The magnesium elephant in the room

[rodneym]

Well, Fran said he would, and it looks like he did...
PhotoPost Classifieds - NEW Cobra 427 SC Magnesium Wheels - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds
Surprised no one mentioned anything.
Some of us already found mags, KMP fitment notwithstanding, but here's "everyone's" chance. Wonder how many takers he'll have.
RodKnock?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Well, Fran said he would, and it looks like he did...
PhotoPost Classifieds - NEW Cobra 427 SC Magnesium Wheels - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds
Surprised no one mentioned anything.
Some of us already found mags, KMP fitment notwithstanding, but here's "everyone's" chance. Wonder how many takers he'll have.
RodKnock?

Meh.

Those don't look like new wheels. And I doubt there will be too many takers at $6,000/set plus shipping. And I doubt they'll ever fit the Kirkham with the bigger Wilwood brakes. So call me skeptical. Still.

Now Vintage makes what appears to be a beautiful alloy mag replica that fits a Kirkham for $1,800/set. There's a very good chance I'll buy a set when it's time for some new rubber.

[Maricopa]

Fookin' nootz!

[ERA Chas]

I think everybody's burned-out chasing these.
Kress will prolly get all calls from originals owners. Not many $50K car owners pop for $6K wheels.

[DougD]

I don't believe the utter silence on this. People (you know who you are) have been *****in' and whinin' for years that no one will come through and actually produce true mags. So now Fran steps up, and all I hear is the crickets chirpin' and gripin' 'bout the price.

You guys are all show and no go. Put your money where your mouth is, or for God's sake, quit talkin' 'bout Magnesium. And you wonder why it's so hard to get this stuff repopped.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by DougD

I don't believe the utter silence on this. People (you know who you are) have been *****in' and whinin' for years that no one will come through and actually produce true mags. So now Fran steps up, and all I hear is the crickets chirpin' and gripin' 'bout the price.

You guys are all show and no go. Put your money where your mouth is, or for God's sake, quit talkin' 'bout Magnesium. And you wonder why it's so hard to get this stuff repopped.

As a testament to how nonsensical your rant is, the troll fan-boy that owns a Nissan Leaf is giving you an 'atta boy!'..
Way cool...

[Maricopa]

Exactly how many folks here were demanding a set of 6K mag wheels?

BTW, I wasn't 'griping' about the price, I was commenting on the nuttiness of it. But hey, if your wallet can justify it then I guess you're first in line.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by DougD

I don't believe the utter silence on this. People (you know who you are) have been *****in' and whinin' for years that no one will come through and actually produce true mags. So now Fran steps up, and all I hear is the crickets chirpin' and gripin' 'bout the price.

You guys are all show and no go. Put your money where your mouth is, or for God's sake, quit talkin' 'bout Magnesium. And you wonder why it's so hard to get this stuff repopped.

We did stop talking about magnesium wheels, because: a) no one has actually produced a mag wheel, after numerous "smoke signals", 2) they will NOT FIT a Kirkham, iii) the set price, if produced, has risen from $4,000 to today's $6,000 price, iv) Vintage duplicates the mag wheel in alloy for $1,800/set and 5) Fran's list of buyers even at the cheaper price of $4,000/set were Rodney and I, two potential buyers, so how many will he get on the list at $6,000?

I will have to disagree with you on your "all show no go" comment. I'm definitely in the "no show and no go" category.

[bret a ewing]

Actually not a terrible price for Mags, try pricing a set of Ford GT rims........ouch.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by bret a ewing

Actually not a terrible price for Mags, try pricing a set of Ford GT rims........ouch.

$6,000 is the price for a set of reproduction magnesium wheels, being marketed to a group of replica Cobra owners, with median Cobra prices hovering around $50,000-$75,000.

BTW, a real set of Halibrands sold not too long ago on eBay for $10,000.

So, not quite the same situation as a set of wheels for an REAL Ford GT that has a value around $250,000 +/-.

[rodneym]

Rodknock - they look new to me A little water spotted but new. Besides, the ad is so cryptic. I think there'll be as many as people want.

Chas - you mean "original" original owners? The more I scoot my fat butt in the game, the more I realize there's mags, Sunbursts, et al, a plenty. And I agree, most are tired from chasing.

DougD - I hear your rant but some of us found Halis, and/or bought a set of Trigos or Vintage wheels and had them customized. Fran's news would have been more timely 2-1/2 years ago. But to his credit, he did it.

Maricopa - truth be told, I would have paid $6k. But I've already got a set of Halis I can't use. The Halis are slightly thicker inside. They scrape against the billet suspension on a Kirkham. They will fit 'original' suspension, of course. Fran's wheels? Don't know.

Side note: I just ordered a set of Vintage Golds with GYBB's. I already have 2 sets of Trigos with Avons, and an unshod set of Sunbursts and Halis (as well as other vintage goodies). I'm all wheeled out. Eventually, I'll get offers from projects at McCluskeys or original owners for the SB's and Halis.

bret - absolutely right. Mags ain't cheap. We're spoiled with $300 ea ally wheels.

[RodKnock]

When I supersize the pics, I see more than "water spots."

My garage is full of wheels as well. Eventually, my extra set of Trigos will be sold, when I get the time.

I'll be curious to know your thoughts on the Vintage Golds. My Yoko's will be aging out very soon and I plan to get a set of Avons and likely will buy a set of Vintage Golds and get it all done at the same time.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Fran's list of buyers even at the cheaper price of $4,000/set were Rodney and I, two potential buyers, so how many will he get on the list at $6,000?

Uhhh, lemmeee guess... "less than two?"

[ACademic]

Originally Posted by rodneym

...I just ordered a set of Vintage Golds with GYBB's. I already have 2 sets of Trigos with Avons, and an unshod set of Sunbursts and Halis (as well as other vintage goodies). I'm all wheeled out.

You have quietly passed the collector zone and now considered a dealer.

[rodneym]

Maybe they're not brand new but the way the ad read, both sizes, priced each, makes me think it's not a set.

When I get the Vintage wheels, I'll post.

[ERA Chas]

An interesting question is whether they will be drilled for valve stems.
These pictured are not. Gotta pay extra for drilled stems?
No word either about whether the inners from bead to bead are coated. No word means 'no' to me.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Maybe they're not brand new but the way the ad read, both sizes, priced each, makes me think it's not a set.

When I get the Vintage wheels, I'll post.

Just curious, if a Kirkham owner wanted a set of Kress mag wheels, what would the backspacing need to be? What are the backspace specs of the Vintage Golds?

[rodneym]

Rod,
The fronts of the Vintages are backspaced the same as Trigo, 2.75".
The Vintage rears are backspaced at 3.5 vs Trigo's 3.650. The Vintages will sit 'outside' .150" each side. That's fine for KMPs.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Rod,
The fronts of the Vintages are backspaced the same as Trigo, 2.75".
The Vintage rears are backspaced at 3.5 vs Trigo's 3.650. The Vintages will sit 'outside' .150" each side. That's fine for KMPs.

Couldn't you, in theory, add a .150" spacer to the rear hub to make the Halibrands work on the KMP?

[rodneym]

It's not the backspace, its the thickness of the rim, as in the clearance you need for brakes, but in this case the edge of the billet suspension.
Phil Schmidt said I could have the wheels turned to make them slightly thinner. Not loving that idea. I'm just keeping them as is for the next owner.

And the difference in backspace is between Vintage and Trigo. Trigo same as Hali. Fran, don't know.