The trend of the 80s and 90s
Wheels can make or break a car’s appearance. They are therefore highly subject to fashion trends. In the 80s and 90s you were the hunk with three spokes per wheel. Many enthusiasts went to the accessory store for them, but there were also manufacturers who installed them from the factory. We give you seven examples.
Dodge Viper RT/10 Roadster (1991)
Initially, Dodge wanted to use the Stealth as a pace car for the Indy 500 in 1991. The Stealth is in fact a Mitsubishi and therefore Japanese. This is bad for the unions. The Viper, which has not yet been introduced, is being quickly prepared as a pace car. With its characteristic three-spoke wheels, it is etched in the memory of many fans.
Range Rover (1987)
After a decade and a half of driving on pressed steel wheels, the classic Range Rover goes further upmarket with light alloy, entirely in line with the prevailing trend: three-spoke. Later they were even painted in a nice two-tone.
Mazda RX-7 (1981)
Coincidence: Mazda gives the first generation RX-7 wheels with a heart in the shape of a rotary engine rotor. The rotor is triangular, which automatically results in three spokes.
Opel Corsa Swing (1985)
Opel installs three-spoke wheels on the Corsa GT and GSi, but when tennis star Steffi Graf advertises a promotional model in 1985, it has the same wheels. It is becoming a trend that the accessories trade is eagerly following.
Suzuki X-90 (1995)
The Suzuki X-90 is different in many ways from the Vitara from which it is derived. This also applies to the turbine-like wheels with three ‘blades’.
Saab 900 Turbo Cabriolet (1987)
Against all trends, Saab uses three-spoke wheels and even when the hype is over, the Swedes remain loyal to the three-spoke wheel for a long time.
Smart Crossblade (2002)
Smart is building an open City Coupé in a limited edition of 2,000 copies. Three-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels complete the sleek lines of the open car.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl