Where did rally wheels come from?
 

All of the photos I've seen of original trucks they have what's called "steelies" with hubcaps. So, when did we start using rally wheels as the standard? Were they an option? Were they an aftermarket? Were they from another vehicle? "Does anybody really know what time it is?" Anyone?

Cheers,

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

73-up 4X4 trucks used the "rally" wheels.I have never looked for a steelie of that era so I'm not sure if the "Rally" was the only Factory wheel for the 4X4's or not.They were/are pretty common and are a stock wheel for GM so with the low cost and availability of them they are quite popular.Especially with us old farts who don't care for the big bling look.At least in the 6 lug version.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Thanks. So, all the rally wheels flying around the board are actually from 73-up chevy pickups/vans? Don't the purests take issue or is it they just look cool?

Cheers,

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

My view is this:

Rally's are so common and so good looking that if they were not available from the factory at the time then it must have been an oversight :metal:

Tim

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Anything that you can bolt on without cutting or re-shaping is fun to do! Wheels fall into this...they can change a trucks look and attitude real quick.
And sometimes that attitude rubs off on the driver! There are pics out there that shows the transformation.....stock steelies to over the top BLING.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

I think they look cool. If anyone else has an issue, that is their problem :smoke:

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

I believe some of the ralley wheels on some of our trucks are Corvette ralley wheels..??? I stand corrected but isn't the truck wheels like 15-17 slots and the Corvettes are like 5 slots ..

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

from the vette, it started there.. then it spread..

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Cars, trucks, whatever. Chevys were made for rallies.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

But the "factory made" car rallys don't fit trucks, the bolt pattern is different.
There are aftermarket versions though, so to answer the Original Poster's question(s).....Yes

Ralley wheels seem to be like a factory "custom" type of thing, an up-grade from the plain steel wheel, but not a true aftermarket wheel.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Original 5 slot rally's were first used in 1967, and had a one year only small center cap, in 1968 they changed to the larger "Top Hat" center version.

I know they came a few different ways from the factory, 14" and 15" the rarer version of the center caps had "Disc Brakes" written around the rim of the cap.
I was under the impression that original rally's were 6" wide.
But I remember reading somewhere that they were only 5.5" wide, with later years getting wider. Correct me if I'm wrong on that point..

The set I have on my 68 SS RS are from a later corvette, and are 10" wide.

J.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Thanks...I wasn't to far off. :uhmk:

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

As to your question regarding "does anyone really know what time it is", the authority for that if the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC. Should that fail, the Alternate Master Clock Facility at Schriever AFB in Colorado becomes the authority.

But now that we know that, the question now is - does anyone really care? About time? :smoke:

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Van rallyes are 6.5" wide. Truck rallyes are either 7" or 8" wide. 7" are a little more difficult to find in my experience.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

I remember them on the new Chevies, for '67. Corvettes had them, as did the big cars...Impala's. The center cap mentioned earlier, had a small cap that had the bowtie in the center and around it the words "Disc Brake".

I put a set of Wheel Vintiques Vette-style rallye wheels on my '69, as well as on my '96. The '69 wheels are 15x8 and 15x10, while the wheels on my newer truck are 16x7. Both trucks have the "Police" cap, which is what Chevy put on the police cars in '67...and maybe later. Here's the truck pix. The last pic is of some caps that were optional and that would fit on rallye wheels or steel wheels. I have two sets of them, one in the box (NOS). I've seen them on one car in my life. I always thought they would look nice on a set of chrome-plated rally wheels. But, they are only in the 5 on 4.75 pattern.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

My 1968 Chicago police car had them with the fleet caps and that was how they came factory.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/...l/PICT0101.jpg

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

If I remember correctly, The first "Rallye"wheels came on the 1967 Vette. The Vettes and the full size (Impalas, Belaires, etc.) cars have the same 5 on 5" pattern that the 71-72 and later C-10s have. I don't know how late they went, but '73-'76 C-10s all could be ordered with plain 'steelies" with white or chrome dog dish caps. EVERY one I ever bought had the plain wheels and they appeared to be original. The first truck "Rally" (note different spelling!) wheels I ever saw were on a van. In 1969 I bought a new 396 Chevelle and it came with plain steel wheels and caps, but they were 5 on 4.75" and 6" wide. I had to buy aftermarket "Rallyes" to get what I wanted! All the Novas, Chevy IIs, and Chevelles were 5 on 4.75, I think.

best wishes,

Les

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

People love rallys on these trucks because the just LOOK "CHEVROLET". Most people on the street have no idea that they are not original on these trucks, they are used to seeing chevy trucks with them.

I may be wrong but I think the came out in @ 1975.

And yes, purests do take issue (sort of). I tried them on my survivor truck but had to go back to the full wheel cover.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

Chevrolet kept the 5 on 4.75 pattern on Corvettes, Impalas/Bel Airs/Biscaynes, Chevy II, when they were 5-lug. My first two Nova's were both 4-lug, as was my '64 Corvair Spyder, I believe. Corvair went to 5-lug in '65. Nova's and Chevy II's had 5-lugs when the 283 was made optional in '64. I don't recall any Vette's with anything but 5 on 4.75 pattern. I also don't believe that the Impala body (B-body in GM-speak) had a 5 on 5 pattern before 71. The body style was new that year and since the trucks had gone to disc brakes, it seems logical that they would both have the same pattern as the other B-O-P big cars.

That '68 cop car is like what I remember. They had disc brakes and that's why they got the rallye wheels.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

So, what vehicle did this type 5x5 specifically come off of or were they a range of years and vehicles? Thanks to St1x10 for the photo.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

[QUOTE=sameyrasmea72;4797964] I may be wrong but I think the came out in @ 1975. QUOTE]

1975 truck brochure doesn't show them, at all.

I remember them on some '76 models. They were on trucks, as well as the Impalas....one that I recall was owned by a guy I worked with. He bought it new. It was an Impala 2-dr hardtop, white, with some red and blue accents and the rallye wheels were also white, with trim rings and center caps. If you were around then, and conscious of your surroundings, there was a lot of bicentennial stuff going on and anything that could be sold with that motif, was available.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

I have a 77 vette with factory 15x8 ralleys, 5 on 4.75.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

These wheels are not stock for 67 thru 72 pickups. Yes we do take issue when someone tries to pass an "original" pickup with rallies. I believe there are probably many younger people on this forum who have seen so many 67 thru 72's with rallies, they believe they came from the factory with these wheels when new. The problem gets worse when the rallied wheel pickups are shown on stock only threads.For some strange reason, some Chevy people think they have a license to pass a vehicle off as an "original" with non original wheels.

Re: Where did rally wheels come from?
 

The truck rally did not start until 76 or later not before- still the land of full wheel covers or dog dish caps. The truck rally could be had in 5 lug for 2wd and 6 lug for 4x4, people as said before have passed them on this model truck for quite a while. I personally feel that the rally wheel (which gives the width 8") covered with a factory full wheel cover is the way to go. Looks stock from the side but gives the beef of a 60 or 70 series tire to fit the truck better.