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A very special set of SL/E Rims

Started by _sstorana_ , Dec 07 2010 04:32 PM

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#1 _sstorana_

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Posted 07 December 2010 - 04:32 PM

Hi All

I would like to share with a story that started about a month ago...

In early November, I was put onto a lead (from someone off this Forums) about a set of very special SL/E Rims that might be available to purchase.

You see these rims were the ones that were worn by this car for nearly 25 years!

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Yes, that is right, they are the original rims from the GTR-X when it was painted Silver, back in 1978. How do I know it was 1978 that is was painted, well I will get back to that...

Anyway, the story goes that I was given a lead to the guy that did the Resto on the car back in 2003. The company that was given the job was Car Shine and you can see from the link below, they have been involved in a number of Holden "Special" cars like the UTEster and the Mambo Panel Van.

http://www.carshine.com.au/Special%20Vehicles.htm

After a little bit of haggling we agreed on a price and the payment was made. All I had to do was wait for their arrival.

Well today they arrived!! and here is what I rec'd.

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All in all a pretty good set of rims considering they were on a show car!!

On closer inspection, I start to notice a couple of things..

Three of the rims had some strange engraving on the inner area that says, "STYLING ONLY NOT ENG SPEC"

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One of the rims had "Discard July 31-78 and a curious little mark on the rim's outer edge.. That reads, "PROTO 169"

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Another curious thing was that none of the rims were stamped on the inner rim edge as the normal ones do..

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These marks are on every other rim that I have here..

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So not only did I get the Rims that were on the GTR-X, but I also got a set of prototype rims as well!! :rockon:

Thanks goes to Rob (Rodomo) for putting me onto these. :clap:

It amazes me what is still out there...

I hope you enjoyed my little story..

cheers
Mick

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#2 _rob350hatch_

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Posted 07 December 2010 - 06:22 PM

car trailer wheels lol what if holden offers to buy them back $$$$$$$$$

Edited by rob350hatch, 07 December 2010 - 06:23 PM.

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#3 _sstorana_

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Posted 07 December 2010 - 06:25 PM

car trailer wheels lol what if holden offers to buy them back $$$$$$$$$

Not interested..

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#4 rodomo

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Posted 07 December 2010 - 06:28 PM

WELL DONE!
Got more than you bargained for? :huh:

No need for authenticfication with those stamps/engravings?

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#5 yel327

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Posted 07 December 2010 - 07:28 PM

It gives you an idea how tiny the GTR-X was, the wheels look like 15's on it!

I've got a NOS N67 (rally rim used for most of HZ) rim here too somewhere, which is a 14" version of the same wheel. Also got used later in 1979 on SL/E Statesman and optional on WB's.

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#6 _BRN 084_

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Posted 07 December 2010 - 08:04 PM

Wow, what a great piece of history to pick-up! Great stuff Mick.

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#7 Redslur

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 11:20 AM

Just remember, we know where you live Mick! LOL...

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#8 _sstorana_

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 02:26 PM

Just remember, we know where you live Mick! LOL...

Ah, yes!!

But they have been whisked away to a secure location :3gears:

cheers
Mick

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#9 lxsstorana

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 02:43 PM

Well done Mick. :clappin:

Now lets see if you can get the rest of the car. :lol:

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#10 _sstorana_

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 03:12 PM

Well done Mick.

Now lets see if you can get the rest of the car.

as a matter of fact, word is that someone out there brought the moulds from Holden.. and still has them..

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#11 MRLXSS

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 03:17 PM

A few years back, someone posted pictures of the moulds and a prototype car... It was pulled the next day as the owner of the pics thought he might keep it to himself...

I'd love to revisit this!

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#12 MONZA1

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 10:41 PM

Sorry Mick, but sounds like you've bought some rubbish wheels. Even Holden said to discard them. If you're after someone to come & get rid of them for you, I'm happy to oblige. (Won't even charge you.......

)

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#13 dattoman

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 10:54 PM

Well done Mick.

Now lets see if you can get the rest of the car.

as a matter of fact, word is that someone out there brought the moulds from Holden.. and still has them..

I tried buying them for more than 10 yrs
And I have all those previous pics

I would love to build one for personal use

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#14 _niterida_

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Posted 08 December 2010 - 11:58 PM

I tried buying them for more than 10 yrs
And I have all those previous pics

I would love to build one for personal use

Are you serious - someone has the moulds and they're NOT making replicas, or even selling the panels so we can make our own - bugger !!

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#15 _CHOPPER_

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 12:12 AM

Just because you can afford to buy an empty glass, doessn't mean you can afford the beer to put in it.

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#16 TerrA LX

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 01:02 AM

Heads the the shed with engraver in hand lol.

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#17 _sstorana_

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 07:50 AM

Sorry Mick, but sounds like you've bought some rubbish wheels. Even Holden said to discard them. If you're after someone to come & get rid of them for you, I'm happy to oblige. (Won't even charge you....... )

Nah, that's ok..

Might turn 'em into some pot plant holders for the missus :rockon:

cheers
Mick

Well done Mick.

Now lets see if you can get the rest of the car.

as a matter of fact, word is that someone out there brought the moulds from Holden.. and still has them..

I tried buying them for more than 10 yrs
And I have all those previous pics

I would love to build one for personal use

Hey Dats,

I would love to get some pics off you from when it was Silver..

I am trying to get some pics off the guy when they did the Resto.

cheers
Mick

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#18 FastEHHolden

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 11:31 AM

Hehe...I can just see them with a garden hose wrapped around them!!

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#19 _Skapinad_

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 11:52 AM

I appreciate the rarity of these wheels..... but what can you actually do with them ?

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#20 _sstorana_

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 01:08 PM

I appreciate the rarity of these wheels..... but what can you actually do with them ?

Hey Skap

not a hell of a lot!! Especially seeing how they are "Not to Eng. Spec".

It's more so the fact that I was able to salvage them. Although the guy that I brought them from was very nice, he is certainly no Holden/ Torana Enthusiast. Who knows what may have happened to them..

At least now they are with the right "Community".. They may make an appearance at Toranafest 2011 if we can get the GTR-X there..

I am thinking of making a glass topped tower/ table with them.. Definately wont be used with the garden hose....

cheers
Mick

Edited by sstorana, 09 December 2010 - 01:10 PM.

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#21 _CHOPPER_

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 02:32 PM

You could compare these rims to a Ming vase. It may have some historical value, but not much good for day to day use.

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#22 _sstorana_

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 03:00 PM

You could compare these rims to a Ming vase. It may have some historical value, but not much good for day to day use.

Yeah so true Chopper, so true..

Who knows, if the guy with the moulds ever decides to make another, they may go on it?

cheers
Mick

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#23 dattoman

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 04:40 PM

We've got 8 mths and the correct wheels

Lets make one

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#24 _Skapinad_

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 05:24 PM

So from the article there were 3 made and Holden has 1.... Where are the other 2?

Edited by Skapinad, 09 December 2010 - 05:25 PM.

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#25 rodomo

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Posted 09 December 2010 - 09:55 PM

We've got 8 mths and the correct wheels

Lets make one

Great idea! :clap:

I'll donate these plates to the cause.
http://www.gmh-torana.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=49069
It will have to be registered in my name though................does that matter? :dontknow: