Wheel selection

Is it for a 550 Spyder or a Speedster?  The 190 is a wide-five wheel (5 x 205 mm) and the Fuchs is 5 x130 mm Porsche bolt pattern.  I thought your car was red?  If your current car is VW 4 bolt - new rotors/drums (at least) will be needed.  If a Speedster, watch for offset - especially in the rear (drivers side).  CIP1 has a 5.5" fully polished fake Fuchs with a 5" backspace.

ACC-C10-6649 - 911 STYLE 5 SPOKE ALUMINUM WHEEL - FULLY POLISHED - 5.5 INCH WIDE X 15 INCH DIA. - 5X130MM BOLT PATTERN (5 INCH BACKSPACE) - CENTER CAP AND HARDWARE SOLD SEPARATELY - SOLD EACH

The 190 looks at home on a 550 and I prefer the fake Fuchs on a Speedster.

Bruce, nothing but a Vintage 190 on a Spyder!

Vintage 190 wheels for the win.  I think it’s the right look for a Spyder.  Quite possibly on a Speedster too depending on the build, use of dog dishes, nipple caps, etc.

The Fuchs always make me think of a 1980’s era 911.  Akin to taking the wheels off your new vehicle and putting them on a classic car.

I'll go against the tide and vote for the Fuchs.  I looked, but I don't have a side-photo of Angela Lane's black Spyder-6 running black background polished Fuchs.  If anyone has an old photo, maybe they could post it to show Bruce how Bad-Ass it looks.  All I have is a front view:

I agree with Rick, but Fuchs don't look bad on a black 550.

I'm not a fan of chrome wheels normally, but I did go with chrome-look aluminum wide5s on my FV. In my defense, they were $99 each on sale.

Greg, Bruce has a red powercoated frame but a black exterior finish.

Bruce, that's a hard choice to make. I personally love the look of the Rudge wheels with the knockoffs. I think your car would look great those highly polished wheels.

I know they are pricey, but buy once, cry once !! That's what I did .........

The last photo doesn't have the knock-off's but you get the idea.

Wolfgang....  My Spyder is black with a Ferrari red frame.  The suspension is now out for powder coating in black.

Gordon.....I would love to see a side view of that black Spyder with the Fuch's.  Anyone else have a photo ?

Jeez !! ......perhaps I shouldn't have asked for this. ALL of them look good !  I will definitely have a lot of shine on the wheels.... The other trim and signage will be red.........Bruce

Bruce, here you go:

https://www.hotrod.com/feature...der/#google_vignette

Google image search "black 550 Spyder with Fuchs". Yes, it's really that simple.

@aircooled bruce...i'm pretty sure you know my opinion...i can't wait to park next to this car of yours..gonna be "next level"

@aircooled posted:

Wolfgang....  My Spyder is black with a Ferrari red frame.  The suspension is now out for powder coating in black.

Did Greg drive it before powder coating the suspension?

@aircooled

I thought Angela’s car had polished Fuchs, but the photos on BaT when Steve sold the car show all black wheels.   Personally, on a black car, you need some bling in the wheels to off-set all that black.

This link, plus the one from Danny, should get you what you want for photos.

https://bringatrailer.com/list...Wc5GqOenDTbv7tnkgAFk

@aircooled If by chance you go with the reproduction Fuchs with the painted background, please have them repainted to look like real Fuchs. Those painted reproduction Fuchs look goofy AF.

I actually like the look of Fuchs on a Spyder.

I (kinda) hate to let my “You kids get off my lawn” flag fly, but IMO five spoke Fuchs are the Guards Red of wheels. Nice, but way overused. And it’s as grating as turbo twists on a 73 911.  
On a Speedster you have a little more leeway, but imo the only wheels that look right on Spyders are Wide 5s or V190 copies. If I were doing it, especially if I had 4 bolt wheels, I’d use 914 Fuchs or those Halibrand knockoffs before I’d use 5 spoke Fuchs.

And @ButcherBoy I don’t think that last picture is Rudges without the knockouts. I think they’re run of the mill 68< chrome 8 slot/4 bolt VW wheels like most cars with later brakes came with.

Maybe I imprinted on black Fuchs when I was younger, like one of Konrad Lorenz's ducks, but when I think of a sporty wheel, I think of Fuchs or Minilites.

For my outlaw, Fuchs were the bomb.

Thanks Guys.....More food for mulling...... Since my car is already NOT conforming to an original 550 in way, shape or form.  I, not being a "purist",  I  like those Fuch's.  Highly polished with flat black in the background flanges.  I would put a set of EMPI 8 Spoke's like I had on my Speedster but I want different this time.

Then I look at the classic 5-205's  all shined up including the spun aluminum hub covers. I get rev'ed up on that look too.

Rick........No way he could have as far as can tell...........Bruce

I also did the wheel search before I ordered my car.

Bruce -- I'm a big fan of your zest for living. The car you are putting together is unconventional, and the choices you are making do not have an eye to resale at all. The intake and the colors you are choosing make this car 100% "you", and you seem pretty much disinterested in anybody else's tastes.

I think a Spyder needs to have wide-5s, but I also think it should be either sliver, black, or white (maybe a nice shade of dove blue?) and have no trim or styling touches that wouldn't have been in evidence in 1960 or so.

Since your car is none of that, just do what you want to do. What any of the rest of us think doesn't count. You do you.

I gotta say I like the looks of those Minilites.  Of course I like them on almost anything, so there's that.

I had minilites on my TR250. Should have put them on my Bugeye Sprite.

I'm with you Lane!

