If you need to be correct to 1960, there really weren't any aftermarket aluminum wheels that far back. Halibrand made magnesium (mag) wheels I believe since the late 40's and dominated the racing market (like Indy, etc). American Racing came out with a 4 hole model and the Torque Thrust design in the late 50's and became popular with drag racers. Hot rods, street rods, and custom cars at this time relied on hub caps, wheel covers, and whitewall tires to personalize their vehicles. Around 1960 painted reversed rims became popular. Almost immediately chrome reversed wheels pushed wheel covers out of popularity. Chrome wheels really were the start of the custom aftermarket wheel industry in the early 60's.

As best I can remember, it was somewhere between 1962-1964 that American introduced the Torque Thrust in aluminum and quickly took over as the wheel to have. Around the mid 60's the Cragar wheel was introduced along with Ansen slot mags (and numerous copies). The explosion of popularity spawned a variety of other styles including the Keystone Classic design, and a bunch of other brands and styles. By the early 70's every hot rod Chevy pickup had slot mags, because by this time they were so common they were about the most inexpensive wheel available, and the only custom wheel that came with the 6 lug pattern. By the late 70's/early 80's, slot mags fell out of favor and were replaced with painted Jackman wheels.

If you're trying to stick strictly to 1960, slot mags are too new, however if you watch virtually any period movie hardly any of the cars are period correct. Movies set in the 40's and 50's frequently have thinline whitewalls for example. The movie producers and most of the audience don't know or care about the anachronism.


1960 GMC 1/2-Ton Pickup Truck
In the Gallery
Updates in the DITY Gallery
Now cruising in the Passing Lane