libre wheels

[DeesZ]

Great thread on Libre wheels. I've learned more about them here in 5 minutes than I have been able to while looking for a set for the last 8 months! In my search I have been able to locate several sets of Libre knock-offs (Shelby Viper, no names, etc.) and a set of American Racing that I just couldn't afford. (If anyone has a set of 14" AR Libre for sale please PM me!) The Knock-offs do come in several wider configs, and from 20 feet away look like Libres but I'd like to stick with AR, and their 5.5" will suit any needs that I will have. The classic look of that design on a 240Z (for me) is tough to beat.

Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge.

[Arne]

For my purposes (weekend trips and daily driver), a set of non-AR's would be just fine. I'd still like to have a set, although my wife doesn't care for them all that much.

[trisha]

Thanks For your help everyone I thought this thread was played out and forgotten.

Anyway we ended up buying the Libre's 14x5.5 and they fit great on the car and it now has that classic 70's look and drives very smooth. They were painted black in the center and we had that removed and the original finish is perfect and the outer lip is polished. So some great 70's accesories were saved and we have a classic original car now.

Again Thanks for all your help

[=Enigma=]

Thanks For your help everyone I thought this thread was played out and forgotten.

Anyway we ended up buying the Libre's 14x5.5 and they fit great on the car and it now has that classic 70's look and drives very smooth. They were painted black in the center and we had that removed and the original finish is perfect and the outer lip is polished. So some great 70's accesories were saved and we have a classic original car now.

Again Thanks for all your help

Alright then, let's see some pics!!

[Jeff G 78]

If anybody happens to be looking for a set of no name Libre wheels, I have a set in my basement. They were on a '76 I bought back in 1986. I took them off right away and they have been in storage ever since. I figured that I would clean them up and sell them someday, but if anybody is looking for a set now, I might sell them. They are straight and in good shape, but need a bit of scrubbing and polishing to be show ready.

[Victor Laury]

There is a 7" wide version of the Libre that is ONLY offered in the 13" diameter. These 13x 7's are probably most famous for being run on the 70-73 trans-am era Datsun 510's, particularly the BRE car driven by John Morton.

Good Info! There's a set of the 13X7's on ebay now. Too bad they won't fit on my dime, since I have a big brake swapperoo.

I have a set of the 14X5.5's here in the house. I don't know if I'm going to use them or not. Too American style for me. The funny thing is, My Japanese freind is always looking for Libras to ship home. They are popular there because they ARE American style! I told him I swap them for a set of Wats.

Attached - photo ripped from the ebay ad for the 13X7's. They must of had like a 25 mm offset or something close to fit a 7'' wheel under the 510 fenders.

[7T1240]

Well guys, now you've piqued my interest to the point where I can't wait to go to work tomorrow (if you can imagine that!). You see, my Libre's are in storage down at work, and for the life of me I remember them being 14 x 6's. Now you've got me wondering. I'll check tomorrow and let you know.

Gary S.

I dug my wheels out today. There is no size inscription for size or offset that I can see on the wheel I looked at. I put a tape to the rim and came up with 6.25 from inside edge to outside edge, and 5.5 inches from bead to bead. Given what Carl and Arne have said, these wheels must be 14 x 5.5". The seller had advertised them as 14 x 6, and with no markings and not knowing better, I took him at face value.

Gary S.

[Arne]

I dug my wheels out today. There is no size inscription for size or offset that I can see on the wheel I looked at. I put a tape to the rim and came up with 6.25 from inside edge to outside edge, and 5.5 inches from bead to bead. Given what Carl and Arne have said, these wheels must be 14 x 5.5". The seller had advertised them as 14 x 6, and with no markings and not knowing better, I took him at face value.

Gary S.

Yup. Wheel width is measured at the bead seat, so yours are 5.5" wide.

[Mike B]

I have two 14 x 5.5 Libre style wheels that I think are Amercian Racing. They have A.R.E. cast on the back as well as Auto Works and 00311-934-U.S. I'm not sure what Auto Works means, and I guess the number is the part number? They have the center "spine" in the four spokes and a full circular hub in the center of the back. I can't get pictures to upload now for some reason, so I'll have to try again later.

So are they genuine ARE Libres? I seem to recall some other ARE Libres that have American Racing cast in the backs in script. If so, is this just a difference in production dates?

[Arne]

Mike, I'm pretty certain yours are true American Racing, but are probably fairly late production. IIRC, only true ARE Libres had the reinforcing spine in the spokes. Early wheels said "American Racing Equipment" on the back. Later ones (when production moved from Oregon to California) said "ARE" instead.

Another way you can check - ARE Libres had a backside measurement of 3 3/4" while many of the copies were closer to 3 1/4".

[Mike B]

Arne,

I also have some Shelby Libre style wheels (labled Viper) and I just measured the backspace and is it 3 3/4" on both the ones marked ARE and on the Shelbys. The Shelby's also have a center spine, although it is not as deep as the AREs. The AREs spine is about 1 1/2" deep at the deepest point in the spoke and the Shelbys are about 3/4". The Shelby's, however, do have a cross piece in this section that is perpendicular to the spine and is about 1 1/2" deep.

The ARE pics are first, then the Shelby's. In the pic with the front of the two wheels, the ARE has a weight on it and the Shelby does not.

I figured out the problem with loading the pictures. The resolution on the camera was set too high and didn't meet the height/width limits.

[veritech-z]

I told him I swap them for a set of Wats.

Hey Vic, don't you think that Panasports/Watanabes are kind of played out though? Seems like everybody's got those these days...I think you need a nice three spoke...