Speed Star's contribution to the aero-mad early '80s aftermarket wheel scene: the unimaginatively-named "Aero" (February 1984-) on the left here being a short lived offering that's now very rarely seen and largely forgotten, while on the right is the EX-C sporting its optional 'cooling cover' (November 1984-) that was sold well into the '90s, and in the decades since has become somewhat iconic of the style.
Seeing the pair here in essentially the same spec (15x6.5" ~+15) side-by-side really highlights how different the approaches were to achieve what's ultimately the same result: a 15", three-piece alloy wheel with an aero cover. To come from the same manufacturer in the same year? Wild.
The Aero (again, yes, the one on the left..) being the slightly older of the two pre-dates the release of the Electron Locking System that SSR used throughout the remainder of the 80s and 90s, instead using a model-specific plastic threaded spigot pressed into the centrebore from behind to mount the centre cap and aero cover. The cover itself is spun aluminium, much like what could be found on the Hasemi Motorsport KDR30's giant SSR Formula Mesh ripping around racetracks at the time. This was available in either white cap/plastics on white or black plastic on 'buff' polished aluminium like we have here.
Unlike the EX-C, the Aero's face design is also arguably incomplete without the cover. The centre cap cannot be properly seated without the cover in place, yet without it the protruding threaded spigot looks ridiculous; kick both to the kerb and elements of the face design created purely to support them would make little sense. Without the cover these already-rare wheels are left being unrecognizable to most - I'd long seen them incorrectly referred to as simply 'SSR Fins'. I mean, they've got a point.
The EX-C's cooling cover meanwhile is a much more conventional setup... which in classic Speed Star fashion still means it's as complex as they come. The cover is 3 separate moulded plastic pieces fixed and clipped together, with the threaded cap spigot's mounting screws used to sandwich the cover to the face of the wheel. While the Aero's face is designed around its cover, the EX-C's is almost an afterthought; without the cover the EX-C (Fin or Mesh) are instead completed with smaller plates to support the centre cap, and the face itself appears completely unaware there's anything missing at all. And seeing that Cooling Cover was an optional piece in the first place, I suppose there never really is.
At this point I'd have inserted a photo of the EX-C Fin's face without the cover and inevitably rambled on further, but after spinning off the centre cap, I... oh yeah... the screws. The screws I've mentioned above, right there, holding the cover to the face of the wheel. And the screwdriver's all the way in the garage. No, whatever. I'm sure you'd get the point.
I packed the wheels back away and that's bloody well it. Done.
Speed Star's contribution to the aero-mad early '80s aftermarket wheel scene: the unimaginatively-named "Aero" (February 1984-) on the left here being a short lived offering that's now very rarely seen and largely forgotten, while on the right is the EX-C sporting its optional 'cooling cover' (November 1984-) that was sold well into the '90s, and in the decades since has become somewhat iconic of the style. 
Seeing the pair here in essentially the same spec (15x6.5" ~+15) side-by-side really highlights how different the approaches were to achieve what's ultimately the same result: a 15", three-piece alloy wheel with an aero cover. To come from the same manufacturer in the same year? Wild. 
The Aero (again, yes, the one on the left..) being the slightly older of the two pre-dates the release of the Electron Locking System that SSR used throughout the remainder of the 80s and 90s, instead using a model-specific plastic threaded spigot pressed into the centrebore from behind to mount the centre cap and aero cover. The cover itself is spun aluminium, much like what could be found on the Hasemi Motorsport KDR30's giant SSR Formula Mesh ripping around racetracks at the time. This was available in either white cap/plastics on white or black plastic on 'buff' polished aluminium like we have here. 
Unlike the EX-C, the Aero's face design is also arguably incomplete without the cover. The centre cap cannot be properly seated without the cover in place, yet without it the protruding threaded spigot looks ridiculous; kick both to the kerb and elements of the face design created purely to support them would make little sense. Without the cover these already-rare wheels are left being unrecognizable to most - I'd long seen them incorrectly referred to as simply 'SSR Fins'. I mean, they've got a point. 
The EX-C's cooling cover meanwhile is a much more conventional setup... which in classic Speed Star fashion still means it's as complex as they come. The cover is 3 separate moulded plastic pieces fixed and clipped together, with the threaded cap spigot's mounting screws used to sandwich the cover to the face of the wheel. While the Aero's face is designed around its cover, the EX-C's is almost an afterthought; without the cover the EX-C (Fin or Mesh) are instead completed with smaller plates to support the centre cap, and the face itself appears completely unaware there's anything missing at all. And seeing that Cooling Cover was an optional piece in the first place, I suppose there never really is.
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