combinations. These wheels appeal to custom builders seeking to create one-of-a-kind wheel presentations while maintaining the authentic feel and durability of traditional steel construction. The Custom Steelies Collection embodies the spirit of early customization when enthusiasts would modify basic steel wheels with creative details to create distinctive appearances for their vehicles.
Key Features of Wheel Vintiques Wheels
All Wheel Vintiques wheels incorporate several standout features that ensure superior quality and authenticity:
- Historical Accuracy: Meticulous research and precise replication of original designs and specifications
- Correct Materials: Authentic steel compositions and aluminum alloys that match original wheels
- Period-Correct Details: Authentic stampings, markings, and manufacturing characteristics
- Factory-Matching Finishes: Historically accurate paints, plating, and surface treatments
- Enhanced Durability: Modern welding, forming, and treatment processes that improve longevity
- Proper Fitment: Authentic backspacing, offset, and mounting specifications
- Complementary Components: Correct center caps, trim rings, and accessories available
- Date Coding: Many OEM reproductions include appropriate date stamps for specific restoration years
Selecting the Right Wheel Vintiques Wheels
When choosing Wheel Vintiques wheels for your vehicle, consider these important factors:
Restoration Goals: For museum-quality restorations and concours builds, the OEM Reproduction Series offers exact duplicates of factory wheels with correct details, dimensions, and finish characteristics. If your project allows more creative interpretation while maintaining period flavor, the Hot Rod Collection or Vintage Modified Series might provide the perfect balance between authenticity and personal expression. Consider whether absolute historical accuracy or inspired vintage styling better suits your project's objectives.
Era Appropriateness: Different wheel designs were popular in specific decades and among particular automotive subcultures. Research the wheel styles that would have been period-correct for your vehicle's era and build style to maintain historical integrity. Wheel Vintiques offers designs spanning from early 1930s artillery wheels through 1970s muscle car rally wheels, allowing you to select options authentic to your vehicle's time period.
Modern Adaptations: If you're building a restomod or pro-touring vehicle that combines vintage styling with modern performance, consider the Vintage Modified Series wheels that maintain classic design elements but in contemporary sizes that accommodate larger brakes and current tire options. These wheels provide the aesthetic of vintage designs with the functionality required for enhanced performance applications.
Finish Selection: The finish of your wheels significantly impacts your vehicle's overall appearance. Period-correct finishes maintain historical accuracy, while custom options allow for personal expression. Consider your vehicle's color scheme, trim elements, and overall build theme when selecting finish options, and remember that many Wheel Vintiques wheels can be purchased in bare or primed condition for custom finishing to perfectly match your vision.
Key Takeaways
- Wheel Vintiques specializes in authentic reproduction wheels for vintage and classic vehicles
- Their lineup includes historically accurate OEM Reproduction Series, traditional Hot Rod Collection, contemporary Vintage Modified Series, and versatile Custom Steelies Collection
- All wheels feature meticulous attention to period-correct details and authentic styling
- Available in both original diameters (14"-15") and modern upgraded sizes (17"-20")
- Finish options range from factory-correct treatments to custom possibilities for personalization
- Enhanced manufacturing techniques improve durability while maintaining authentic appearances
- Complementary components including center caps, trim rings, and wheel covers available
- Perfect for restorations, hot rods, customs, and restomod projects seeking vintage wheel styling
For enthusiasts seeking authentically styled wheels that honor automotive heritage while providing reliable performance and period-correct aesthetics, Wheel Vintiques Wheels delivers meticulously crafted reproductions that satisfy the most discerning collectors, restorers, and custom builders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate are Wheel Vintiques reproductions compared to original factory wheels?
Wheel Vintiques reproductions are renowned for their exceptional accuracy, with many models being virtually indistinguishable from NOS (New Old Stock) originals even to experienced collectors and concours judges. Their research process typically includes acquiring original factory blueprints, measuring multiple original examples, and consulting with marque experts to ensure every detail is correct. Dimensions including diameter, width, backspacing, bolt patterns, and center bore measurements match factory specifications precisely. Visual details such as spoke designs, vent hole patterns, and edge profiles are replicated exactly, while stampings, markings, and even part numbers match original wheels when appropriate for the reproduction. Where Wheel Vintiques does deviate from originals is in subtle manufacturing improvements that enhance durability without changing appearance, such as improved steel formulations, more precise welding techniques, and superior corrosion protection. For concours-level restorations, many of their wheels include correct date coding options to match specific model years, making them acceptable even in the most stringently judged restoration competitions.
