DeTomaso Mailing List: January 00, Message #77

Tim wrote:

>looking for some 17" wheels for this cat. my birthday present to myself.
have any of you seen any cats with halibrand style gt-40 wheels on them.
how do they look????

>>>There is one well-known guy down in So-Cal running a set of Halibrand 
copies (made by Trigo) on his Pantera.  His name escapes me for some reason, 
but his car permanently wears a large "73" on each door.  Looks pretty sharp.

The mechanics of the conversion are simple--just call Trigo!  Run by Lynn 
Park (noted Cobra collector and vintage racer), Trigo supplies the wheels for 
virtually all the quality replica Cobra makers in a variety of offsets 
depending on the application (Contemporary, ERA, etc. etc.)  They also sell a 
simple kit to adapt them to a Ford five-lug system.  The adaptor bolts to the 
hub using conventional lug nuts; the wheel is then placed over the adaptor 
and secured with the three-eared wing nut.  Thus you don't have the slightly 
goofy look of a Cobra-style wheel with visible lug nuts.

Last I looked, the wheels and adapters cost $3240 (circa 1993); Wheels alone 
were $1900.

Trigo, Inc.
P.O. Box 823
La Canada, CA  91012
(213) 746-1210 (the area code may have changed.)

Of course, you're still faced with the 15" tire dilemma.  PS Engineering has 
developed Cobra-style wheels in 17" that might do the trick.  Don't have that 
contact info however...but any Kit Car magazine will have an advertisement.

Also, you can look at genuine Halibrand wheels--the magnesium variety aren't 
reasonably priced, but they do make aluminum variants.

Regardless of which direction you go, remember to specific Pantera-correct 
offsets.  I don't happen to have those numbers at hand--you can search the 
archives or perhaps some kind soul will offer up the info today...

Mike