I need to know more about the wheels that are on my 240Z. I am going through a restoration and I need to know if I should change the wheels, or stick with them.

In the picture I didnt have the center caps installed. They are being rechromed at the time of the picture.

Year: 1970 Model:240z Build date:5/70 SN: HLS30-04661

Image:

Are those WIRE wheels? It's really hard to tell from the distance and angle of that picture.

To my eyes, they look like one of the versions of dealer installed MAG (Aluminum) wheels, which would not be chrome nor need rechroming.

In any event, they are not a "factory" wheel and thus it's questionable if they belong on a "restoration".

I need to know more about the wheels that are on my 240Z. I am going through a restoration and I need to know if I should change the wheels, or stick with them.

In the picture I didnt have the center caps installed. They are being rechromed at the time of the picture.

Year: 1970 Model:240z Build date:5/70 SN: HLS30-04661

Image:

Is that your 1970 240Z in the picture, doesn't look like a 1970 to me, unless someone replaced the rear quarter with a later model due to the fresh air vent being on the side, rather than in the rear hatch like the 1970 model had. Just curious.

Bambi, I think he might have been referring to rechroming the center caps, rather than the wheels, as the wheels are obviously on the car and not out being rechromed.

Bambi, I think he might have been referring to rechroming the center caps, rather than the wheels, as the wheels are obviously on the car and not out being rechromed.

DOH! Guess I should have stopped watching TV while replying to the post. :stupid:

I've seen those wheels before . . . . . I just can't remember where.

Ohh! It looks like and early 80's Maxima alloy wheel.

I've seen those wheels before . . . . . I just can't remember where.

Ohh! It looks like and early 80's Maxima alloy wheel.

No, those aren't Maxima alloys. Looks like a period aftermarket wheel. Maxima alloys are much uglier!

the wheels are Appliance brand or look very much like it heres a pic of a set from ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4514717261&category=34209

yeah, those are appliance wheels. I had a set on my old Z.

Look like Appliance to me. But, Ansen also made wheels like the Appliance mesh. I have some 14x6 Ansen Sprints, which were dealer installed on an early '74 Z that I just bought off of local fella. They clearly have "ANSEN AUTOMOTIVE GARDENA CALIFORNIA" cast into the inside. Funny thing is, I've heard that most of the hotrod cast wheels were made in Gardena Ca., like Superior, Shelby, Ansen, Western, etc. Probably made by one company and marketed under different names.

Dk240z yes I had heard the same thing and have seen Shelby wheels that were very similar as well along with western

I have a set of dealer installed Appliance Slotted wheels and a set of dealer installed Anson Sprint wheels and there are noticable differences in the shape of the "slots" and other aspects of the wheels.

I have no way of knowing for certain, but I think it's likely that different branded wheels were "produced" in one (contracted) foundry in Gardena, to similar (but slightly different) designs provided by the various wheel companies.

i don't think those are the appliance wheels, but i know which wheels those are. at first i thought they looked like the appliance ones, but then i remember seeing the initail wheels on zs before. at any rate, i believe they are period correct, and if you decide to get rid of them, let me know..

EDIT: upon closer inspection, i am sticking with my original claim: the "wire" part is much finer on the mounted wheels, and the distance from hub to "rim" is shorter in the mounted wheels.