Need Opinions on Rims for my Classic Car
Thread Starter
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,054
Likes: 1
From: Dirty Jersey
Need Opinions on Rims for my Classic Car
What up fellas? Need a helping hand with a rim decision. I just picked up a 65 Mercury maurader. for those who don't know what they look like I have attached a pic. 19.5 ft long!!! its in the shop right now getting what little rust it had taken care of and getting primed black. Car is also going to be dropped a bunch and I need the rims for fitment.Tryin to figure out what wheels to go with.
Thinkin about either getting the following...
20" 100 spoke wires
15" 100 spoke wires with WWs
18" American Racing Torque thrusts
Reasoning for the different sizes...have 20in tires so it would just be a rim purchased and save me some money. 15's (or 14s) might be too small but is a classic lowrider look. Or the AR's, would really love to get these in 20's but no way of making them fit. Rims are way to wide so 18's are the next option.
You can look here for pics of the wheels instead of reposting the same pics a bunch of times.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=341500
If you guys have any other ideas on rims please let me know I am kinda stuck. not really sure if I want the whole muscle car 15in wheel look cuz the car is big and it gunna be nice and low. The guy at the shop told me that moons would probably not look good. Gotta have rims ordered by next week...please help me out.
Thinkin about either getting the following...
20" 100 spoke wires
15" 100 spoke wires with WWs
18" American Racing Torque thrusts
Reasoning for the different sizes...have 20in tires so it would just be a rim purchased and save me some money. 15's (or 14s) might be too small but is a classic lowrider look. Or the AR's, would really love to get these in 20's but no way of making them fit. Rims are way to wide so 18's are the next option.
You can look here for pics of the wheels instead of reposting the same pics a bunch of times.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=341500
If you guys have any other ideas on rims please let me know I am kinda stuck. not really sure if I want the whole muscle car 15in wheel look cuz the car is big and it gunna be nice and low. The guy at the shop told me that moons would probably not look good. Gotta have rims ordered by next week...please help me out.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 0
From: GA
When I first saw the car, before I read what you were considering with respect to rims, I immedetly though 20" 100 spoke wheels.
I like the look on that car, especially lowered. I love the 65 Merc as it reminds me of the Continental, just sleeker and a set of 20" 100 spoke would give the old school/west coast look while maintaining a new school feel with the 20" size.
I don't like 15" unless you plan on going with a white wall and as for the 18", that is more a muscle car wheel in my opinion.
Plus you get to save on tires.
I like the look on that car, especially lowered. I love the 65 Merc as it reminds me of the Continental, just sleeker and a set of 20" 100 spoke would give the old school/west coast look while maintaining a new school feel with the 20" size.
I don't like 15" unless you plan on going with a white wall and as for the 18", that is more a muscle car wheel in my opinion.
Plus you get to save on tires.
GS47 Billet Specialties 
What happens when you cross a capped wheel with soft lip barrels? You have the new GS Series from Billet Specialties. We have taken two popular styles from our GTP Series and have mated them to soft lip barrels for the ultimate custom look. Available in 17” thru 22” diameters, the GS Series is a sure bet to get attention.
Size
Backspace
MSRP
Min
Max
17x7
4.25
5.125
$435.00 ea.
17x8
4.25
6.125
$435.00 ea.
17x10
4.25
8.125
$460.00 ea.
18x7
4.25
5.125
$575.00 ea.
18x8
4.25
6.125
$575.00 ea.
18x9
4.25
7.125
$595.00 ea.
18x10
4.25
8.125
$595.00 ea.
20x8.5
4.25
6.50
$750.00 ea.
20x10
4.25
8.125
$775.00 ea.
22x8.5
4.25
5.875
$985.00 ea.
22x10
4.25
7.375
$985.00 ea.
What happens when you cross a capped wheel with soft lip barrels? You have the new GS Series from Billet Specialties. We have taken two popular styles from our GTP Series and have mated them to soft lip barrels for the ultimate custom look. Available in 17” thru 22” diameters, the GS Series is a sure bet to get attention.
