fancier detailing around wheel area etc

Are you thinking something like eyebrow trim? The answer is no. I have never seen a speedster with any kind of brightwork around the wheel openings. I have seen coupes and cabriolets with rear fender skirts. Very Twinkie.

Some cars in your color look fantastic with wide whitewall tires but they usually have a tan top as well.

If you're selling I wouldn't worry about it. Looks fine as is.

Troy? You around?

i am not positive what i am doing yet with my car and even if this one does get returned to kirk or sold or traded or a number of other possibilities there is a strong chance i will pick up another one in the future.i like the madness and even if this particular car has to go i will join the madness again.

i was asking the question more out of curiosity since it's something i had thought about a few times while looking at my car.

i always like posts from troy so i hope he is around. =)

I think the best way to dress that area up is with a different set of rims. I went through seven different wheel configurations before I settled on my current setup, although I have some thoughts for something different...

Of course, Penny's color is quite unusual for a speedster so the standard look just didn't work for me.

Take a look at the different wheel styles.

do you mind posting a picture?

 1) Rivieras

2) Stock black with trim rings and spinners

3) Stock black with trim rings and baby moons

4) Chrome with spinners

5) Pedrinis (Italy)

6) Mahle four lug mini gas burners

There are many more styles available.

I'm sure others will post what they're rolling.

Terry, my 'speedster affliction' has also resulted in a wheel fetish!

The VS came to me with beautiful chrome Mangels topped off with nipple caps...that I soon swapped out for moons...and then discarded those too in favor off a no frills raw look.

At Carlisle I was smittened by chromed Centerlines with 10 circular cutouts and a ring of 20 black rivet heads...those made me happy for awhile until I found a good eBay buy for Empi Sprintstars!!

Now I'm cleaning up a dynamite set of lightweight alloy Centerlines like Cory has mounted on Hoopta...and, I've owned the VS less than a year!!!

Photos, Carl.

The young lady wants photos.

I love Centerlines and Ercos.

Sprintstars are awesome as well but won't fit Penny.

You could always get a set of Alex Biven's wheels.  I think they are only three grand for the four.

They are beautiful, though.  I remember George Brown had them on his (not to be identified here) Speedster.

Alex Bivens Wheels

Annaliese, your postings are always head scratchers. It sounds like you are planning on bailing on your current VS Speedster and in the same breath considering how to improve it?

Or is this a future thought on how to improve your next purchase?

Alan's wheels are car porn.  In person they will blow you away. 

I covet Allan's wheels too. I remember asking him about them at Carlisle. He just beamed and politely told me what they were and how I'd probably never be lucky enough to own some.

Terry, I like the Chrome with spinners and Perrinis wheels (if you had them polished).  The other four not so much.

I'm also 'wheel crazy' and even though I'm (sort-of) happy with my Fuchs replicas (US made), I'd love a set of Minilites.

With all the replica Fuchs wheels out there (mine included) I think Fuchs wheels are getting a little 'ordinary'.  That's why I want to go with Minilites.  When was the last time you came across a speedster with Minilites?

I love Bivens, and they can be ordered in a 5x130 pattern but as Bob mentioned, they are VERY expensive.  For half that amount I can get a set of custom Minilites ordered from England.

My chrome Centerlines, although a 4x130 bolt pattern, look just like Allan's with the ten oval cutouts ...shimmering reflective beauty...and if you'll excuse an analogy...the style and grace of a British Spitfire! 

Whereas the matte finished solid faced lightweight alloy Centerlines that I'm cleaning up project a no nonsense snarling image! like a German ME-109...and since I drive like an old lady, a snarling but reigned in potential boosts my self esteem!

After all, isn't that what driving a speedster is all about??   

Ron,

I like the Minilites as well as the Panasports. I've seen several outlaw speedsters (real) as well as coupes sporting a set.

I've seen a lot of replica speedsters with the Empi 8 spoke wheels - kind of like a replica minilite...

If you look up Dave Mitchell's 911 IM Speedster you'll notice he has a set of Bivens "lookalike" alloys in the 5 X 130 pattern. Custom made in the UK and quite a bit less than the Bivens.

The last set of wheels on my car are the Mahles. They are the lightest 4 bolt factory wheel that Porsche offered on the 914.

Yes, lighter than the Fuchs.

But, by far, the least expensive upgrade you can do is put a set of spinners on your wheels. Kinda like a peep-toe pump, wouldn't you say?

