Cragar ss with magnesium centers?

[Bernhard]

Are these wheels just Cragar ss with the chrome removed from the aluminum center section? Or did Cragar make magnesium center section wheels?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Cragar-S-S-Mag-Rims-Steel-w-Magnesium-Center-15-x-6-Chevy-Bolt-Pattern/253658358492?hash=item3b0f3762dc:g:-BAAAOSwjjpbDvsJ

[big gear head]

I think magnesium would be oxidized more than that. Probably just aluminum without chrome.

[1967 4K]

I asked my Cragar wheel guy about these and he called these the plain aluminum center type. He said they are pretty rare and he’d only saw then in old cataloge pics.
They made a SS wheel called Sparkles that looks like these.
I’m still searching for a NOS or very good 15x4 SS to go with my recent NOS 15x4 purchase.
My friend said he’d heard you could no longer get the new flat spoke 15x4 1/2 inch from Jegs n Summitt. Has anyone heard that also?
1967 4K

[MailOrderMotion]

My little brother brought me home a pair of those in 15x4 / 5x4 3/4" this spring from a swap meet. I was convinced they were regular S/S that somebody had royally screwed up as I'd never seen anything like them. Then somebody posted pictures of an NOS set on the Cragar S/S facebook page. Now I'm just confused. I want to learn more about them.

[Bernhard]

My little brother brought me home a pair of those in 15x4 / 5x4 3/4" this spring from a swap meet. I was convinced they were regular S/S that somebody had royally screwed up as I'd never seen anything like them. Then somebody posted pictures of an NOS set on the Cragar S/S facebook page. Now I'm just confused. I want to learn more about them.

Can you post some pictures?

[markinnaples]

Someone posted a link to an ad (eBay auction maybe?) for some 15x4 Cragars in the Classified forum, eBay Links section, just, FYI.

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Cragar Sparklers.
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[camarojoe]

Those are definitely Sparklers.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-tdrpc62/0/4a0c0a0c/O/i-tdrpc62.jpg

[1967 4K]

No they are not Sparklers, they are the plain AL centers.

[bwag]

I've got 3 Cragar 14x6 plain aluminum center Ford bolt pattern wheels with 1968 date codes. A neighbor of mine bought them new for his 67 Fairlane , I'm not sure if cost was an issue for his choice. I found them in his Mothers garage in boxes after he had passed.

[BillD]

Had a pair of the unplated center Cragar S/S. I don't think they were Sparklers. Here's a link to a 1971 Cragar catalog. At that point in time seems that the only thing avaialable was the chrome centers and Sparklers. Slightly off topic but looks like Cragar G/T's were history by 1971?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cragar-Wheels-High-Performance-Old-Vintage-Parts-Racing-Catalog-Book-Magazine/273199902381?hash=item3f9bfbaead:g:L44AAOSwnklayVh N

[MailOrderMotion]

So, there were plain centers and Sparklers ? I'm recovering from foot surgery so it's gonna bit a bit before I can dig them out. I'm thinking these had a fairly smooth gray painted center with a chrome cap ( of course someone could have painted them in the last 50 years ). Hoops are chrome as they should be and they are definitely S/S. At least I thought they were definitely S/S. Aw Hell, I'm not sure of anything anymore.

[bigsixman]

A friend of mine purchased a new 66 SS396 Chevelle in the fall of 1965 and he ordered a set of 14" x 6" Cragars like these. The rim was chrome and the centers were polished aluminum.

[BillD]

Must be a sign of some sort of mental illness as I seem obsessed with this subject on Cragar wheels. Here's a link to a 1967 ad showing what looks like a S/S wheel with a chrome, natural aluminum and possibly a black painted center?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-Cragar-Wheels-Vintage-Ad-Travels-in-the-Best-of-Circles/222205981265?hash=item33bc823251:g:nzUAAOSwdzVXnqv z

[MailOrderMotion]

I got a chance to get some photos of the 15x4s.

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[Bernhard]

Nice
Have the centers been painted?

[MailOrderMotion]

Well, that was weird. I posted a reply and it wasn't what I wrote.

The centers have been painted at some point in their life. I'm assuming they should either be smooth and bare or have a shotblast finish. These appear to be smooth.

[Bernhard]

Well, that was weird. I posted a reply and it wasn't what I wrote.

The centers have been painted at some point in their life. I'm assuming they should either be smooth and bare or have a shotblast finish. These appear to be smooth.


Is there chrome under the paint?

[MailOrderMotion]

No evidence of chrome that I have seen.

[Bernhard]

These might have been the plane aluminum wheels that someone just painted the centers.
The question is why would they have painted plane aluminum centers? I have seen quite a few painted centers and wheels but this was done because the chrome failed.
Thanks for posting.
Bernhard

[Mr70]

They just sold on eBay $400 + ship.