keystone klassic rims

[steele1733]

Need a little help. Does anyone know the first year crager producted the keystone klassic rim? Best I can come up with is early 70's. ???
Thanks for the help.

[studemax]

Re: keystone klassic rims

That's when I remember them...

[IRONHEAD]

Re: keystone klassic rims

Need a little help. Does anyone know the first year crager producted the keystone klassic rim? Best I can come up with is early 70's. ???
Thanks for the help.

didn't keystone make them not cragar

[pdub]

Re: keystone klassic rims

All I think I remember is that a buddy of mine had some and they would actually fall apart, had an attachment piece or something that wouldn't stay on.

[racingsnake440]

Re: keystone klassic rims

Sox & Martin were running them in the late 60s.

[pdub]

Re: keystone klassic rims

And I remember what it was from the photos - it was the center piece, the hub cover, or whatever you call it , that would fall off.

http://www.newstalgiawheel.com/cragar_wheels.asp

And why did Cragar ever quit making the simple brushed-finish slotted mags, or did they? My ex-boss wanted a set for his Fairlane, and he had to buy old ones off of E-Bay from the west coast.

[squirrel]

Re: keystone klassic rims

I think American still makes slotted mags. they cost a lot more than old used ones like I have on my car though.

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: keystone klassic rims

I believe that Klassics first showed up in 1966.

[steele1733]

Re: keystone klassic rims

Thanks for the help.. I've been trying to date the set of reversed that are on my '57 chevy that I bought off my dad when got sick a couple of years ago and needed money..I am trying to get it back to the way it was when he was driving it right out of high school (1968) and give it back to him...

[pdub]

Re: keystone klassic rims

I am trying to get it back to the way it was when he was driving it right out of high school (1968) and give it back to him...

That is cool Steele. Very cool! Nice. VERY nice. 8)

[Loren]

Re: keystone klassic rims

To my knowledge Keystone had nothing to do with Cragar, back when. Keystone was primarily a bumper re-plating company that used their resources to get in on the custom wheel craze in the sixties. They bought welded-and-rolled steel rims from here, die-cast aluminum centers (with cast-in lugs that could be welded into the steel rims) from there, then plated-assembled and marketed them.

Keystone sells supplies to body shops still, but it's not really the old company. A bit of history from various sources:

From Keystone's site:
In 1947, Southern California had many undeveloped inland regions where severe winds created sandstorms that could wreak havoc on an automobile?s paint, windshields and chrome. The frequent windstorms would quite literally sandblast cars, causing owners and insurers to pay for expensive repairs. Paint and collision centers would do the repainting, but chrome parts were often replaced with expensive new parts. That is, until Virgil Benton, a savvy young entrepreneur and automotive enthusiast in Ontario, California, sensed an opportunity and acted upon it.

As the owner-operator of a small but thriving chrome-plating shop, Benton soon convinced insurers and collision centers to let him replate the damaged chrome parts at significantly less cost than replacing them. Collision centers, insurers and drivers alike were suitably impressed with Benton?s solution, and Keystone Automotive Industries was born. Benton?s original products were replated chrome bumpers and other chrome auto parts. Due to the cost savings, the concept rapidly gained acceptance and in a short time, expanded into straightening and repairing, along with replating collision damaged bumpers. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the quality of Keystone?s work became more widely known and, with encouragement from a growing number of auto insurance companies and collision centers, the company expanded with new plants in the Midwest and Northeastern states.

From the California Dept. of Toxic Substances Control, regarding Keystone's Ontario CA property (yes it's a toxic waste site now)
The site was leased in 1964 to Keystone Bumper and Automotive. Activities included distribution of automotive wheels and bumpers used for polishing, plating, and final finishing of wheels and bumpers. In 1968 Keystone became the owner and sole tenant. In the 1980?s, Intermark Inc. acquired Keystone. Keystone Company?s name changed to Dynmark in 1985 and filed bankruptcy in 1991. In 1992, the operations terminated.

The Keystone logo was very recognizable and had a good name behind it so all was not lost for the Keystone brand. Again from the company web site:

The 1980s saw new replacement body parts such as fenders, hoods and grilles become more widely available from many independent parts manufacturers, providing a generic equivalent to the collision repair industry. These ?aftermarket? parts created a competitive environment in which consumers, insurers and collision centers could all benefit. Keystone?s long-established distribution system to the industry was a perfect compliment to its manufacturer and production expertise and Keystone quickly became the nation's leading supplier of independently produced collision repair parts.

There is no mention of wheels being manufactured by the Keystone company any longer, they are primarily a distributor for aftermarket/inported replacement car parts. for the collision repair trade.

But...since we see the wheel style again we may assume they are being made under license, by...someone. Same guys that are making Cragars I'd guess, which would make sense being as the construction is similar.

[1badmonkey]

Re: keystone klassic rims

cragar wheels are built by Carlisle(trailer tires). they get the pieces from over seas and assemble them here. they also do the Keystone wheel.
they will do custom backspace with a turn around time of 2-3 weeks.

and they still use those stupid ass shank lugs and washers. blah

[mlcraven]

Re: keystone klassic rims

I believe that Klassics first showed up in 1966.

Sounds about right...I distinctly recall, as an 11-year old, seeing them on a friend's father's car circa 1968. They made such a big impression that eight years later I bought a set from Karbelt, complete with Goodyear Polyglass GT tires, for my 71 340 Duster. (Stylinnnn!!!!)

And Loren's spot on, Klassics were a Keystone brand unto themselves -- not a product in any way affiliated with Cragar.

[pdub]

Re: keystone klassic rims

The timeframe seems right - my buddy had a set of them in the early 70's, and they were old hat (but still in style) by then.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: keystone klassic rims

these are the ones that look like buick wheels???? no..
with chrome centers and blacked out lug area and steel crome rim
if so not a fan,, but keystone did make other rims..
I have a set of alum 5 spokes that look like american racing "d" that are keystones , but all one piece and cast..
as cast center with brushed rim lip.. late 70's early 80's wheel
my guess is they where for the van years as they are 15 by 8 or a vette