I see what you mean..........the chrome Malaysia base listed at the South Texas site for the Shoebox must be a typo.
Mine has a black plastic base & Mike Zarnock's 2004 Ultimate Variations guide has it listed with a black base.
The PR5's are the most common version. "Wire" wheels with the basic red flames are harder to find, and wire wheels with a purple fade on the flames is even rarer.

Phil