The term “mag wheel” technically describes a wheel’s construction, specifically that it was made from magnesium, a go-to lightweight material in racing. But if you ask any American car enthusiast of a certain age to draw a “mag wheel,” they will likely draw a Torq Thrust. The design, with its five round spokes that flare like bell-bottoms as they meet the rim, is as universally popular and timeless as Converse Chuck Taylors.
The genesis of the Torq Thrust is a bit murky, but we know that in 1954, Romeo Palamides, a designer and fabricator of dragster chassis, was selling magnesium wheels to fellow drag racers. He soon teamed up with Jim Ellison, owner of a San Francisco machine shop. The wheels were a simple slotted design, marketed under the name Palamides Automotive. They soon found an audience among the hot rod set.
Palamides sold his share of the wheel business to Ellison, and the business was reincorporated in April, 1959 as American Racing Equipment Co. The first wheels with the five flared spokes were advertised in the December 1959 issue of Hot Rod magazine, simply listed as “magnesium drag racing wheels.” The 10-by-16-inch wheels went for a princely $88 a pop (that’s nearly $1000 in 2025 dollars).
The wheels get a name: Torq Thrust. American Racing Equipment sponsors Don “Big Daddy” Garlits, and the five-spoke wheels show up on his Swamp Rat Too-B drag racer.
The road-racing focused GT variant of the Torq Thrust is introduced for Porsches and other sports cars.
American Racing Equipment advertises a new aluminum version of the Torq Thrust for street use in the May 1965 issue of Hot Rod. The new wheels were about 25 percent heavier than their magnesium counterparts; however, the aluminum rollers were cheaper—$49 each with the included lug nuts and hub cover—and much less prone to corrosion. Despite the material change, “mag wheel” became a catchall term for any cast performance wheel.
Around the mid-1960s, other manufacturers started to copy American Racing’s design. In the same issue of Hot Rod that the aluminum Torq Thrusts were announced, rival wheel manufacturer Ansen (most known for its 5-slot Sprint wheels) advertised a wheel that knocked off the Torq Thrust.
Disc brakes became standard equipment on Corvettes in 1965. In order to clear the Vette’s rotors without spacers, American Racing introduces the Torq Thrust D, with convex-curved spokes.
Torq Thrusts hit the big screen with Steve McQueen. The Dark Highland Green Mustang fastback, equipped with American Racing wheels, flew through the San Francisco streets in Bullitt.
Torq Thrusts disappear from the American Racing catalog. The reason for the disappearance is unknown, but drag racers’ preference for Centerline-style wheels around this time might have something to do with it.
Torq Thrusts quietly return, but only in aluminum.
Japanese wheel-maker Work releases its VS-KF wheels, which are heavily inspired by the original American Racing design. Out of all the Torq Thrust knockoffs, it’s likely the most highly sought-after and a cult classic in its own right among drift and tuner-car enthusiasts.
The Torq Thrust Original is introduced. Despite the name, its design is more faithful to the mid-1960s aluminum wheels rather than the smooth round spokes of the magnesium originals.
Torq Thrusts go big—a 22-inch version becomes available in keeping with modern trends of ever larger wheels. The upsized five-spokes have come a long way from the original 16-inchers.
This story first appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join the club to receive our award-winning magazine and enjoy insider access to automotive events, discounts, roadside assistance, and more.