I've spoken about the Minilites I had made for my past BMW 2002tii in the past. You can still get them done in England and they are gorgeous. Much nicer than the Panasports which are like Minilite ripoffs, the rims are nicely rounded. Trying to remember price...maybe $350 per.

That was a good looking Beemer, Rich!

Grace us with a photo on FB, please?

Here are the Panasports, Terry.

They get my vote.

Here's one here and I'll head over to FB too. It was such a gorgeous restoration!

I worked through John (I forgot his last name) at: http://www.minilitewheels.us/default.aspx to get these produced in England. He's a Brit working out of Ohio someplace and travels back and forth. I was extremely pleased with the product, Powder coated and diamond cut rims.

BTW, Terry, Beemers are the bikes, Bimmers are the cars according to the Bimmer/Beemer crowd I have been told. Personally I like Beemers for both.

Bimmers sounds so gay.

Good to know, Rich.

I can use that to piss off the BMW pricks.

Mitch, thanks for the photoshop. Now I know how Penny would look with a set of Birkenstocks.

Terry, Plenty of Beemer pix up now on the Facebook SO if you're interested.

 Here is my Beemer,the only kind to have............

I'd love to be the prick riding on that...^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I'd love to buy a BMW 2002!  I've lusted after them since a friend bought a new one way back in 1976.  Back then I was a poor student and couldn't afford a pot to piss in. 

Terry, it's Dave who initially turned me on to getting custom wheels from England.  I like his wheels, but I like Minilites more.  Superlite has a very nice wheel and the only thing that's stopping me from ordering a custom set is the price.

One big benefit in ordering custom wheels is I can get any offset I want.  In the rear I want a six inch width, with a 47-49mm offset.  This would allow me to run a slightly wider tire and to set the alignment up with less camber.  Presently, I have a lot of camber just to clear the fenders.

I do love the old airhead BMWs and restored my 1987 R-80 last winter and gave it to my son Russ a couple of months ago.  I totaled this bike on Mount Magazine 6 years ago.  A friend bought the wreck from the Little Rock BMW dealer and sorta got it back on the road but  in a shabby condition with a lot of used beat-up  junkyard parts.  I used all NOS parts and german Glasurit paint and new everything else.   Now it looks and rides as new as the day I bought it at Lindner Cycles in New Canaan, CT 25 years ago

The engine has only 11,000 miles on it including great road trips to Prince Island, Canada and down the Skyline drive. 

Nothing like an airhead BMW with an engine that looks like 1/2 the Type IV engine in my Speedster!

Just an observation:

With the way we thread drift, none of us would make very good eyewitnesses...

Jack, any photos of your banjos?

I like chicken pot piiiieeeeee! 

Sorry, guys.  I got carried away when I saw the earlier post of a BMW bike.

Guilty as charged.  Now let's get back to Speedster wheels!!   

John Leader had a really nice JPS in a Teal color sporting mini-lites. Very cool looking car. Here's a short clip of John's Speedster on a shake-down cruise for Gerd's blue coupe. Silver coupe in clip is Eddy 'Karnuts' Karyadi.  

Just an observation:

With the way we thread drift, none of us would make very good eyewitnesses...

Speak for yourself. Ooh, pizza!!!

And we went from dressing up the wheel openings to wheels. Gotta love this group. LOL

Jim, John Leader's wheels weren't Minilites.  They're an inexpensive 8 spoke wheel put out by a number of companies.  As I've previously mentioned, I really like the Minilite look, but I don't like these.  Not sure why, just don't.

"are there additions that people make to these cars to make them look more plush on the body area surrounding the wheels?"

You weren't thinking of chrome wheel well arches were you? That would look awful.  Some have ground down the fiberglass lip in the fender well to make it look more like the OEM thin rolled over steel.  That's a quick way to differentiate a plastic speedster from an OEM one (ha, other than lack of rust bubbles coming thru the paint).  I had to grind mine down to get a little more clearance for 2L Porsche 914 Fuchs - especially on drivers side. 

I am around Annaliese and I was in your hood, but unfortunately did not see you on the 5 and the 101 this morning while I was towing my latest Speedster project.

Sorry to hear that your experience with these toys has pushed you to the point of actually considering bailing on the madness: I really hope that doesn't happen!

It was beautiful down there today, but it's getting to that time of year where rain and cooler weather will force you to drive your Speedster less and less.  However, if you can just hang in there until the Spring, you will experience a complete season of enjoying your car and I really think all of your frustrations will vanish.

Take care.

Troy

there's a strong chance that i am going to pick this up. it's kiiiind of like a speedster so maybe i can still be invited on a run.