hi steve,
like your woodie!
i also investigated whitewall options. i ended up going with 14" tyres, and portawalls - thick plastic inserts that clamp between the tyre and the rim - no tubeless tyres! these were really cheap $120 from john's rod and custom in victoria. otherwise to get proper whitewall radials or crossplys, antique tyres (can't remember their number sorry) have commander whitewalls. they cost over $400 per tyre though.
i have had my portawalls for about two years and they still look really good. only thing is you have to occasionally put a rubber grease between the tyre and the whitewall as they can squeak when they rub together as the tyre bulges at the bottom.
i also talked to someone who had somethng similar on 13" tyres, but it was very 'floppy' and soft, and didn't look as durable as the portawalls. they said they got the from antique tyres i think.
you won't regret 14" wheels though. tuck them up under the guards and they look a treat. check out my posts of pics of my car to see the portawalls.
http://www.fefcholden.org.au/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=photochop;action=display;num=1040142985http://www.fefcholden.org.au/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=album;action=display;num=1039086265http://www.fefcholden.org.au/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=album;action=display;num=1022133670
