Hi Guys,
in the moment I'm working on details for my speedster.
As I know, the original 356 speedster came without any mooncaps, just simple 5/205 steel wheels. Does anyone know, what there covers the center nut at a stock speedster? Are there any special small caps or do you see the nut?
By the way, the center caps for the front wheels do not fit. I already tried...
For better understanding, what I'm talking about, I'll attach a photo ;-)
Thanks, Jan
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The originals 356 had a aluminium drum-brake cover, you can source these from Sierra Madre Collection at http://www.sierramadrecollecti...r-Spyder-p18834.html.
Take note the rear will need some minor modifications to fit the beetle drum, you will see on the photo below we had to file four notches on the rear covers to locate the cover correctly. The front covers fit perfectly no mods required.
hey, cool, thank you!
this was the detail photo, I was searching for!
I thought the moon hubcaps were standard, and people removed them for racing.
Lane Anderson posted:I thought the moon hubcaps were standard, and people removed them for racing.
Where's Carl Berry when you need him? He knows a lot of those details, Lane. Stuff like that I have no clue. Any time I want to know about original Speedster (or for that matter, coupe or cabriolet) body or trim details I ask Carl. Al
You can get the drum covers directly from CB performance. They are the guys who have them made, and who SMC buys them from... CB sells them for cheaper, and they are awesome to work with. Cheers,
hmm....
about the question if the original speedster had any mooncaps, I'm quite sure:
When he was build in Zuffenhausen, there where no caps at all.
but as much as I like "original" somehow I cant get familiar with these aluminium brake covers...
the shape of the brake drums together with the steel wheels make me remember the good old Fuchs-Wheels and I liked it. (see pictures in first topic...)
The big question for me is: should I try to improve a cap for the nut ore should I bring it to the original with these aluminium covers?
oh, oh, maybe I should sleep a night to think about it! ;-)
confused speedster-greetings
Jan
FWIW, I have a picture book about all things Porsche, with much in there about 356s. There are original promo photos from the era that show Speedsters w/ moon hubcaps. Also, there are close ups of an original '58 356A Carrrera GT Speedster, that has its hubcaps removed (it was set up to race) and clearly shows the wheels are equipped with spring clips designed to hold hubcaps. Many Spyders are shown also, and they are absent hubcaps, or anything covering the castle nut at the rear. You want to be "original", let it all hang out.
I thought the moon caps were standard equipment also.
Here's a two page ad from the May 1955 Road & Track:
All 356 Pre A and 356 A were fitted with baby moon hubcaps except for Super/Super 90 which had the nipple type hubcap, the Spinner Rudge Knock-off wheels was a factory option.
356 Pre A Baby Moon Hubcaps
356 A Baby Moon Hubcaps
356 A nipple Hubcaps Super/Super90
356 Spinner Rudge knock-off factory opion
Maybe the hubcaps were available only as part of the $5000 SportDesign Package, along with revised front and rear fascia, supplemental safety bars in aluminum look, power folding side mirrors, painted rear air intake, headlight cleaning system covers in deviated exterior color, and fuel cap with aluminum look finish.
El Frazoo posted:FWIW, I have a picture book about all things Porsche, with much in there about 356s. There are original promo photos from the era that show Speedsters w/ moon hubcaps. Also, there are close ups of an original '58 356A Carrrera GT Speedster, that has its hubcaps removed (it was set up to race) and clearly shows the wheels are equipped with spring clips designed to hold hubcaps. Many Spyders are shown also, and they are absent hubcaps, or anything covering the castle nut at the rear. You want to be "original", let it all hang out.
Correct even the Carrera's were factory fitted with Baby moon hub caps. Even the 550 spyder had baby moon hub caps. The Porsche 718 RSK Spyder had no hubdaps fitted
Well, it WAS a long-standing German tradition to equip all models with hubcaps:
I guess that means we're done here.
I sure hope so!
Are those spinners?
My eyes hurt.
Actually, I always thought the center nut of a German car was covered by something like this:
If you're asking about the rear, and you're not running hubcaps, nothing covers the rear axle nut. The front is a flat blac rubber cap that is roughly the same shape as the 'nipple' you see on the aluminum drum skins.
Ted
Did someone say nipples? Did Vince sneak in here??
With a little work on my part I could post the picture I have of the GT Speedster wheels showing the little hub cap spring clips on the wide fives. If anyone just has to have that.
Actually, those wheels AND hubcap clips are the same as a VW sedan before 1961 or 2
I think the Porsche moon hubcaps were interchangeable with the VW hubcap on a wide five, too.
Sacto Mitch posted:
Maybe the hubcaps were available only as part of the $5000 SportDesign Package, along with revised front and rear fascia, supplemental safety bars in aluminum look, power folding side mirrors, painted rear air intake, headlight cleaning system covers in deviated exterior color, and fuel cap with aluminum look finish.
I don't think the SportDesign Package included the power folding side mirrors or painted rear air intake-- that was a $1749 upcharge when you ordered the $4849 SportDesign+ package. The supplemental safety bars and moon hubcaps weren't a part of either package unless the $2499 Competition Exhaust was selected, but then only if the dealer specified Continental tires and the build date was between January 12 and February 14, 1957 for European delivery.
Honestly, without these essential modern upgrades, I don't see how those cars could have been any fun to drive at all.
You two are a riot...
Between Sacto and Stan, you really don't need cable TV. Just sayin' . . .
See the little wee holes in the wheel between the lugs? Likely where the spring clips were inserted and fastened.
My favorite car of all time
a '55 Carrera in the Zuffenhausen Porsche museum...with chrome hubcaps and silver/painted rims...ooh, la la!
and my 2nd favorite of all time, a '57 with Rudges
this one is number 50 of 75 made in 1957 and it's a beehive taillight model so they still made those in '57, who'da thunk?
If you look closely, you'll notice it has the $2,399 no-mirror option, surprisingly, not many folks chose it but the original owner did. He was blind in his left eye.
