early 16 inch 356 steel wheels

Sundance4 · Post by **Sundance4** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:04 pm

Hi

does anyone know anything about the early 16" wheel they put on 356 s ?

were they the same style as the later ones or did they look like vw wheels?

has anyone got one?

i'm am tyrying to work out what the 16" 550 spyder wheels were like.

And does anyone know a firm that 'streches' rims.

any help would be great

Dominic

speedsterboy · Post by **speedsterboy** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:18 pm

Hi ,
The 16" wheels on the very very early cars were solid like vw wheels and probably in fact are vw wheels . the later 16s are slotted like the 15" wheels . I have 6 of these rims and want to widen 2 of them also. I have been told that it has been done but you need to source a 16" diameter rim that has the same inside diameter as the porsche center. If someone knows of a suitable rim Id like to know what it is. I know people who have paid big money for these rims and have also seen good sets sell cheaply! I guess depends how desperate you are.

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:19 pm

I had a pair of 16" early solid beetle rims widened/banded/plasmawelded recently using the inner rims from two 16" Laguna spacesavers. I wasn't there when it was done but the results were factory looking and with no visible joins either side (as briefed by me...). I'm getting a pair of early 17" Ford Pop rims altered very soon utilising 17" Merc spacesavers this time. I'll keep you posted. If you want to have the 16" Porsche centres grafted into some complete outer rims take a look at a 60's Bentley for nice rim profile

Sundance4 · Post by **Sundance4** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:04 pm

Thanks guys...

speedsterboy ....where did you track down your 16" rims and are the centres bigger than the 15" wheels or is the difference in diameter in the rim? (and have you got one spare?....had to ask)

Cubist ....anybody particular do your welding and how much did they charge if you dont mind me asking.

regards

dom

Rustbucket · Post by **Rustbucket** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:31 am

I'm getting a pair of early 17" Ford Pop rims altered very soon utilising 17" Merc spacesavers this time. I'll keep you posted.

Sounds interesting- anything funky going on in your garage then?

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:41 am

All Trekker perviness i'm afraid... splicing a few fooked ones into a rod for next summer. Total headache but worth the hassle getting the proportions right. I'll sort out some pics a bit further down the line.

Total Trekker's butchered so far: 3
(with 2 more in the wings to be attacked later!)

Not my 181 but p/shop'd to similar proportions though we've lengthened the doors to give it a better side profile and it's lower and not so 'safe'...

912uk · Post by **912uk** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:22 pm

is that bin for bottles or cardboard ???

I to would like to know more about these 16" rims as I had two in the bag for £60 and then when I turned up he had sold them was p155 as i drove from southampton to London grrrr

I would be more than happy to re weld a wheel to make a 16"

What about VW bug wheels or van ones some of these are 16" but again rising prices..

do tell more

Graham · Post by **Graham** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:26 pm

I used to do alot of classic car trialing with a Ford pop special,they have a very similar bolt pattern fron what I remember.
I even found a set of 18's for it!

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:58 pm

I've got a pair of 4" 18s from a post war Thames Trader but one's bent beyond repair unfortunately... they also weigh a quarter ton each!!! I almost got a pair of Ford wide-5 twin wheels from a homebuilt Pop pickup but they were just a little too home-made even for me, they would have been great under a Trekker though...

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:09 pm

912uk wrote:

is that bin for bottles or cardboard ???

Ignore the sceptics

Nice work cubicle. I'm luvin the trek rod.

Derek

I am pulling Sir Cubicals leg

Sundance4 · Post by **Sundance4** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:01 pm

I'm scratch building a 550A.

Space frame chassis done. I'm just puting all the suspension back on.

Flew half way round the world to measure one in pieces.

I must be mad.

Still chassis looks good.. hoping to get the alloy body work started befor christmas.

Anyway...........spyders should have 16" wheels and the wheel arches look a bit big without them.

Thus the queries about 16" wheels.

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:17 pm

550 rep sounds brave! Can you get some pics up?

(Mark - that's Luftgasser ll you're badmouthing... i'll leave one on your drive full of hardcore if you're not careful

)

Cubist

I have cleared the drive ready

Graham · Post by **Graham** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 9:41 am

Sundance4 wrote:I'm scratch building a 550A.

Space frame chassis done. I'm just puting all the suspension back on.

Flew half way round the world to measure one in pieces.

I must be mad.

Still chassis looks good.. hoping to get the alloy body work started befor christmas.

Anyway...........spyders should have 16" wheels and the wheel arches look a bit big without them.

Thus the queries about 16" wheels.

Sounds good!,there is a rolling chassis with 912 motor and part finished alloy bodywork 550 just down the road from me too!

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:42 pm

Graham wrote:there is a rolling chassis with 912 motor and part finished alloy bodywork 550 just down the road from me too!

Now that sounds familiar... after 11yrs of fiddling I sold my unfinished and wallet-emptying ally rep last year to a Camden-based Scottish bloke - I think he was called Tim or Tam - who was buying it for a mate up your way to finish. It also had a 1720 912 fitted (no carbs or fanshroud) with correct factory exhaust. The ally rear panels and front wings all done, ally doors hung but with a fair amount of ally corrosion around the bare rivets, no hood, screen or electrics. Heavily lowered with satin black '55 rims off my old coupe and polished B drums on type 1 axles but no interior at all not even the steering column... I wonder?

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:51 pm

Oops! Graham - just reread - you're Dartmoor not up in the Highlands and beyond... my car definitely went far, far north. The bloke it was destined for imports fast BMWs i'm told.