Modern Wheels for Your Vintage Ford

This has been a point of envy for vintage Ford enthusiasts for years.We've felt inspired by the bitchin', high-tech wheels those Fox- andSN-95-body Mustang folks have been installing on their late-model rides.When Ford came out with the Bullitt Mustang a couple of years ago, welooked at the wheels, drooled, and said we wanted a set for our vintageFord ride. Along came the '03 Mach 1 and we lost our minds. We wantedthose wheels too. Unfortunately, late-model Mustangs employ differentunderpinnings and wheelwells than do our classic Mustangs, Falcons, andComets.

Some of us who are more enterprising than others have been determinednot to allow simple physical limitations to get in the way of progress.Dante Designs and Performance Wheel Outlet were determined, managing todesign and manufacture late-model Mustang wheels that will bolt rightonto a '65-'73 Mustang with a V-8 engine and five-lug hubs. What's more,this idea applies to your Falcon, Comet, or Fairlane as well. The'60-'65 Falcon and Comet, as two examples, were born for big 16- and17-inch wheels. Dante Designs managed to revise the wheel offset so thatthis is now possible with a minimum of fuss. Here's how you get there.

This is the offset wheel spacer kit from CJ Pony Parts. The primaryspacer is 1 inch, which moves the wheel out by 1 inch. There is anadditional 1/2-inch spacer that goes between the spacer and hub for anadditional 1/2 inch. To install these spacers, you must use the longerstuds provided in the kit. This spacer kit moves the wheel outboard,away from the inner wheelhouse or control arm.

The spacer fits onto the hub like this (yes, that is a front drumbrake), once the longer studs are installed. Lug nuts are installed toretain the spacer. Torque them as you would a wheel.

Space Case For Style

CJ Pony Parts understands that desire within all of us for style andgood looks. When 15-inch Magnum 500s, 14-inch Styled Steel wheels, andTorq-Thrusts don't cut the mustard in your neighborhood, consider thepotential for used, large, late-model Mustang wheels in 16- and 17-inchsizes. For example, you want the wheels off a totaled '03 Mustang Cobraor Mach 1 at the local wrecking yard, and they're priced just right forsomeone working at Wal-Mart. But, how do you achieve the proper fit onyour '67 Mustang fastback? CJ Pony Parts has the answer with these slickoffset wheel spacers that enable you to install those outrageousfive-spoke wheels.

(above & right) With the offset wheel spacer installed, your vintage Ford is ready for avariety of late-model wheel designs.

This is the 17-inch Magnum 500 ('03 Mach 1) 260 Series wheel availablefrom Dante Designs/Performance Wheel Outlet. Although the Cobra-headcenter wheel cap is shown here, you can opt for the galloping Mustanginstead. Shown is an 8-inch-wide version. Any wider than 8 inches willnot fit.

Here's the 180 Series Bullitt wheel in chrome, available in 16x8, 17x8,and 18x9 inches. The latter will not fit your classic Mustang.

High-Tech Wheels For Vintage Rides

It's impossible for us to cover every type of late-model, high-techwheel available for vintage Fords. However, we're going to focus on themost popular ones, then install them on a '70 Mustang SportsRoofprovided by Performance Wheel Outlet.

In chrome is the 270 Series Cobra wheel in 17x8 inches.

Behold the Bullitt 180 Series wheel in silver like we find on the '01Mustang Steve McQueen ride.

This is the new Cragar S/S 17x8-inch mag wheel from DanteDesigns/Performance Wheel Outlet. The side profile fills out the Mustangwheelwell like it was meant to be filled. Although a '65-'66 Mustangmight look better with a 16-inch wheel, the '67-'73 wheelwell was bornfor a 17-inch wheel. You can take the rubber as large as 255 in thesewheelwells.

Any way you look at the 17-inch Cragar S/S, it is a sharp wheel for oldand new Fords alike. This one clears the '70 Mustang wheelwells nicely.We're convinced you can push the tire size a pinch larger than 255 witha 17x8-inch wheel.

Return To Cragar S/S

If you're one of us who grew up in the '60s and '70s, you understand theemotional impact of a Cragar S/S mag wheel. Cragars were for the uppercrust. Those with money or those with daddies with deep pockets hadCragar S/S mag wheels on their cars 30-40 years ago. The rest of us hadchrome-reverse, slotted-disc steel wheels, or worse--factory povertycaps. Only the coolest of the cool had mags. When we as young automotivebuffs spoke of "Cragars" during our Friday night bench racing, there wasbut one Cragar we were referring to: the Cragar S/S mag wheel.

Aging baby boomers who did without the S/S at 18 may rejoice in whatthey can have today: a more striking, larger S/S. You can have thoselong-awaited Cragar S/S mag wheels, and in a size we could have onlydreamed of in 1970. Introducing the 230 Series Cragar S/S mag wheel in16x8-, 17x7-, 17x8-, and 18x9-inch sizes.

Do It With A Bullitt

Here's the 180 Series Bullitt wheel in silver, just like we see on the'01-'03 Bullitt and GT.

The Bullitt wheel clears everything nicely and looks sharp. This wheelis available in late-model offsets as well as classic offsets. If youopt for the late-model sizing from a total or swap meet, the spacersfrom CJ Pony Parts will get you into these guys with ease.

We tend to love this wheel as much as we do the Cragar S/S justmentioned because it reaches back to the legendary American Torq-Thrustwheel. It also reminds us of the Fenton five-spoke mags from long ago.This one is available in chrome or polished in 16x8, 17x8, or 18x9inches. Shown is a silver-finish Bullitt in a 17x8-inch.

Be Ready

With the great strides being made in wheel technology and larger wheelsizing, be sure your local tire shop is equipped to service late-modelwheels. The conventional tire changer will not work with larger magwheels. Rough handling will damage these wheels, and most tire shopsthat damage them will not pay for the loss.

(above & right) Here's a side profile of the Cobra wheel on a '70 Mustang SportsRoof. Welike the fit. Note the offset already programmed into the wheel sizing.You can buy this right off the shelf at Performance Wheel.

Snake Bitten

The light and airy late-model Cobra wheel gives vintage Fords a newforcefulness, with renewed respect. Available in chrome, silver, orpolished, this wheel gets the job done in 16x8-, 17x8.5-, or 18x9-inchsizes. Shown here is chrome.