Went by the local VW junkyard/parts store today and they have a set of full polished Riviera wheels with a little less than a 4.5" backspace.
They are 15x5.5 and they have webbing in the hub that I've never seen and stiffeners on the spokes too. Nothing like this Riviera, I've noted the difference. The wheel in the pic has a backspace of 3.875"
Would this be a decent wheel for an early Super? I think these are early 914 wheels, there a good price too, $300 for a set of 5.
71 Ghia Coupe........For Sale
71 Super-Beetle Convertible.....returning to DD status
63 IH Scout 80 (beater)
They SOUND like they will work, but I would still try to get the smaller OD springs/perches for the front since you have the struts.
The factory Mahles for the late 914 are 5.5 ET35, about the same IIRC.
IIRC those will bolt on with smaller springs and some bump stop trimming out back.
An awful lot of folks have converted to 130X5 boxster rims (17x6 and 17x7) which are as common as salt and border on free, and look awesome. (just saying)
The last time I bought a used set of 5 riviera mags I paid $80. Total.
$300 is way out there unless really special, do you have detail pics of the actual rims?
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
Went back by there today, and the wheels appear to be the original FV Riviera wheels. They don't have the square on them and they are 15x5 not 5.5. From what I can find they are ET32 to ET35 wheels.
71 Ghia Coupe........For Sale
71 Super-Beetle Convertible.....returning to DD status
63 IH Scout 80 (beater)
Very Nice, I also suspect they are real and collectors items as such...
... but if you really want to Go German Look 5" rims won't hold much meat.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
mountainkowboy wrote:I know.....can do vintage cal look though.
No, you'd have to cut off the front of the car at the windshield and replace it with std bug bits before the cal look guys will talk to you
I'd seriously check around for prices on those, I have no idea what those rims go for.
Addendum to Newtons first law:
zero vehicles on jackstands, square gets a fresh 090 and 1911, cabby gets a blower.
EZ3.6 Vanagon after that.(mounted, needs everything finished) then Creamsicle.
How are you measuring the width? (Should be bead-to-bead, not overall).
IIRC the original VW optional rims were 4½" with an offset close to that of the late`73-up 1303 rims (ET41). That allowed their use on Type III and 'Ghia as well as Standard Beetles - may be a little tight on backspace with early Super springs.
The are 5", and I haven't found any part numbers on them yet, but then I really haven't got around to cleaning and de-weighting them yet either. Still working on getting the front end back together.
71 Ghia Coupe........For Sale
71 Super-Beetle Convertible.....returning to DD status
63 IH Scout 80 (beater)
