Original Availability of Halibrand Wheels

[2R2]

While looking over the newest issue of Avanti Magazine, I see that replicas of the Halibrand wheels offered by Studebaker are available via realrodderswheels.com.

This got me thinking (yes, dangerous!). Has anybody ever seen any sales materials issued by Studebaker promoting the availability of Halibrand wheels? I have heard they were available, and seen pictures of them in period road tests, but have never seen a sales sheet, pricing/order form, etc issued by Studebaker.

[8E45E]

Perhaps here in the last post:------> http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ight=halibrand

Craig

[2R2]

Perhaps here in the last post:------> http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ight=halibrand

Craig

Craig, thanks for reserching this. Lots of good information in this previous post, but I did not see anything issued from Studebaker announcing or promoting the availability of Halibrands.

[8E45E]

Craig, thanks for reserching this. Lots of good information in this previous post, but I did not see anything issued from Studebaker announcing or promoting the availability of Halibrands.

I have a feeling the factory never inventoried them, nor issued part numbers for them, and the dealer directly ordered them from Halibrand; not through the Parts Depot.

Craig

[Corvanti]

pardon my ignorance, but i need a little help from folks a little older than me (or others).

i'm curious if Halibrands were well known outside of the racing community. pricing at the time compared to other "mags". i'm ass-u-ming these were dealer installed options.

i really didn't get into wheels until around 1970 when a friend picked up some Cragars for his '68 GTO.

[53k]

I have a feeling the factory never inventoried them, nor issued part numbers for them, and the dealer directly ordered them from Halibrand; not through the Parts Depot.
Craig

One thing about moving after 33 years in one place is you find things you don't even remember having. Like I found a CD with a bunch of period magazine reports on Studebakers. Relative to this thread, one was a report by Motor Trend in the June 1963 edition. I have it in pdf, but can't seem to pull out specific pictures and the entire pdf is too big to post. Anyhow, the test was of a prototype R-2 Super Hawk. Pictures show it with the kidney bean type Halibrands and the writer is quoted as saying "Other options included Halibrand magnesium wheels ($240 a set from Stude dealers)...

[8E45E]

Anyhow, the test was of a prototype R-2 Super Hawk. Pictures show it with the kidney bean type Halibrands and the writer is quoted as saying "Other options included Halibrand magnesium wheels ($240 a set from Stude dealers)...

And that prototype is now owned by James Bell.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?17897-The-1st-Super-Hawks-Super-Larks&highlight=white+bellingham

Photo in post #21 http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...light=honduras

Craig

[2R2]

I have a feeling the factory never inventoried them, nor issued part numbers for them, and the dealer directly ordered them from Halibrand; not through the Parts Depot.

Craig

Craig, I imagine you may be right...in all my years following Studebakers, I have never seen any material from Studebaker promoting the availability of Halibrand wheels. Still "never say never", so maybe someday something will show up.

[8E45E]

Still "never say never", so maybe someday something will show up.

This is what makes the Studebaker World so much fun still after all these years! Especially now with the internet, so many new documented discoveries are found each passing year.

Craig

[2R2]

Following up on my own thread here...attached is a copy of a letter from Halibrand to Andy Granatelli concerning the availability of mag wheels. This is the only communication I have ever seen regarding the availability of these wheels. Is it possible that these wheels were only offered through Paxton, and not a regular offering by Studebaker? If my memory serves me, it seems like every car which appeared in magazines back in the day which had Halibrands spent some time on the west coast. We also know from reading the Lamberti papers that Paxton helped prep cars for magazine tests back in the day too.

[8E45E]

Is it possible that these wheels were only offered through Paxton, and not a regular offering by Studebaker?

If anyone knew, It would have been Bert Needham in Australia. Unfortunately, he is no longer around, but his old dealership paperwork and other business correspondence just may have survived. Being a dealer, and actively racing Studebakers in Australia at the time, he did order a set of Halibrands. If the paperwork still exists, it should clearly state which source the wheels came from.

Craig

[bezhawk]

Here is an ad I have.

[64Avanti]

Studebaker did show a red 64 Avanti with Halibrands in sales brochures.

[StudeMichael]

The wheels are mentioned here by Fred Fox

[8E45E]

I checked the December, 1963 gold & black Avanti parts catalog. It shows only primed steel wheels being available, but for wheel covers, it does state the 'wire wheel covers' which were introduced the previous October.

Craig