Black wheels

Take them to a powder coater

Thanks Tom.  Called local powder coater.  Chrome wheels are sand blasted first then powder coated.  $300 for 4 wheels.  Sounds pretty reasonable.  Not really happy about my previously owned car color.  Think I need someting to add a little pop. Black wheels with chrome caps.  Hmm.

Have you thought about having them powder coated in the body color?  I am partial to that, and I think it would give your car a real "old school" vibe.  Even though you're not a fan of the color, I think it would be unusual enough to get a lot of positive comments.   Then again I am hardly unbiased in this. 

 

MidAmerica Motorworks in Effingham< Illinois has:

 

15x5.5 / 4x130mm gloss black, $64.99

15x6 / 5/112mm gloss black bus wheel, $149.99

 

Just google them and look under wheels in the Volkswagon section.

 

Everybody and their mother sells black spoked five spokes as well, if you want to go that direction. CB Performance, Cip1, SoCal, MidAmerica Motorworks, Sierra Madre, ISPWest are good places to shop, and all online.

 

Good luck. Already a great car, good to put your personal touches to it. 

Lane, definitley the look I'm going for.  Bob, thanks.  Will need to compare powder coating to just buying some new wheels.

 

Lane

What is that parked by your car?  Is that a 356 cabriolet or an IM conv D?

That's cold.  Hey Lane. Can you move your car so we can see the cool one?

Phil,

Through my own experimentation I have found that darker wheel colors with chrome caps make for a dreary look.  When I put a lighter color wheel with chrome cap, it makes everything pop, including the entire body color of the car.  For originality I really like the 10 d-slot 4 lug steel wheel that Beck sells.  I think a set done in a rich cream color would look great on your car. 

 

Phil, I FEAR THE YORKIE!!! 

 

That is Hoss' (John Hallstrand) SAS Carbriolet.  It was the first SAS Subaru-powered car sold and is still gorgeous.  That's us at the Fairfield Inn in Christiansburg, VA on the way to Carlisle in '09

I think that is John Hallstrand's SAS Cabriolet.

If I remember correctly, Henry has the rear wheels stretched to 7 inches ,with a fairly high offset to clear the fenders.  So, it's not an easy (or cheap) replacement.  I'd pay the $300 and get your present wheels sandblasted and powder coated.

Yes Ron I think you are correct.  His performance oriented cars have the 914 front suspension and beefier rear VW IRS suspension parts with the wider wheels.  Was leaning toward powder coating anyway.  Not that a base vw jetta engine screams performance but I do believe I have the nicer suspension and wheel package on my car.

Always trying to be of some help, here's a black wheel version.

And another variation of a creme colored wheel.

And another creme colored wheel

Rich, can you do one with the wheels the same color as the body?

 

The "black" wheels actually look more like dark metallic charcoal, which, to me at least, look better than black would.  I kinda like 'em.

Maybe something in a bronze-like look?

A request from South Carolina for wheels of the body color came in recently.

A silver wheel perhaps?

Hopefully this helps. With the chrome wheels on the original photograph, it is a little difficult to eliminate some of that sheen on these variations, but some food for thought.

Personally on your car color...for me...the caps are throwing it off.  I am partial to no caps anbud rum skins, but wondering what it does if you go cap less?

Rich.  Thanks.  That's awesome.  Still kind of liking the black.  Have considered going without the caps but I want it to look close to vintage.  Had 4 lugs on my first Spyder and went with caps.  The Suby Spyder had the wide five lugs with black drum skins.  Think the 356A Type D had 5 lugs so I think I want to go with the caps.

Trying to find some pictures of my Spyder with the 5 lug pattern.  This was the first Vintage Spyder with a Subaru engine completed in 2003.  BMW sterling grey metallic.  Amazing this is the only picture of the car I have.  No digital info on the car at all.  Old pic but it still looks amazing.

 

You're welcome. My opinion, no wide fives...hubcaps. Personally, I think silver, but it's your car as we always say. What color is your interior?

 

Rich- How about photoshopping some alloys on it?

For $240 you can get new steelies in black or paint them whatever color you like. Use an epoxy paint.  Keep the chromies in case you want to switch back or sell them & recoup the full cost.

 

It doesn't make sense to pay somebody to blast the chrome off something (assuming the chrome isn't peeling off already). 

My interior and my soft top are dark chocolate brown.  Actually thought about chocolate brown wheels. Things are starting to sound a little weird.  Maybe photo shop dark brown wheels with caps?

Maybe Marty G would sell you his beautiful Fuchs with a brown finish where the grey or black usually appears. Great looking wheels.

They are 5 by 130

 

A little funky on the Photoshop end, but here's Marty's Fuchs for grins.

A nice set of Minilites would look good too.

It would also be nice to see it topless.

I think the wheels look fine. It's the hardtop thats the wrong color.

Here's black with beauty rings:

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com/clip/1000984

 

Black with rings and spinners:

 

https://www.speedsterowners.com/clip/1000977

       
       


Hey Rich,

Nice use of 'content aware fill'. Which version are you running? How many years have you been a user?

Ted

"Content aware fill"...huh? I don't get out much...what?

 

...okay, Ted...I just checked and see there really is such a magical tool ( though the title seems rather odd to me). No, I am not using any new, fancy-schmancy generation of Photoshop. I retired over ten years ago and am still limping along with ancient tools. It won't be long now and the old adage, "everyone's an artist" will come to fruition with the flick of a mouse.

 

I think Terry's first picture, with the beauty rings and moon caps would look nice on that car against a really, really dark chocolate wheel.

 

How about a version of that, Mr Drewek?

 

I never cared for body-colored wheels-- I've wanted to, but they always struck me as "off" (sorry Lane).