Vellum Venom Vignette: It's Hip to Be…Hexagon???

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

My first semester’s Automotive Design class (an elective, taught on a Saturday no less) at CCS was taught by a cool, laid back dude. But he’d get unhinged when his students drew static looking wheels: his beef was four spoke wheels. They are impossible to make “cool”, unless you own a Scion xBox or a Nissan Cube. But can you have a cool wheel that’s not your average spoke-y affair? Welcome to the Hexagon wheel.

Even this unit from the Fox Body Lincolns (1986 Continental and Mark VII) has a charm that verges on ludicrous. The dominance of the hexagonal hub cap is much like the Nissan truck above, but with cleaner lines (i.e. more expensive like an Apple) and a shiny finish. Note how both the Lincoln and the Nissan utilize negative area on half of the Hexagon’s planes to add depth to the package. And the symmetry in the Lincoln’s positive/negative space around the hub cap makes the design more appealing the more you stare at it. Possibly.

While the Nissan has 6 lug nuts and functional cooling passages, the Lincoln’s 5-lug affair is well…very Salt Flat Racer worthy. Point is, both designs work. Especially if you’re in the mood for some Harold Faltermeyer. Or some convulsion-inducing Dubstep.

Or not. Peep this vintage Packard wheel with a strong hexagonal form. Packards regularly sported the red hexagon, and I suspect that 6-lug wheels had something to do with it. Perhaps this was the genesis of it all. Did you think TTAC could make a correlation between a Nissan truck and a Packard today?

Well, there it is. You’re welcome.

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • Its me Dave Its me Dave on Oct 19, 2012

    I always liked the early Pontiac honeycomb wheels: hexagonal theme well-integrated into a 5-bolt lug pattern. http://www.akhwheels.com/pages/showWheel.php?pk=146

  • 300zx_guy 300zx_guy on Oct 19, 2012

    There have been several three-spoke designs (or three split-spokes) that I've liked. The original Viper's three spokes were cool, older Lexus ES models have had a couple of nice 3 split spoke designs, and the original Ford Probe also had a nice 3 spoke design. And, as mentioned, Saab has done some nice ones as well. Still, I do tend to favor 5 or seven spoke designs.

  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
  • ToolGuy This might be a good option for my spouse when it becomes available -- thought about reserving one but the $500 deposit is a little too serious. Oh sorry, that was the Volvo EX30, not the Mustang. Is Volvo part of Ford? Is the Mustang an EV? I'm so confused.
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