Hot Wheels!

[digitalman2112]

I bought a set of the Hot Wheels Sixty Eights today - with some Goodyear F1s...

Ok, maybe its a bit corny, but my boys (ages 5 & 2) LOVE them!



Attached are some quick shots with them and one with the prior (everyone has them) tt2s...

Front - went from 195 / 65 / 15 on a 7 inch rim (3.75" bs) to 235 / 45 / 17 on an 8 inch rim (4" bs).
Rear - went from 255 / 60 / 15 on a 10 inch rim (6" bs) to 255 / 45 / 17 on an 8 inch rim with (4" bs).

I had a problems with the rear tires rubbing before, so even though I THINK I could have done 9.5" with 275s, I decided to stay with 255s on 8".

My steering feel is MUCH better with some real front tires - coupled with the new DSE 600 gearbox, and some other freshening up - its a whole new car.

You can't beat these wheels for the price ($150 each).... they aren't some gorgeous block of billet, but they look nice

[zuess4u]

Those look good, Id be up to buying a set of those, right now we have a set of 17 Old school Cragers, talk about cheap, but they were donated to the school project by Crager, so cant complain.

[ViperBlue68]

Wheels look nice....I did'nt even know Hot Wheels made rims... sounds like you gotta sweet deal on em as well

[colt zantop]

those look bad a$$!!!! love em!

[tripower]

Look great! That's a clean bird...Is it an original 400 ragtop?

[Hammered]

I may need to get those for my 'bird! My boys are 5 & 3 so I know all about their powers of persuasion.

John

[digitalman2112]

Yes, the car was a 400 HO model. It was restored long before I owned it - I'm mostly updating it as I go, and repairing things along the way.

If you get the Pontiac Muscle Cars book from Motorbooks, this car is the 68 firebird in that book, although the prior owner tired of showing it in stock form, so he started modding it with the 455, richmond 6 spd, etc - more pics are in the vbgarage...

Ian

[ProdigyCustoms]

Ian is being pretty humble here. The car is pretty nice. About 2 years ago I was at the Grocery store, ah who am I kidding, I was a the liquor store, and heard something rumbling through the parking lot. I was surprised to see a black and red convertible Firebird Ram Air car, seeing as I was in Lisa's 2000 black and red Ram Air convertible. I waived the guy down and talked to him about the car and asked if he would sell it. I got a firm NO!
I don't know how he did it, but Ian some how got it just a few months after that.
I did not know Ian then, but got an inquiry about doing some work last month, and the pic attached was that car. We had the pleasure of working on the car last month, which included a lot of test driving. I hate my job! long story short, 500HP, 6 speed convertible Firebirds are a blast to test drive.
Ian, I think I need to tune it a bit more, better bring it back to the shop for a while.

[Bill Howell]

Ian, I think I need to tune it a bit more, better bring it back to the shop for a while.

Let me guess- you will even do it for free? Don't do it Ian.....even if it is free, the rear tire replacement cost will get in your back pocket!! :3gears:

[Jagarang]

Ummmm....FRANK...I'll be doing my own test driving!!

[Piet]

Those are VERY cool.

[OHCbird]

I looked into those, too- and made some calls to KMC to see if they'll make some bigger- "No for now" is all I got from their engineering dept.

From the Discount Tire site:

Wheel manufacturer KMC, working in conjunction with Mattel, Inc., has created a line of wheels bearing the Hot Wheels® name. Discount Tire Company has been chosen to be the exclusive distributor of this unique product. This line personifies all that the Hot Wheels® brand stands for– speed, power, performance and attitude.

The new Hot Wheels® collection includes designs with a style and size for everyone.

[digitalman2112]

I constantly get asked how I bought the car from Jerry - he was the type of guy that said he'd be buried in the car.

It was a total fluke - I had been looking at convertible chevelles, and was tired of looking at $30k CRAP cars with frame damage, etc. So I looked online at convertible first gens - I don't think I'd ever SEEN a convertible 68 firebird before.

I had to be on the north side of town that day anyway, so I stopped by, and gave him a deposit on the spot, which violates about 3 of my car buying rules.

After some time, I've begun to think he REALLY didnt want to sell the car, but told his wife he would (they were retired and moving to a rural area in North Florida) - I think he set a price he thought was too high, and then didnt tell anyone he knew, or any of the people that had wanted to purchase it. He didnt take it to shows, he didnt tell me it had been in a book (or 3), he didnt tell me about all the trophies he had.

Too bad for him I liked it, and had the money. I think he actually tried to make the deal go bad along the way (he managed to get his wife REALLY mad at me, and it was titled in her name)...

I get people at shows that ask how I did it, ask how much, and then offer me a check. I politely decline stating that my boys wouldnt hear of it

[Steve68]

Nice wheels, there's another Firebird in town also, can't remember the guys name, mostly stock, our girls were in the same ballet class over here on the east side of town, I think it was red, I think I'm getting old, Steve

[digitalman2112]

I'm a member of the local pontiac club - the "Wide Track Warriors" - mostly nicely restored stuff, although a few hot rodders. There is a yellow 68 firebird in the neighborhood next to me, but I havent been able to locate him. I suppose I could go door to door

[Steve68]

You could carry a plastic tote tray, I don't think you'd draw attention to yourself, but you never know lol, Ian which side of town do you live on,

[Bigblue73]

I just received the Hot Wheels Sixty Eights for my Challenger. They are great rims for the price. The website lists eighteen inch sizes now. I would imagine more are on the way. Call Mitch at extention 410 at discount tire direct, (800) 707-8473, he will give you the skinny on the next container load of wheels are due. We couldn't tell me the exact sizes that are coming, but they on the way into the U.S.

Pictures coming soon.

[Piet]

What is the website?

[digitalman2112]

www.discounttiredirect.com

Here's a link to the sixty eights - http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...=Car%2FMinivan

[dipren443]

I constantly get asked how I bought the car from Jerry - he was the type of guy that said he'd be buried in the car.

It was a total fluke - I had been looking at convertible chevelles, and was tired of looking at $30k CRAP cars with frame damage, etc. So I looked online at convertible first gens - I don't think I'd ever SEEN a convertible 68 firebird before.

I had to be on the north side of town that day anyway, so I stopped by, and gave him a deposit on the spot, which violates about 3 of my car buying rules.

After some time, I've begun to think he REALLY didnt want to sell the car, but told his wife he would (they were retired and moving to a rural area in North Florida) - I think he set a price he thought was too high, and then didnt tell anyone he knew, or any of the people that had wanted to purchase it. He didnt take it to shows, he didnt tell me it had been in a book (or 3), he didnt tell me about all the trophies he had.

Too bad for him I liked it, and had the money. I think he actually tried to make the deal go bad along the way (he managed to get his wife REALLY mad at me, and it was titled in her name)...

I get people at shows that ask how I did it, ask how much, and then offer me a check. I politely decline stating that my boys wouldnt hear of it

Wow, I never thought this car would change hands. I live in Pittsburgh, PA now, but I grew up in Central Florida and while in school, I worked at several retail stores in this cars stomping grounds. My father is a police officer in Seminole County and patrols the area where the previous owner lived. I used to love seeing this car roll through the parking lot at Home depot or passing me at speed on Wekiva springs road. The exhaust note on this car is positively EVIL. How long have you owned it now? I remember when this car was bone stock rolling around on Pontiac Rallye II's with a barely audible exhaust note.