<VV> Hands Wheels::::::::::::::

Tue May 4 22:15:35 EDT 2010

I should clarify the statement " where the majority of the 14x5.5 and 14x6
seem to be 4 bolt and commonly found on old MG's..."

I meant to say that in my experience of swapmeets and classified ads I have
seen about a 60% to 40% ratio of 14" 4 bolt vs 14" 5 bolt in various bolt
patterns...hence the "majority" of 14x5.5 being 4 bolt.  Plent of 14" 5 bolt
pattern out there...

The 15x5.5 are commonly found on Porsche 914's and Volkswagons on the 4 bolt
VW pattern as well as the 5 bolt Chevy....I have a set of VW rims that were
welded and re-drilled as 4 bolt Chevy and then found a 15" set in 4 bolt
Chevy for my vair...

I am currently involved in giving a pair of 15"x5.5 Hands widened to
15x7....Hopefully they will be done prior to the Nat's and Marshalltown... 

Rick Loving 

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Rick Loving
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 8:46 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Cc: 'Danforth West'
Subject: Re: <VV> Hands Wheels::::::::::::::

The company Hands Engineering offered the Hands style rim with the cast in
raised hub up and 3 ear spinner thru the mid 60's...One would assume that
production on that pattern stopped around late 64 mid 1965 as John Fitch
could not get a set for the Fitch Phoenix right around its debut in 66.

Later, either in the late 60's or early 70's several other rim companies
started copying the design WITHOUT the cast in hub.

This style uses a center cap set up either with or without a spinner.  The
"Hands" look-a-likes came in multiple bolt patterns and rim sizes.

I have owner 13x5.5, 14x5.5,14x6, 14x7, and 15x5.5 sets in the look-a-likes.

I have only ever seen the original Hands rims in 13x5.5 and 15x5.5.

The Hands rim was a specific aftermarket rim for Sunbeam Tigers in Ford 4
bolt and the Corvair Sprint in 4 and 5 bolt Chevy. 

The 14x7 are more rare than the 14x5.5 and I have only seen them drilled for
5 bolt where the majority of the 14x5.5 and 14x6 seem to be 4 bolt and
commonly found on old MG's...

None of the Hands or Hands look-a-likes are "common"....but there are a few
cars with them running around at Corsa events...

Rick Loving

 Subject: Re: <VV> Hands Wheels::::::::::::::

Thank you, Rick, for your speedy reply!

But could you get a little more specific?

Are you saying Gurney offered them in some sort
of a re-manufactured form? Mine have center
caps which were fabricated by the fellow I bought
the car from. Uniquely, he's an F-15 mechanic/machinist
for the Oregon Air National Guard (!) a case of overkill
if I've ever seen one.....

After my purchase, we did a tire change from Remington
to BFG, and since that's the time to do it, there was a
general polish done to the wheels just to keep them
spiffy. Tire change is the time to do it..........

Real question, though, is: How Rare ARE These Wheels?

Were they primarily intended for Corvette/Chevelle/Camaro?

I can't help but think the offset had to be Vair-specific.

I personally think they are the outstanding feature of the car.

Let me know if you'd like some fotos.

Thanks again;

Dan West
Bangor, Maine USA

Subject: Re: <VV> Hands Wheels::::::::::::::

> The 14x7 rims are another aftermarket rim patterned after the Hands rims. 
> Dan Gurney offered this style of rim in a variety of sizes and offsets. 
> The original Hands pattern can easily be seperated from the later versions

> by the cast hub that the spinner attaches to.  Later copies just use 
> center caps.... I have original Hands in 13x5.5 and other Manfactured in 
> 13x5.5, 14x5.5, 14x7, and 15x5.5.   They are my favorite style of rim for 
> the vair.....
>
>
>
> Danforth West <bonanz01 at myfairpoint.net> wrote:
>
>>All:
>>
>>I have recently purchased a 66 Turbo Coupe in
>>Oregon. Very soon I will be flying out there and
>>driving it home to Maine, 3,400 miles of bliss, it
>>is hoped.......
>>
>>My question for all of you is this:
>>
>>My car has what I believe to be some very unique
>>wheels. They are Hands 14X7 inchers, something
>>I know I have never seen before on any Corvair.
>>There seems to be little or nothing on the web
>>concerning the Hands Wheel Company, and I'd be
>>really grateful for any information I could get about
>>their history, etc., and anything about these 14X7s.
>>
>>I have seen MANY Hands wheels on Corvairs going
>>all the way back to Car and Driver on the Fitch
>>Sprints, but I have never, ever seen anything like these
>>before. I can only guess they stopped making them
>>when Corvair sales started to drop in 1966.......
>>
>>Thanks in advance for your input:
>>
>>Dan West
>>
>>'66 Turbo Coupe

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