Halibrand wheels authentic for a Studebaker?

[Studebaker Wheel]

Everyone seems to be crazy about those Halibrand wheels but does anyone have any original 1963-64 documentation that they were ever actually offered by Studebaker? I have never seen any and I have a lot of documentation. I have been told they were a dealer installed option but if that is true fender skirts and exterior sun visors should also be OK for an Avanti? Waiting for documentation that there was ever a Studebaker that left the factory with these wheels. Otherwise I am thinking a 5 point deduction per wheel in judging!

[8E45E]

For what its worth, see Post 7 here: Halibrands/Dealer Option - Studebaker Drivers Club Forum

Craig

[nels]

Gray area, maybe. Sure was a lot of Studes tested with them. Maybe they were just recommended by Studebaker? Either way, I could care less if they took off 50 points per wheel I’d put one in the trunk to make an even 250 point deduction. I’m not big on having my cars judged anyway.

[Milaca]

How about you reduce the deduction to 2.5 point per Halibrand-type wheel, and 5 point deduction for other brands of aftermarket wheel. If somebody wants an era-correct aftermarket wheel for their 1963-64 Studebaker while also wanting their car judged, I think you should cut them some slack.

[2R5]

I think some people get just too “annul “ about things 🙄

[6hk71400]

Does that mean that people the get "annul" get upset once a year over something is a personal preference? lol lol lol lol

[2R2]

I too have often wondered if there is any documents from Studebaker announcing the availability of Halibrand wheels. The closest I have ever seen is the attached letter to Andy Granatelli. Maybe the wheels were put on cars destined for the press corps?

[Milaca]

Slightly off topic, but I was curious as to who currently owns the Halibrand wheel company and it appears to be Holley, with Holley being owned by a capital equity firm named Sentinel Capital Partners which owns a LOT of companies.
https://www.sentinelpartners.com/sec...tID=2&typeID=0

Here is a list of Holley sub-companies:



Here is a list of Sentinel Capitol owned companies:

[BobPalma]

Everyone seems to be crazy about those Halibrand wheels but does anyone have any original 1963-64 documentation that they were ever actually offered by Studebaker? I have never seen any and I have a lot of documentation. I have been told they were a dealer installed option but if that is true fender skirts and exterior sun visors should also be OK for an Avanti? Waiting for documentation that there was ever a Studebaker that left the factory with these wheels. Otherwise I am thinking a 5 point deduction per wheel in judging!

I don't know about the deduction, Dick, but I am certain and would bet $100 that no 1963 or 1964 "Lark" or Hawk was driven off the assembly line equipped with Halibrand wheels.

Now, if someone took a car over to Engineering and put a set on it, it might have left South Bend so equipped, but I doubt even that. Maybe like the dual quad Jet Streak kit (P/N 1541805?) for 1956 Golden Hawks; of course, some were mocked up in Engineering, and undoubtedly escaped the factory so equipped, but that doesn't mean the kit was "factory installed" as a regular (or even special-order) production option.

I would think your literature collection would include a document from the Parts and Accessories Division advising dealership parts Departments of Halibrands as Studebaker-approved, dealer-installed accessories, which I believe they were. BP

[Peddler]

They were a listed dealer installed option, I do not know what the controversy is about. With original bias tires there would be no points deduction on an Avanti or a Lark/Daytona. Even the AACA which is crazy about wheels recognizes the Halibrand wheels and their aluminum reproduction by Real Rodder. These wheels were not factory installed in any case that I know of but are accepted without point reduction in judging.

[r1lark]

They were a listed dealer installed option, I do not know what the controversy is about.

Peddler, not sure there is any controversy. But Richard is asking for a copy of the actual documentation that shows/verifies they were a dealer installed option.

[studeski]

How about you reduce the deduction to 2.5 point per Halibrand-type wheel, and 5 point deduction for other brands of aftermarket wheel. If somebody wants an era-correct aftermarket wheel for their 1963-64 Studebaker while also wanting their car judged, I think you should cut them some slack.

They already did. "Modified" class.

[Studebaker Wheel]

For the record I inquire because some time ago I was ask to make up an authentic window price sticker for an Avanti to include the Halibrand wheels. This for a person who is very particular about being completely authentic. I tactfully informed him that I really could not find any factory publication which offered the wheels so I had no AC part number or pricing information so I concluded that they were not a factory option/accessory. He was certain that they were. I offerd to him a chance to make up a part number and a price but that it would not be authentic. Eventually I sent the WPS without including the wheels. I told him if he could find any legitimate documentation I would redo the sticker and include the wheels. Since then I have received two other WPS request to include the wheels. Still have found no documentation.

My suggestion re the point deduction was tongue-in-cheek. I am not into the judging thing and have not had a car judged at an SDC meet in 39 years (1983). However if the judging standard of "how it left the factory" or "how it could have left the factory" is the bench mark then dealer installed options should not be accepted. As I stated in my original post a dealer could install fender skirts, bumper guards or a sun visor on an Avanti, should those be acceptable as authentic in a juding scenario?