So, May 2014, I got ahold of Kevin King at Year One and Bruce Hawkins at Hawk's and asked them about making this wheel, pointing out all of the interest constantly being shown here, and on the Buick Grand national forums.

Kevin said they'd been looking into it, but hadn't made a decision. Bruce swore me to secrecy, and said they were already in the development process, and would have an announcement in 6 months, or so.

Sure enough, Bruce came through. Good on you, brother!

Heather is the contact person at Hawk's.

http://www.hawksthirdgenparts.com/gt...-reproduction/

 

I absolutely love that they are coming. Fortunately I do need new tires as well so maybe santa can preorder these for me.

 

**** YA

 

Ill run my 17" snowflakes for half the summer and the proper 17" crosslaces the remainder!!

 

It's great that they listened to the demand. I wish they came in gold but that's a minor detail.

 

In another post about it they said it will come in gold as well.

 

I'll be getting my set in Feb I've been wanting these for like 12yrs lol!

 

Wonder if they offer more brake clearance than the factory wheels do. Running ls1 brakes on all 4 corners and looking at custom rims that cost $2700+.

 

They do come in gold...

 

Now way they changed that, the intial hawks article i saw said gold and black...
What the ****

 

http://www.gm-efi.com/news/hawks-thi...17x9-diameter/

 

Why only 1" bigger though? My 86 already has some "big" 16's! lol

 

I really wish they would have done these wheels in an 18 inch diameter as well...

 

Me too. 18's and more brake clearance.

 

Here we go

 

What type of brake system are you running that a 17" wheel won't clear?

 

I swear third gen guys are the worst.

Someone builds exactly what people asked for................ and theyv still complain!

 

Ls brakes all around and won't run spacers. My fronts almost cleared, don't now how the back is yet. Waiting on hardlines from Ed Miller, who won't answer/return calls or email.

 

100%!

Years ago, I found a supplier willing to make this wheel. I started a thread about it. Immediately, everybody started whining about sizes, price, etc. He quickly backed out.

I guess Bruce is more used to it after all his dealing with people on this forum.

 

I've been screaming for these wheels to be made in an 18 diameter for years... so much so that I had decided to get them made myself since none of the wheel manufacturers would step-up. The only thing that's holding me back is that it will cost me close to $6k to have them made. I've contacted a few manufacturers in the past about this and they said there wasn't a market for them.

 

The Thirdgen isn't such a desirable car, we should feel lucky that anything like this is being made at all.

 

Yes, that is indeed VERY true.

 

I hope everyone realizes that these wheels will fit the 2nd gens, 3rd gens, and several other GM cars without a problem - one solution to a few problems at a fair price. That is the same strategy for the 17" Honeycombs from another well-known aftermarket parts supplier.

For those that griped about the lack of an 18" option - I'm sure if these 17" sell well and if there is enough interest, an 18" version will follow.

 

Love that these wheels are coming out.
These, and the Ronals for the Firehawks are my absolute fav Firebird wheels.....of any generation.

 

 

Beauties!

 

Looks killer!
What springs is it sitting on?

 

Those are stock springs but with a set of Hotchkis 1" lowering springs it would look killer!

 

What size of tires F&R?

 

Hotchkis? A lot of money for marginal improvement. Sorry, I can't stop myself.

Wheels look sweet! 17x9 is a great size on these cars.

 

They're more than likely 275-40-17s. That's the proper size for that size wheel and it's pretty much the exact same overall diameter as our stock 245-50-16s.

 

Love the look in 17"

 

More pics of the car outside, see below...

 

will these be available sometime in the future in a gold mesh finish ?

 

Marking to keep updated. This is Awesome!

 

Ya will they be offered in gold?

 

I will definately buy one or 2 sets of those wheels