What car was originally equipped with these wheels?

Polara_500

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This is the only pic I can find at the moment from when I was experimenting with new looks, who can remember the origins of these wheels?

upload_2020-6-20_8-20-56.png
 
Close-up Picture? What bolt circle?

Off-hand, don't recall any center caps with "CHRYSLER" on them that were not chromed. Possibly something from the Canadian market?
 
Like so - not a really nice example, but.......
upload_2020-6-20_9-8-10.png

And standard 5 x 4.5" bolt circle, wheels are 15 x 7.
 
They look like an aftermarket wheel a Chrysler center cap just happened to fit.
 
i first saw them on R body in '79 MY ... maybe '80 . thread here somewhere with 5-6 posts on them.

oh check M's of same MY's.
 
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The R-car alloys had fewer spokes. Same as on the Miradas? Perhaps a wheel picture might be possible to see if there is some black paint areas that aren't black any more?

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
 
1980-81 R body wheel most often seen on the Chrysler NY 5th Ave Limited edition. Stock Mopar item. Very rare nowadays since not many R bodies were made at all.

I also saw 1 J body (80 Mirada) wearing a set. Since I have no access to 80-81 Dealer books, I don't know if it was also a J body option.

I think they look great on the R body NY.

Note the car below has the wrong center caps from the 75-78 Road wheels on it. The correct centers were the same as the "Mirada" wheels.

caa26eb98fd3026e3004bcb236d5c22b.jpg
 
Agreed, the R-cars were some of the lowest production, regular production Chrysler products every made. I suspect that most NYs were sold with wider whitewalls and wire wheel covers, as the Newports and St. Regis cars usually had their standard full wheel covers. Just the way things were back then. A time when fuel economy was very important and, by observation, dealers seeking to sell on that alleged attribute rather than looking at the neat and interesting vehicles which COULD be built. Of which Mr. C's NY is a prime example of what COULD have been possible!

Enjoy!
CBODY67

DODGE__1980_MIRADA_dodge_mirada_1982_30.jpg
 
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They may have even been 1981 only, and just on Newports and New Yorkers. I don't think that I have a St.Regis brochure to see if you could get them on the Dodge. Regardless, they are pretty darn rare. I did manage to find a set at Carlisle about 15 years ago. Mine too have the wrong centers.

81 NY SED 4.JPG


I believe the car with the California tags is a '79, though it could be an '80, so like mine, the wheels are most likely an owner-added option

Jeff
 
The vast majority of the Fifth Ave's had the wire wheel covers, where many of the bread and butter New Yorker's had the cheapie covers like mine did.

81 NY SED 1.JPG

Jeff
 
My "80 Newport had the standard wheel covers on it when I bought it used. I wanted something "better" and the Magnum GT 15x7s happened to be on the Chrysler closeout pricing. Got three sets for just under $200.00 each, complete with caps, rings, and the correct center cap bolts . . . "over the front counter" at the dealership. Made it look and handle better, even with inexpensive P251/75R-15 whitewall radials. Saved the orig wheels and such for other times/needs.

One "problem" with most '79-'82 cars was that most of the flashy colors ended with the '78 model year. Chrysler, GM, and Ford. It was time for a change, but the change to generally pastels/muted tones seemed to coincide with the recession of that era. Financially and in public spirits, by observation. More concerned with fuel economy than power or "flash". Trying to re-capture the opulence of prior times, in a smaller package that was also less expensive to produce, by observation.

Issues with the lock-up torque converters' "feel" tended to send buyers elsewhere (for similar issues with GM cars, too, by observation). Those converter clutch engagements resulted in "skips" which the drivability techs never could fix, by observation. PLUS, no dealership operatives had the knowledge of what was happening to be able to tell customers what was going on. Thankfully, Chrysler finally raised the lock-up speed to more of a "driving speed" than the orig 27mph! Plus some "delayed/harsh engagement" as the converter clutch was locked-up in "N" and "P", and didn't unlock soon enough to prevent a harsh engagement into "D" or "R". Just part of the breed, back then, it seems.

In quietness, much improved due to thicker under-=carpet sound deadening/heat shield material, by observation. Nice cars which were better than GM's competitive models, in many ways.

Enjoy!
CBODY67
 
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