Cragar S/S style wheels, alloy or steel

[duodec]

I'm a long way away from needing to pick wheels for my '71, but I've always liked the look of the chrome Cragar S/S units.  My car came with a set of chromed steel Mercury Cougar mags (similar to S/S in appearance), two of them bent so I replaced them with a pair of Appliance "Steel Spoke" chrome steel wheels that also look like the S/S units.  That was around 1982.

Back then I really didn't like alloy wheels; that thick center with lugnuts needing a shank of just the right length didn't provide much confidence compared to the tried and true conical lugs and steel center.  They were also more expensive, and cost was a big factor back then (else I would have bought all four matching wheels).

Appliance is gone.  All I can find in current production are alloy, but of course alloy wheels are much more proven technology now than 25 years ago.  Does anyone still make steel S/S style wheels?  Other than weight is there any advantage or disadvantage of steel versus alloy (not counting repairability from pothole damage and the like)?

Thanks

Rich

[Bullitt-]

I think you will find that everything of this style will be alloy, even the Crager S/S has an aloy center mounted to steel rim and are still available.

[duodec]

Actually on reviewing my old notes and some articles I clipped, the thing I _really_ didn't like on many ofthe older mags were the slots for the wheel studs; the lug nuts came with oval washers so the wheel could fit more than one bolt pattern size.  That really turned me off the Appliance alloys; I don't remember if other brands used that but I couldn't afford more expensive rims.

[Chryco Psycho]

I am not a fan of the Cragar SS , they are very heavy , use the unilug washer mounts & tend to deteriorate quickly between the alloy & steel rim peeling the chrome off the alloy center 

[duodec]

CP,
     thats one reason I really liked the Appliance rims, or for that matter even the Cougar rims.  Other than the silly Hermes head in the center cap that is.

     Maybe I just need to keep an eye on ebay.

Rich