My 'new longer-term project' ...

[Tony]

Wow!
Andy that's fabulous, mixture of respect and envy! Can't wait for further installments - and to see the real thing.
Like the 911 behind the engine too

Tony

[Darren65]

Andy,

When do we get details on suspension set up etc?

Better still - has it been around a track yet?

Cheers,
Darren

[stretch]

Andy,

Have you based it on an actual factory run car ? Decals etc. Wait till tommorow is gonna be your answer.

What fire systems were used in these cars ? Gloria, Bavaria ?

Ok, i will wait.

If it is Silver, maybe the front is like this. One of my favourite pics.

Great thread Andy.

[Lightweight_911]

When do we get details on suspension set up etc?

Darren

Patience, Darren - all will be revealed ...

Better still - has it been around a track yet?

Darren

- it's not finished yet !


Now to the saga of the wheels ...

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, the original 904's were equipped with steel/alloy wheels - 5 x 15" as std (although other sizes subsequently became avaialable).

These were made by taking a Kronprinz (KpZ) steel centre & rivetting it into an aluminium rim. This significantly reduced the unsprung weight at each corner but Porsche didn't want their racing competitors to know about this modification so they had the wheels painted in the standard wheel silver so that, to the casual observer, they looked like std production steel wheels.

Original wheels still surface from time to time (usually as single wheels) - indeed I managed to find a set of 4 some years ago & so had the opportunity to study them at close quarters, but I sold them to an owner of a Factory 904 that had 'lost' its original wheels over the years.








During the early stages of my search, some reproduction steel/alloy wheels came onto the market via Karmann Konnection but something didn't look quite right about them ... & then there was the price !

Over a period of 12 months or so I made hundreds of enquiries worldwide ...

- Kronprinz in Germany weren't interested in digging out the appropriate dies, stamping a batch of new steel centres or selling any to me

- every wheel manufacturer in the UK & Europe that I contacted declined interest

- only 2 of the dozen or so metal spinners that I spoke to in the Midlands came up with a positive response ... but machine set-up costs were totally prohibitive

- Harvey Weidman in the US was the only person who was enthusiastic about this wheel project & in fact had been working on a possible solution for a few years but it was a low priority for him & he couldn't foresee having anything available for a couple of years at least

... so I had drawn a blank on all fronts.

Studying lots of real 904's revealed that very few of them still used original-style wheels - most ran on all-steel wheels or all-alloy copies ( like those produced by Alex Bivens in the US) painted to look like steels.

Therefore, as an intermediate solution, I decided to source a set of suitable steel wheels.

Since I still intended to (somehow) eventually come up with a set of steel/alloy wheels, I decided to try & find some slightly wider steel wheels - ideally 6's & 7's.

Putting out some more 'feelers' I managed to find a pair of 6's in Germany & a set of (4) 7's in the US, so after arrival I had them media-blasted & powder-coated silver/grey:







These were then fitted with Avon CR6ZZ tyres - 185/70 x 15 (F) & 215/60 x 15 (R)


.

[Darren65]

[Lightweight_911]

Coincidentally during this same period I was looking for a set of original magnesium Campagnolo wheels for my '59 Giulietta Sprint &, during my internet searching, I came across an advert for a set of steel/alloy Alfa SZ wheels for a very (comparitively !) reasonable asking price.

The guy selling them was in Sicily but on further investigation these turned out to be recently fabricated wheels rather than originals ... since they comprised steel centres rivetted to aluminium rims I asked if he could get others fabricated - an affirmative response but, again, the cost was prohibitive & they were an unknown quantity being fabricated by an unknown individual ... back to the search.

Finally, by way of contact in the US, I got to hear about someone in Australia who had been repairing & fabricating Porsche 356 Carrera/550/RSK steel/alloy wheels for many years & he agreed to make a set of wheels to my specifications !

Since this was going to be an expensive venture, I wanted them to appear as correct as possible so I started to look for a suitable set of steel donor wheels (to provide the centres) with appropriate date stamps ... they had to be dated '64 or '65 since these were the only 2 years that the early 904 body style was produced ...

