The Most Iconic Hot Rod Wheel in History

Undoubtedly, the most significant and influential hot rod component in recent history is the American Racing five-spoke Torq-Thrust wheel. It has been the most-copied wheel ever, as American Racing continues to fight off design infringements. In its many legitimate variations, it has—in many ways—influenced the whole of the aftermarket automotive car culture. No single wheel has ever made such a significant impact on the customizing scene as the Torq-Thrust has.

Ubiquity Across Styles and Eras

Initially, this wheel defined an era, and even though that has changed over time, whether it’s a vintage hot rod, an old-style racecar from the early days, a one-off racer from LeMans, a local drag car from any dragstrip across the country, or a modern super rod with fat 20s, the American Torq-Thrust continues to set the image standard for the shape of these cars. In short, the American five-spoke can be found on a wide array of hot rod styles across America, and it doesn’t so much have to do with the old trying to be new as it does with the difficulty of improving upon its style and acceptance.

Humble Beginnings of a Giant

What began as a small joint venture has become the most influential aftermarket wheel in history, as its design and fitment has evolved with the changes of time. After more than 50 years, the Torq-Thrust is not only alive and well within the world of hot rodding, but it remains the image of the world’s most popular wheel design ever. That’s on everything from high-end trendsetter car designs to suede-painted entry-level home builds.

The Vision of Romeo Palamides

A little-known fact may be that American Racing Equipment was founded in 1956 by a drag racing visionary and jet-powered-performance innovator named Romeo Palamides. Palamides lived in San Francisco, where American Racing Equipment was based. It was close enough to the heart of drag racing and the hot rod movement happening throughout Southern California, and began its simple beginnings in 1954 when Palamides contacted a local machine shop owner, Jim Ellison, with the sole intention of building a fuel dragster to campaign at the local strips. Unable to find a set of magnesium wheels that were both strong and lightweight for his new dragster, the two decided to build their own.

The First American Standard Magnesium Wheel

Born out of necessity, the American Standard magnesium wheel grabbed the attention of racers throughout California. While the fuel dragster and Palamides were successful, the popularity of the wheels went further than the two initially imagined, causing Ellison to dedicate half of the machine shop to building the new custom magnesium wheels for drag racers. In December 1959, in Hot Rod Magazine’s “What’s New” section, the American Racing Magnesium five-spoke made its national debut. Hot Rod described the wheel as a “Magnesium Drag Racing Wheel.” The magazine went on to say: “The modified oval spoke design in this wheel resembles the current aircraft wheel designs. The five-spoke openings make for better castings in addition to better brake cooling and appearance, the manufacturer states. The wheel is 10 inches with a 16-inch diameter. Metal patterns used exclusively. $88 FOB San Francisco. American Racing Equipment, 681 Florida Street, San Francisco 10, California.”

Evolution of the Five-Spoke Design

A lot has changed since that national introduction of drag racing’s first Magnesium Drag Racing Wheel. Numerous designs have followed, including several versions of the modern-day Torq-Thrust. The five-spoke version included the following designs: Torq-Thrust; Torq-Ette, which was designed for Formula Jr. modified Class C and lighter cars; the GT, for production sports cars where there were fender issues; and the American Knock Off for the replacement of wire wheels without the alteration of a Rudge hub.

The Grand Sport Corvette and the Torq-Thrust D

One of the more popular versions, the Torq-Thrust D, was made popular thanks to the Grand Sport Corvette. The Torq-Thrust D was the answer to the mid-year Grand Sport Corvette, equipped with disc brakes. The Torq-Thrust D was introduced around 1965 and featured curved spokes to allow clearance for the disc brake calipers. American Racing moved the hub of the wheel outward 1/2 inch for the Corvette, and since these wheels were made of magnesium instead of aluminum, they were valued for their light weight by Duntov’s race designers, who worked hard at taking weight out of the 1,800-pound Grand Sport Corvette.

