1966 dated 14 x 6.5" LBP steel wheel, first one I have seen.

Talking to a pal that really knows vintage factory wheels, these were not a factory offered size within this time period. Date codes are for late 1966.

This size is mentioned in the 1965 & 1968 Chrysler Hi-Performance Parts catalogs, but they do not show photos of every application mentioned in the text. (I do not have the '66 & '67 books available to access)

Links to the '65 & '68 pages;


http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/_1965Hi-PoParts-01.shtml?load_img=9

&

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/_1968Hi-PoParts-01.shtml?load_img=14


Photos;

That part number is the same listed for 64 hemi car optional wheels and came on c body wagons according to the parts book. But the 64 and 65 wheels usually have the small holes between the lug holes.

I am wondering what this could be?

Intended use, etc.

The center will take a 9" hubcap.

Intended use according to the racing parts catalog is for slicks. The center looks like a 1968 wheel style. Factory 1967 and older wheels took the larger hubcap.

The overall width of 6.5 & the newer type hub center on a 1966 dated wheel are part of the overall mystery.

I gave it a bath & I found another date code on the back side of the center I had not noticed before;

Like NANKET mentions, the spider is a 68-9 Mopar - the wheel center. The pre-68 Mopar wheels use a 9-3/4" ID dog dish. I've never seen a Mopar 14x6.5" anything steel wheel. Ford yes, Mopar no.

Sure that's not a 1976 Wheel?

Really a strange one for sure. I don't think Motorwheel was even building rims in 1976. The latest I've seen were 1969 dated.

Did any 1976 wheel have the 1968 type center?

Did the '76 wheels have part numbers?

No part number on this one like a lot of older wheels.


If I was sure of what it was, I would not be asking. I really would love to know what it is for sure.

The 68 style center and the 66 date are what make it a head scratcher for me. I'm wondering if it were some oddball application non passenger car related like a truck, farm equipment, or military?

Or race?

The catalog indicates this width, but yes, it is a head scratcher for sure!

the 11 16 66 date would be well into the '67 model year with the '68s on the horizon as far as production components (9" hub cap) would be concerned

a low production over-the-counter "performance" intended wheel wouldn't need to conform to current assembly line requirements

that "hoop" design will not clear '70 - up B/E-body & others sliding calipers

anyone know where Motor Wheel plant #2 was located?

M1 = Motor Wheel plant Lansing, MI
M2 = Motor Wheel plant ?
M5 = Motor Wheel plant Chatham, ONT

Motor Wheel Corp. made all the Rallye, Road, Polycast wheels in the '70s

Motor Wheel Corp. was owned by GOODYEAR 1964 - ??
at the start of '95 there were 3 MW plants in the US: Lansing, MI - Mendota, IL - Bowling Green, KY

Are you certain it is not a Ford rim.
Ford never put their oval Ford stamp on rims till later years.
Have you checked it on a Mopar hub

Ford dog dish ring is a totally different size. The Ford dog dishes are 10" ID. That spider design is 68-9 Mopar. Here's a photo of a 68-9 dated Mopar 14x5.5 - I've sold many of these over the years: http://www.classicchambered.com/rims/14X55.jpg

Here's a '68 Hemi wheel: http://www.classicchambered.com/rims/hemi.jpg

When speaking on early wheels (these being the high performance, most big block, Hemi, and station wagon 14 x 5.5 applications) for 66 and some early 67 Wheels had the "10 hole" centers, 5 for the studs/lugs. The typical 67 wheels had 6 holes, 5 for studs/lugs, one supposedly a vestige feature for the no longer existing tapered axle pin. Your example shows none of these extra holes which leads me to think its a 68 application, or something that was not regular production.

Yes I did, perfect hub match.

I walked it out to the shop for a hub photo, it is on the '69 Dana 60;

Odd size to be sure, I was initially thinking C-body wagon or maybe Imperial. I guess it could be a drag wheel, though I seem to remember even way back seeing mostly 15" on the serious doorslammer drag cars. By "serious" I'm thinking of the faster cars that'd run SS, MP, etc. But by then in SoCal those guys tended to run aftermarket wheels, not steelies.
My other thought is whether it was something Scott Harvey pushed through for the rally program? That would require a 4.5" conversion on the A-bodies of the time, of course.

Any good photos of the backside? I want a good look at the welds. Electrofuse or MIG?

imperial, starting around 66-67 [?] went to 5"BP. before, they were 5.5.

Not Imperial for sure.

Did the rally cars use front disc brakes? If so, the back profile of this wheel will not work with them.

A closeup;

Here's the backside of a 1968 Hemi wheel - spot welded or electrofused. http://www.classicchambered.com/rims/b15.jpg

This wheel did not say "ELECTROFUSE" on it though. There was a different type of spot-welding I've seen many times with a pattern in it. The bead weld in this photo of the 6.5" W also does not look right to me - it does not look like it penetrates enough. I don't know - this is a real strange wheel.

This sums it up well and that is exactly why I had to ask about it.