Unfortunately over the preceding 12 months the price of original steel wheels had increased dramatically but a 'wanted' add on the Early S Registry produced a set of (4) 65-dated wheels in very good condition at a sensible price :



- so I bought them & had them shipped directly to Australia.

I can't say that the wheel fabrication turned out to be a smooth, trouble-free transaction - there were a number of problems along the way - but I did end up with a set of 4 steel/alloy wheels.

After a lot of research (& measuring original cars) I decided to go for a set of 5 1/2's & 6's & here are a few shots of one of the wheels:








- & a comparison with a std steel wheel:






- now they just need painting so that they look like std steel wheels !!!


.

[Schläfer]

Corr, the wheels look great. I'd love a set like that for my 65!

[Mike]

Great wheels Andy!

[Darren65]

Great wheels Andy!

A wee bit of an understatement!

[mmikedino]

Andy. You should have asked me with your other queries on the 904 GTS Site. My Friend in Oz who I was instrumental in getting to Purchase maybe the 3rd M & W Car some 12 Years ago has a Supplier for these and got a Set for his Car . They were expensive but not Ruinous, made in NZ. For Interest his car has been accepted for National Hill Climbs and he was also Invited to Display/Drive it in the Pre Race Parade for the Australian Grand Prix 2 Years ago. Also I told the other Members on there that the long sought after Water Pump Round Switch on the Dash was from an NSU Prinz and other similar Small Capacity Nsu`s. Much easier to ask than Fruitless searching. By the way if you dont know the 2 Rear Number Plate Lights are from a BMW 3.0 Series Car, on that they were mounted ON the Bumper Facing Upwards not as on the 904 ABOVE the No Plate Facing Downwards. The Front Orange/White Small Lights are still freely available from any Volkswagen Dealer though to get the Correct Look you have to mount them on a separate Chrome Bezel, available as a Lucas Part. This is not a criticism but I did all the Similar Research you are doing 15 Years ago when I Commissioned the First Car from M & W. The Side Mirrors ( Original Talbots ) are available, but pricey from a US Firm called Aardvark. Regards. Mike

[mmikedino]

Hi Sladey and all. I dont know why Pics are so difficult to upload on here. Much easier on most other Sites. I have tried for Ages but with No Success. I suggest if you wish to see the Pics go to http://www.carreragtsclub.com Look under Cars for Sale and then My M & W For sale. There are Pics there Plus an Article that was done on the Car in Porsche & 911 World. And yes the Car has been Sold and is Back on its way to Germany its "Real " Home. A Great Car and a Tribute to all the time Barry and I spent in doing it. Regards. Mike

[sladey]

Here are your pictures

[Bootsy]

Hi Sladey and all. I dont know why Pics are so difficult to upload on here. Much easier on most other Sites. I have tried for Ages but with No Success. I suggest if you wish to see the Pics go to http://www.carreragtsclub.com Look under Cars for Sale and then My M & W For sale. There are Pics there Plus an Article that was done on the Car in Porsche & 911 World. And yes the Car has been Sold and is Back on its way to Germany its "Real " Home. A Great Car and a Tribute to all the time Barry and I spent in doing it. Regards. Mike

Instructions on how to post pics are here http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewto ... f=1&t=3864

[KS]

I remember going out in that car with Barrie Martin waaaay back for 911 & PW. I have always wondered what French enthusiasts would make of that registration number, though!

[Lightweight_911]

My Friend in Oz who I was instrumental in getting to Purchase maybe the 3rd M & W Car some 12 Years ago has a Supplier for these and got a Set for his Car . They were expensive but not Ruinous, made in NZ. For Interest his car has been accepted for National Hill Climbs and he was also Invited to Display/Drive it in the Pre Race Parade for the Australian Grand Prix 2 Years ago.Regards. Mike

- sounds like Ken Price.

His wheels were made by the same guy that made the set for me (in Australia).