Size
Backspace
MSRP
Min
Max
17x7
4.25
5.125
$435.00 ea.
17x8
4.25
6.125
$435.00 ea.
17x10
4.25
8.125
$460.00 ea.
18x7
4.25
5.125
$575.00 ea.
18x8
4.25
6.125
$575.00 ea.
18x9
4.25
7.125
$595.00 ea.
18x10
4.25
8.125
$595.00 ea.
20x8.5
4.25
6.50
$750.00 ea.
20x10
4.25
8.125
$775.00 ea.
22x8.5
4.25
5.875
$985.00 ea.
22x10
4.25
7.375
$985.00 ea.
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Beautiful machine B. Which direction are you looking to go with this car? Classic American Muscle or West Coast lowrider 64' style? For that Classic American muscle look, nothing beats the AR wheels. For that West Coast lowrider 64' style, Daytons are the way to go.. I personally like the classic American muscle look. Check out at Classic Industries and YearOne for ideas Good luck
http://www.classicindustries.com/
http://www.yearone.com/
Which direction are you looking to go with this car? Classic American Muscle or West Coast lowrider 64' style? For that Classic American muscle look, nothing beats the AR wheels. For that West Coast lowrider 64' style, Daytons are the way to go.. I personally like the classic American muscle look. Check out at Classic Industries and YearOne for ideas Good luck http://www.classicindustries.com/
http://www.yearone.com/
Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 737
Likes: 1
From: CA
As a past owner of two classic cars and member of a few classic car clubs, what you’re planning is near blasphemous to us. We believe cars that old should be restored in original condition, from wheels down to the brand of spark plugs. To do otherwise makes your invaluable car just another modded ricer. Sometimes it is difficult to find OEM parts, but eventually that’s part of the enjoyment of owning such cars. 
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 2
From: Ventura, Ca
I think the Torque Thrusts would look the best. I think the 17(f)/18(r) combo should do.
Here are my other wheel choices that I think would look good that your car
The Colorado Custom Paradox
and the Billet Specialties Apex-G(The darker color would look good with the dark paint of the car - gives it that old school look and feel)
Here are my other wheel choices that I think would look good that your car
The Colorado Custom Paradox
and the Billet Specialties Apex-G(The darker color would look good with the dark paint of the car - gives it that old school look and feel)
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,466
Likes: 14
From: Cali
Cool car to grab. Love the big body stuff!
I don't see a reason to stagger the wheel diameters on a bg car like
this (no matter what you do the front wheels look too small with
this type of set-up) I'd probably go with 20s all around for
street driving, or maybe a 19 with a tallish tire like 245/45-19
+ 275/40-19.
My favorite hot rod/billet wheel is the Schott stuff.
They make a great 2-piece wheel with covered lugs and a really
innovative center cap cover. A great modern interpretation of
nostalgic designs - they seem to be very appropriate on 50s
and 60s cars.
http://www.schottwheels.com/wheels.cfm
I'm helping a friend equip his C4 driveline '62 Corvette with
18x8 18x9 Schott "Velocity" wheels. He needs custom offsets due
to the wide track of the C4 Corvette driveline and limited space
of the '62s smallish wheel wells.
I could see the Axiom, G5 or Velocity on your new rig any day!
I don't see a reason to stagger the wheel diameters on a bg car like
this (no matter what you do the front wheels look too small with
this type of set-up) I'd probably go with 20s all around for
street driving, or maybe a 19 with a tallish tire like 245/45-19
+ 275/40-19.
My favorite hot rod/billet wheel is the Schott stuff.
They make a great 2-piece wheel with covered lugs and a really
innovative center cap cover. A great modern interpretation of
nostalgic designs - they seem to be very appropriate on 50s
and 60s cars.
http://www.schottwheels.com/wheels.cfm
I'm helping a friend equip his C4 driveline '62 Corvette with
18x8 18x9 Schott "Velocity" wheels. He needs custom offsets due
to the wide track of the C4 Corvette driveline and limited space
of the '62s smallish wheel wells.
I could see the Axiom, G5 or Velocity on your new rig any day!