Drag Strip to Street: Aluminum Torq-Thrusts

During the mid-1960s, many drag racers across America campaigned the American Racing Torq-Thrust magnesium wheel. Held in high regard for their high-quality machining and light weight—usually between 8 and 12 pounds—the wheels were used extensively by almost all the top racers. Their popularity was also enhanced due to their varied race applications, but these wheels were unsafe for passenger-car use on the street. As we know, especially in those days, what happens on the strip transfers almost immediately to the street, and in 1963, American Racing began offering an aluminum version of the Torq-Thrust for street use on passenger cars of all styles and sizes.

Affordable Performance for the Masses

Interestingly, the new aluminum Torq-Thrust wheel was attractively priced, at only $49 each, giving hot rodders and drag racers across the land the opportunity to have the American five-spokes on their daily drivers and tow rigs at a price they could afford. The new heat-treated aluminum Torq-Thrust wheels were initially offered in 14×6-, 14×7- and 15×8.5-inch sizes, respectively. The 15×6-inch size was known as a Sport Wheel, rather than a Torq-Thrust, and had the words “Sport Wheel” cast in the inside. Although the wheels were made of aluminum instead of magnesium, rodders still referred to them as “mag wheels,” as some do to this day. The mag wheel was born, and it eventually grew into the single largest aftermarket segment.

Shifting Trends in the 1970s

During the 1970s, the hobby began to take a rather dramatic turn, as street rodding and rod runs quickly grew in popularity. Large gatherings of street rods toured from all over the country to attend the event that started it all, the NSRA Street Rod Nationals, which was originally held in Peoria, Illinois. New wheels were introduced, and the five-spokes that once filled the fenderwells of ’55 Chevys were tossed in the garage and ignored. Newer-designed wheels, such as the Cragar S/S, Ansen Sprints and polished aluminum wheels of all sorts, became all the rage. During this growth period, American Racing offered the Torq-Thrust as well as the all-new Daisy (or 200-S five-spoke), which featured flat, wide spokes that made them similar to but different than the original Torq-Thrust design.

A Resurgence in the 1980s

By 1980, the Torq-Thrust wheel began to enjoy a completely new lease on life, proving finally that you cannot keep a good design down. American Racing began releasing updated versions of the Torq-Thrust D and introduced the Torq-Thrust to a whole new generation in terms of fitment, which brought new life to a classic design that the youth of the day could only read about. The wheels received a few new touches, including a redesigned center cap and mounting pattern, due to the use of large wheel bearings on cars built after 1983, and a whole new fitment chart with larger wheel diameters.

The Birth of the TTO in 2004

American Racing then felt it necessary to bring about the flavor of the original Torq-Thrust, and in April 2004, the Torq Thrust Original (TTO) was born. Staying true to the roots of the original five-spoke design, American Racing implemented machining into the alloy rim, complemented by peaked gray spokes. The TTO not only received the original-style machining, but it also featured American Racing’s as-cast aluminum finish, which created the look and feel of the original Torq-Thrust.

Modern Expansion and Lasting Appeal

An immediate favorite among rodders of all levels, the TTO revitalized the five-spoke design once again, and since that time, American Racing has expanded its line of high-performance wheels to include myriad five-spoke offerings and has expanded even into the 20-inch applications. Changing with the times, American Racing transformed the original 14-inch five-spoke Torq-Thrust of yesteryear into a massive must-have design that now includes large-diameter rollers—the latest offering from American Racing is the chrome 22-inch Torq-Thrust!

A Timeless Legacy in Motion

As it has evolved with the times, by combining its timeless design with more modern fitments—in addition to all the traditional fitments it has retained—the Torq-Thrust wheel continues to lead the industry in its popularity and look of elegance. But more than that, what’s so fascinating is that the timeless design of the Torq-Thrust has withstood more than 50 years of popularity in a wheel market that’s flooded with new designs, trick offsets, one-of-a-kind billet shapes and now myriad colors, including two-tones with polished lips. However, through it all, the timeless design of the Torq-Thrust has endured, making it the most popular and best-selling wheel of all time, period. In fact, its uncanny success has made the Torq-Thrust the most popular wheel in hot-rodding history.