CSX3031 for sale at Legendary Motorcar (Apr 2014)

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by Dan Case

In the second picture it, the fronts look like the last version of the many 6.50 wide six spoke wheels designs (they were just race wheels to SA, somebody coined the term "FIA wheels" years later to cover all the many versions of 6.50, 7.50, and 8.50 wide wheels six spoke wheels) SA used on race Cobras and the rear appears to be the last six spoke design in 8.50 wide design for the 427 Cobra. The six spoke wheel offsets of the 8.50 wheel for a Cobra and the 8.50 wheel for a 427 Cobra are much different. I mounted a 8.50 six spoke 427 Cobra wheel in place one day and was surprised how far out the extra offset to the outside it had.

I bought the last (5) "FIA" 8.5 wheels that were available when Ford sold the remaining service parts stock that was obtained from SA. I used them on the front of my Cobra with the 9.5's in the rear, I bought spare front hubs and had the threads chased in so that I could tighten the wheels without running out of thread. I had to use spacers in the rear to use these wheels because the hub section was narrower than the 7.5 and 9.5 Halibrands.
This was back when you could get decent 15" race tires.
I was not aware of different offsets being available but Dick Smith told me he got a set of special 9" wide wheels to run at Daytona so he would be legal with SCCA. I think he said a fellow Cobra racer loaned him the wheels but I don't remember who it was.