Скачать или смотреть BIG BLOCK C3 Corvette with One VERY Unusual Detail

I'm a Corvette nerd, so when I saw a set of KELSEY HAYES Knock-Off Wheels on a 1971, I was intrigued. Further investigation revealed the original Purchase Order and Dealer Copy from Mission Chevrolet in San Gabriel, California. On the Purchase Order, all of the car's options were hand-written. LS5 454 big block with 365hp, four seasons air conditioning, AM/FM Stereo, the list goes on and on. The last item on the option list was "4 Mag Knock Off Wheels", an option that Chevrolet did not offer in 1971. In fact, Chevrolet only offered aluminum Knock Off Wheels during the mid '60s. By 1967, Knock-Off wheels were no longer used, as the government stepped in to mandate the use of standard lug nuts. So, seeing a set of legit KH knock off wheels on a C3 Corvette really got my attention. It couldn't be real, could it?

Kelsey Hayes manufactured many OEM wheels through the years, but these aluminum wheels were very special. The wheels attach to the car with a single "lug nut", which is a chrome plated spinner cap. A lead hammer is used to tighten the wheels, and the spinner caps were known for working themselves loose over time. It was not a smart design for road use, but it definitely looked cool. The wheels were phased out in the 1966 model, but Kelsey Hayes manufactured a similar-looking wheel for 1967, except it attached with conventional lug nuts.

My friend bought this 1971 Corvette and we traded a few comments back and forth about how the wheels didn't look right on his car. He had intentions of selling it, so I suggested a set of Corvette Rally wheels. If they were legit Kelsey Hayes wheels, he could sell them and come out ahead on his deal, and have a better looking car. However, he responded that the wheels were listed on the dealer paperwork, so they were correct for the car. Knowing Corvettes, I knew this couldn't be the case, but it was worth a little research. As it turns out, the Chevrolet service department COULD order Kelsey Hayes knock off wheels over the counter into the early '70s.

So, the possibility of this '71 Corvette leaving Mission Chevrolet with knock off wheels is actually a little better than I thought. My theory is that Mission Chevrolet either had a set stashed away that had been removed because of the dangerous nature. OR they ordered them over the counter....or sourced them from another dealership service center. Either way, it would appear that Mission Chevrolet made their customer, Thomas Earl Davis happy by equipping his brand new big block, 4 speed Corvette with Kelsey Hayes wheels. The world may never know, but finding a fifth Kelsey Hayes wheels and an ORIGINAL Goodyear F70-15 tire in the spare tire compartment adds to the theory.

Of course, wheels and tires can be swapped easily, but given the dealership paperwork and odd 1968 date stamps, the story starts lining up that these were not bought and installed by an individual...they were likely a dealer add-on to make a high dollar sale on this well equipped Corvette.

The car would've already been pretty rare, as it is Sunflower Yellow, one of the most obscure colors in Chevrolet's offering. Add to that a big block, 4 speed, air conditioning, AM/FM Stereo, and other options make it a truly RARE American sports car.