In my dreams: Watanabe wheels

[Alfadog]

Awesome, I can't wait for pics. This is interesting about the sizes and offsets. Is the offset always more negative for Type A than Type B in all sizes? Perhaps we've had it around the wrong way all the time?

Surely 14x7.5" Type-A Watanabes come in more than one offset though?? Could you give a link to the page you're referring to? (I want to find out the offsets of my wheels!)

[kyteler]

They can be built to specific offsets from what I understand of the RS-Watanabe website but I believe the standard is as v12horse mentioned.

Also, 14's in both Type-A and Type-B go no larger than 7.5" anything above that is Type-R terroritory.

Again, that's just going by what I've attempted to figure out with rough web-based translations.

Ooops.. and I think that Ben is using this webpage;

http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/pay/al81014.htm

[v12horse]

Well, here is the RS-Wat link, but I cannot just send a link of one page. The site is setup so that there is only one link. it is the top third bar from the right. Just go to Aluminum 10-14in 8-spoke. It is all there. I am not sure whether you can get an array of offsets for a specific size/type. You would think that you could, but I have read from other posts on this site that Watanabe used the type A, B, R, and F designations so that there would be only one offset for that particular type depending on the width and diam. I would like to learn more about this as well. I wonder if the offset of your rear wheel is different from the newer ones since yours is possibly older. How old do you think it is? I would love to know.

I always wonder what car these wheels were on at one time. Your wheels may have been fitted on some crazzzzy s30 or skyline Alfa. *sigh*

Take care,

Ben (it is 11:30 at night and I am going to bed.)

http://www.rs-watanabe.co.jp/index2.htm

[Alfadog]

In 14x7.5, type A is half a kg heavier than B. That's curious...

[v12horse]

thats the one kyteler. see ya guys. I too only know what is off the site. I wonder about the older wheels? take care guys

[v12horse]

In 14x7.5, type A is half a kg heavier than B. That's curious...

That is odd.

[v12horse]

the type B's are almost all slightly lighter than the type A's besides a few. Could this be the paint or something?

[Alfadog]

I don't think it's to do with the paint- but strangely the weight difference seems to be quite a lot larger on the 14x7.5's and 14x6.5's than the 14x7's. Now that's odd.

My rear wheels look very old... I've got no idea how old though, and wouldn't want to guess! Does anyone know exactly how to measure offset with a ruler? This could be useful...

Looking at the poor paint job and massive amounts of curb-rash on my rear ones, I'd say they were on some crazy AE86 drifter or something. They are definitely not pristine.

My front ones look relatively clean, and only have a few minor scratches and of course one huge dent that has been banged out. The polished lip was dull, I polished them and they came out very shiney. That indicates to me the wheels were probably on a car who's owner wasn't too finicky, and certainly wasn't too careful when driving, but could afford nice looking wheels. I wonder what they were on...

Yours, Ben, on the other hand, look like they've just come out of a box!

[HS30-H]

My front ones look relatively clean, and only have a few minor scratches and of course one huge dent that has been banged out. The polished lip was dull, I polished them and they came out very shiney. That indicates to me the wheels were probably on a car who's owner wasn't too finicky, and certainly wasn't too careful when driving, but could afford nice looking wheels. I wonder what they were on...

I was told they were on a '73 Fairlady Z-L Lachlan.

I don't know how you can make a judgement about whether he was a careful driver or not. The "huge dent" might not have been his fault at all.......

You also don't know what his circumstances were with regard to affording the wheels. I hope you're not 'looking a gift horse in the mouth'?

These wheels were cheap as chips at one time; I remember seeing a really nice pair of 'R' types being used as plant-pot holders in the front yard of a house just down the road from where I used to live in Tokyo.

[Alfadog]

I'm not being too serious there, Alan.. I just like to ponder about these things.. it's good fun imagining the history of something - accurate or not! I was under the impression new Watanabes were always pretty expensive, but if they were used as pot-plant holders..... well I stand corrected! Thanks for your input

[v12horse]

That is funny about the type R planter. There are eight little slots where someone could plant different herbs. Hehehehe. That is sick. hahaha. I love it.

This reminds me of a few conversations that I had with Kats at the Z convention. He was looking over my car and he was saying how much he loved the mags. Later that day him and I were looking at my friend, Ted's 1800sss Bluebird and I told Kats that I loved the Watanabe's. He said he always sees those wheels. It is wierd how that works on both sides eh? You always want what you can't have I guess. It was funny to me because many of the guys from the UZCC of Japan brought over US market Z's(240z to 350z) and here we (many) are wanting Fairlady Z's. I simply love it. Another interesting note is that the emblems on Mr. Akamatsu's car were all Datsun emblems, even the dash emblem. It was a Datsun 280z one. hehehe. This is great too. Anyways, I am very off topic now.

Take care,

Ben