Can Wheel Vintiques wheels accommodate modern brake upgrades?
Wheel Vintiques offers solutions for vehicles with brake upgrades through their Vintage Modified Series, which maintains classic styling in larger diameters with increased brake clearance. While their OEM Reproduction Series exactly matches original dimensions (which may not clear larger brake packages), their modified offerings provide similar aesthetics with engineering adjustments to accommodate modern components. For specific applications, Wheel Vintiques can advise on which of their designs provide sufficient clearance for particular brake upgrades. They can also provide exact clearance measurements to help determine compatibility with specific brake kits. Additionally, their technical team can recommend appropriate wheel spacers when minimal additional clearance is needed without changing wheel designs. For restomod projects planning significant brake upgrades, it's advisable to select brake components first, then consult with Wheel Vintiques to determine which wheel options will provide proper clearance while maintaining the desired vintage appearance.
What finishes are available for Wheel Vintiques wheels?
Wheel Vintiques offers an extensive range of finish options to accommodate various restoration and custom requirements. For OEM reproductions, factory-correct finishes include Argent silver, Rally Silver, gloss black, satin black, and various color options that precisely match original factory paint formulations. Chrome plating is available on many models, with correct triple-plating processes (copper, nickel, and chrome) that mirror factory methods. For aluminum wheels, options include polished, as-cast, machined with clear coat, and anodized treatments authentic to original offerings. Beyond factory-correct finishes, Wheel Vintiques provides custom possibilities including powder coating in custom colors, custom paint matching to vehicle colors, and specialty treatments like ceramic coating. Many wheels are also available in bare metal or primer finishes for customers who wish to apply custom finishes themselves or through their preferred painters. For certain OEM reproductions, Wheel Vintiques even replicates special factory finishes like the semi-gloss finishes found on certain muscle car rally wheels or the distinctive treatments used on specialty models.
What accessories are available to complement Wheel Vintiques wheels?
Wheel Vintiques offers a comprehensive range of accessories to complete the authentic appearance of their wheels. These include historically accurate center caps that precisely match original designs, including correct logos, finishes, and mounting mechanisms for various factory wheels. For custom applications, they provide multiple styles of center caps including baby moons, full moons, spider caps, and specialty designs that complement their wheels. Trim rings and beauty rings are available in various widths, depths, and finishes to enhance steel wheels, while complete wheel covers are offered for vehicles requiring full coverage options. For mounting, Wheel Vintiques supplies period-correct lug nuts in various styles including acorn, mag, conical, and ball seat designs with appropriate finishes to match their wheels. They also offer authentic reproduction knock-off spinners for certain specialty applications. For many iconic wheel designs, complete packages including the wheel, correct center cap, appropriate trim ring, and matching lug nuts are available as sets, ensuring all components work together perfectly for an authentic presentation.
Are Wheel Vintiques wheels suitable for daily driving?
Yes, despite their focus on historical accuracy, Wheel Vintiques wheels are entirely suitable for regular use including daily driving applications. While maintaining authentic appearances, their wheels incorporate modern manufacturing improvements that enhance durability and reliability beyond the original wheels they replicate. These include more consistent steel quality, precision welding techniques, improved coating processes for better corrosion resistance, and enhanced quality control during production. Their steel wheels typically exceed original specifications for strength and durability, while their aluminum reproductions utilize modern alloys that maintain appearance while improving structural properties. For vehicles that see frequent use, Wheel Vintiques offers upgraded sealing options to prevent air loss at the center of the wheel, improved valve stem implementations, and protective clear coats on vulnerable finishes. Even their most accurate OEM reproductions are engineered to handle the stresses of modern driving, though as with any quality wheel, proper maintenance including regular cleaning, prompt attention to finish damage, and periodic inspection is recommended to maintain both appearance and structural integrity.