I would like to know what would have been the original stock wheels on 69 Buick skylark GS. I have 14" rally wheels. Don't know what style rally wheels they are, but an aquaintance at the track said my wheels look too modern or new for my car. Help!!!:beer SCOTT
Scott, The wheels on your car were optional in 1969. Depending on your budget, you could get anything from dog dish (poverty) caps, wire covers, large hubcaps (or wheel covers) to the Rallye wheels that are on your car. Tell your friend they are all wet.
Rally reply So what you're saying is that the wheels on the car now could be the original ones? Thanks, Scott
Re: Rally reply Scott - The back of the rims, along the edge, have some numbers/letters stamped in them. What are they? They can determine if the rims are original to your GS.
Re: Rally reply Even if they are not, the car could have come with them originally. Well, I'm not 100% certain about the '69, but I'm about 95% certain. My '70 could have gotten them as original, although I had the big saucer caps, I think, originally. At least there were four really dented and scratched big hubcaps in the trunk when I got it. Those Buick rims are tough...I dented one about two inches on the perimeter and the tire wouldn't deflate, lol
There were 2 types of rallye wheels in 1969. The all chrome 14x6 and the painted ones with trim rings. After almost 34 years, you could have anything on the car. I will attach a pic of the trim rings wheels I "borrowed" from a post here so you can see what they look like. Mark
That's interesting Mark. I have the 14x6 rally with the beauty ring on my car. I always assumed that they were just cheap replacements, but I guess I'll have to find the numbers to see if they are original. Thanks for the info. I guess you learn something every day.
My 70 GS has the painted rallies with the rings. Even the spare is a painted rally with a trim ring and a G70-14 Custom Wide Tread Red Line Goodyear.
It's good to know that I'm not the only one Joe. I had honestly never heard of such a wheel until now. And to think that changing the wheels was sorta on my "to do" list because I thought they were incorrect.ou:
The painted center with trim ring rallye wheels were called " Super Sport Wheels" and they first became available in '69. Option code V7, UPC PA6 Price = $68.46 To add a little more info, my '68 GS400 has the Buick Rallye wheel with the chrome center (not painted like the "super sport wheel") with a trim ring (the part that the trim ring covers is painted black). I have the original order form for my GS and it was ordered with the "V2" chrome plated wheel option. That was the all chrome Buick wheel that we are used to seeing. I was told that the wheels on my GS were wrong since the order form says "V2". As far as I know you could not specifically order the chrome center / trim ring wheel in '68 and that style wheel does not have a sales or UPC code, it only has a part number that can be found in '68 parts books. My build sheet that was decoded by Duane H (thanks Duane:TU: ) proves that my GS was built with the chrome center/trim ring wheel so I now know that they are original and correct. I would like to find out why the factory used this style of wheel and not the all chrome version that the dealer ordered.o No: I have been told that the trim ring stlye wheel was used when they ran out of the all chrome wheels at the factory (in '68), I don't know how true that is. o No:
Here is a photo of one of the wheels on my GS.. Note the chrome center (not painted) and the trim ring...
Right on Mike.:TU: That looks exactly like my wheels. Here's my next question. Has anyone ever reproduced these wheels like this? I haven't pulled one of mine off yet to search for a # stamp but I was thinking that since I these wheels seem like somewhat of a rare option that mine have a good chance of being original.
Mike, My 75 parts book shows the trim rings as fitting late 68 thru 71 wheels. Always thought the trim ring wheels were only 69-70. Seems they also fit the 68 and 71 models. All the ones I have found so far have been painted. Why would they chrome the center section and not the whole wheel is anyones guess. o No: Question: are your wheels chromed under the black paint? Now that would be REALLY strange. uzzled: I prefer the chrome wheels myself, but am "cheating" with my 64 Skylark. Wanted a set wider wheels (only 5" on the 64) but still wanted to use the spinner hubcaps. With the trim ring wheels I can just remove them and pop the spinners back on. :grin: Sure would like to see your car/wheels sometime. Regards, Mark
The outer part of the rim is painted black (no chrome under the paint) as you can see from the photo of my original spare tire. You can still see the factory overspray where they must have painted the rim after the chrome center was attached ( makes sense). I was told that using only the chrome center saved cost and time when making the wheels so that may be part of the reason Buick used them in a pincho No: The part number for the trim ring used in '68 for these rims is 1387788, is that the same number that is shown for later years? I will try to post a photo of my GS with these rims as soon as I figure out how to shrink the file down to 153K as required...
Mike, The p/n my book has is 1230853 but they sure look the same as the ones you have. There was a 68 wheel sold on ebay a couple of weeks ago that was a spare tire. Didn't take a good look at the picture to see if it was painted or chrome center. Probably still out there under completed auctions. The rings I have polish up nice using Blue Magic metal polish. They appear to be aluminum and not chromed steel. If yours are chromed steel, that could account for the different p/n and why they look more like the chrome wheels. Then again, who knows why the p/n was changed. Seems like a very unique option you have there and one that I have not heard about until now. :eek2: Guess you just never know what our cars will come with from the factory. Mark
Mark, There was a 68 California GS at the BCA regional meet at Columbus last year and it also had these wheels. It is a 68 only thing. This and other info on the 14" optional buick road wheels will be in the next Buildsheet. The article lists the differences for the 65-87 Chrome wheels, along with the 67-68 Buick Rally, and 69-early 72 Super Sport wheels. I think you will find it an interesting read. Duane
