This is just for you, RodKnock....

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Phx Mike

Relax Rodknock. I think a lot of us like the mag look in the pics you posted and in Patrick's wheels regardless of which is most authentic. But I gotta say I would not want real magnesium alloy wheels on a street car. Lighter by volume than aluminum and better strength to weight ratio than most aluminum alloys, but all the mag alloys I am aware of are relatively unstable (they corrode in air). Magnesium is usually a material of last resort in aerospace where weight is critical.

You should reread the last couple pages because you obviously missed the original point of my post to Patrick. He said his repainted wheels kinda sorta looked like magnesium. As a joke, I posted a couple pics (one with the Dow7 gold look and one with the aged look) and said "no, here's a couple pics of the magnesium appearance." (paraphrased)

As for an actual magnesium Halibrand Cobra wheel, they coated them with Dow7 to protect them. I almost bought a set that had be sitting for a decade+ and they looked virtually new. Sure, the outer lip had some very minor pitting, but otherwise they were in near-new shape. And worse case scenario, you can polish them to remove the pitting. ERA Chas did it once a year and his wheels looked marvelous.

I know nothing about the aerospace industry and the use of magnesium, but we shouldn't be scaring off buyers of magnesium wheels for our Cobras. I'd buy a set, but they won't fit Kirkhams. And no one is curbing them on their Cobras and none of them have been in flames on any Cobras. They material makeup of the Halibrand wheel, and Fran Kress' repros, have changed over the last 50 years in several production runs.