Thanks Stan............I'm a little surprised that you  pegged me as a person who is disinterested in others tastes. Perhaps I do seem that way. But what I enjoy most about this forum is the diversity of opinions, tastes, styles, methods, and most of all, the varying concept of beauty.  I read everything posted on this forum.  I am more of a "listener". Many times there are posts on which I would like to comment but choose not to because others have already said what I would have.   I like that you, Stan, have a gifted way with our language in which you express what needs to be said in a manner that is appropriate for the context.

That said, I will do me, just like you said, after all is said and done.   I do value others opinions. They are like a steering committee that will  insure that I am happy with the outcome of my choices and decisions.  There is a HUGE base of expertese here and nearly all of it is presented without ego's applied.  THAT is very unusual and very valuable.

It's close to Christmas today so I'd like to wish ALL of you a Wonderful Christmas.

I am looking forward to an exciting new year here on SOC with all you "WingNuts" !

Bruce

@dlearl476 posted:

I (kinda) hate to let my “You kids get off my lawn” flag fly, but IMO five spoke Fuchs are the Guards Red of wheels. Nice, but way overused. And it’s as grating as turbo twists on a 73 911.  
On a Speedster you have a little more leeway, but imo the only wheels that look right on Spyders are Wide 5s or V190 copies. If I were doing it, especially if I had 4 bolt wheels, I’d use 914 Fuchs or those Halibrand knockoffs before I’d use 5 spoke Fuchs.

And @ButcherBoy I don’t think that last picture is Rudges without the knockouts. I think they’re run of the mill 68< chrome 8 slot/4 bolt VW wheels like most cars with later brakes came with.

David, by golly you are correct!! I must have been in a hurry when I posted that. At least I got the black 550 right ............ -)

I prefer the Fuchs too and if anyone is interested, the wheels and tires off of this car are available. https://youtu.be/KmBtYYgTA-A?si=CeoTC3dsa-7FXu0_

@Carlos G posted:

Those are the 4 bolt 914 Fuchs I like on Speedsters. They don’t look half bad on the 550 either. The only issue is that they’re 5.5” wide, so you’d have to have a narrowed beam for them to fit.

I don’t hate them on a Spyder, but still prefer Wide 5s.

This entire thread is one of the main reasons I enjoy this forum so much.

One man asks for the input of others; and so many of us chime in!  Yet we all manage to respect other points of view.  I firmly believe we build our project cars to OUR likes and anyone who dissents merely likes something different.  I can’t say I’ve ever heard someone at a car show belittle another owner about their concept(s).

I recently finished a 1957 Chevrolet Suburban and MY vision was realized…albeit miles apart from so many others, but I get other concepts.  We’ve all seen incredibly well engineered builds that are unsightly.  Yet we still admire the skill it takes to turn a vision into a reality.

I guess the old adage holds true: opinions are like a-holes…everyone has one…and they all work!

(I’d bet a paycheck more than one of us thought that was going a different direction with that analogy!)

Dave is right. On a Spyder, which IS what we're talking about, there is LESS room in front than on a Speedster.

So you Speedster guys need to keep in mind that Spyders are NOT the same in the front as Speedsters with wheel suggestions.

Angela's Thunder Ranch had both flared fenders and 911 torsion bar/strut front suspension. In this case there is room for a bigger combo.

If I was going to do Fuchs, I'd get 4.5" for the front and 5.5" or 6" rears. You may or may not need spacers in the rear.

And Dave, I think those 2.0 liter 914 5.5" Fuchs will work. You'll just end up with a really big turning circle. I believe the extra inch will go all on the inside.

Maybe I spend too much time driving through Oakland.......but I say have fun.  

Those donks don't have a thing on a 550.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL!  There is no way that's not Photoshoped even if it was seen in Oakland.

I love Fuchs , but they need to be 15 inch to look "Vintage"

Somehow  the larger lip on the 16 inch ones just do not look right to me...

But then you have to find tires that fill the wheelwell

Problems, problems, problems 

Merry Christmas to all ............

@imperial posted:

Somehow  the larger lip on the 16 inch ones just do not look right to me...

Amen to that.

Although rare, and generally rather expensive, the first Fuchs on 67 911S (and options for other 911 and 912) were 4.5” x 15”. The 5” ones came in ‘68. I believe 914-6s also had 4.5” on the front.

"Deep" Fuchs came in 4.5 x 15 , 5.5 x 15 , and 6x15  on 911 Porsches ,

914-6 had 14x5.5 Fuchs  as an option  which were also on some models of 911 ,

Deep Fuchs were also made in 15x7  and  wider for race cars .

@imperial posted:

"Deep" Fuchs came in 4.5 x 15 , 5.5 x 15 , and 6x15  on 911 Porsches ,

914-6 had 14x5.5 Fuchs  as an option  which were also on some models of 911 ,

Deep Fuchs were also made in 15x7  and  wider for race cars .

Yup. I had a set of 7s and 8s that were refinished by Wheel Enhancement. They were drop-dead gorgeous. I had a 1972 911T coupe project that I sold. I'm sometimes sorry I sold it. It would have been a major labor of money and love and time, but I made money on it. So, there's that.

I've always been a Fuchs fan.

Putting my flavor on the build of my Speedster revolved around Fuchs painted in the standard Porsche scheme. If I were building a Spyder, it would look exactly like Angela & Steve's 550.

For me and  my VS Speedster, it would be like buying a home built in the 60's - 70's with good bones but replacing the 4" tile (or formica) countertops with a nice updated quartz look.

@MusbJim, stunning. Love the shirt, too!

My man Jim, looking good and throwing the vibes out.

WTF.