American Racing Equipment Catalog 9-70

[Mike B]

Here are some pages from an old American Racing Equipment catalog from 9-70. These were all the four lug wheels and accessories available from ARE at the time and many were fitted to 240Z's. It's interesting that the Libre's are being marketed for 240Z's, but Le Mans wheels are advertised for European cars with "the smart continental look", such as the Porsche 914, VW, and Alfa Romeo.

-Mike

[Arne]

Good stuff, Mike, thanks for sharing. From my perspective as an ex-tire/wheel guy, it is interesting to note:

1.) Like the Shelby catalog you posted a while back, this AR book shows that the definition of 'offset' has reversed over the intervening years.

2.) In 1970, the only magnesium LeMans sizes for a Datsun were 14x6 and 14x6.5. Nothing wider. Magnesium Libres were only offered in 13".

3.) American did not make 14" 4 lug slot mags in 1970. They must have been the only company who didn't!

4.) Aluminum LeMans was touted for European applications because the only size offered was 15x5.5, and while they did offer it in the Datsun bolt circle there was no such thing as low profile tires then, so no way to use them on a Z. That size and bolt pattern was intended for use on Triumphs, MGAs and similar Brit cars. Today though, you could use 185/65, 195/65, 195/60 or even 205/60-15 on those wheels. The best of both worlds, in my opinion - true period mags, but with modern rubber. I want a set!

[Mike B]

Aluminum LeMans was touted for European applications because the only size offered was 15x5.5, and while they did offer it in the Datsun bolt circle there was no such thing as low profile tires then, so no way to use them on a Z. That size and bolt pattern was intended for use on Triumphs, MGAs and similar Brit cars. Today though, you could use 185/65, 195/65, 195/60 or even 205/60-15 on those wheels. The best of both worlds, in my opinion - true period mags, but with modern rubber. I want a set!

I have a couple of sets of the 15" aluminum LeMans wheels. One has been restored and my 205/60-15 tires are on the way as we speak, so #32 should be riding on them soon.

-Mike

[Arne]

Yeah, I'll have to keep my eyes open for a set down here. But please don't tell my wife I'm looking for yet another set of wheels... :paranoid:

[Mike B]

2.) In 1970, the only magnesium LeMans sizes for a Datsun were 14x6 and 14x6.5. Nothing wider. Magnesium Libres were only offered in 13".

3.) American did not make 14" 4 lug slot mags in 1970. They must have been the only company who didn't!

Arne, I was looking at my copy of the ARE catalog again and it actually has an asterisk next to many of the magnesium wheels, including the Le Mans, and Libre, (but not the aluminum versions). Down at the bottom of the page the asterisk notes "(1) Accessories not included (2) This design series available in many different offsets and rim widths upon special request." I talked to Terry Vaughn for quite awhile when I picked up my wheels and he said something similar, that you could special order other sizes that weren't shown in the catalog. Also, in the Nov 1970 Road and Track issue there is an article about the BRE 240Z team titled "Datsun 240Z Goes Racing". It says, "They use Goodyear racing tires and the 7" wide wheels cast by American Mag to Pete's design weigh 12 lbs each." The comment about Pete Brock designing the Le Mans wheels is interesting. I asked Pete about that when I showed him #32 last year, and he said that wasn't true.

Terry also said that ARE had a foundry in Portland where the wheels were cast for a long time. Apparently sometime after it closed it was turned into an apartment or condos and they used some of the old wheel molds as decorations around the building. He said went down there and tried to buy some of them once, but they wouldn't sell any. I wonder if anyone can confirm where their old foundry was. It would be cool to go by and take a look if they still had some of the old molds around.

-Mike

[Carl Beck]

I have a couple of sets of the 15" aluminum LeMans wheels......

-Mike

Oh Mike.. .two sets! - you are smitten:love:

Carl B.

[Mike B]

Oh Mike.. .two sets! - you are smitten:love:

Carl B.

Well, I have two cars to put them on . Yes, you could say I have been converted. I used to like the Libre's the best, until I discovered these. This is a picture of the restored set I have.

-Mike

[Carl Beck]

Also, in the Nov 1970 Road and Track issue there is an article about the BRE 240Z team titled "Datsun 240Z Goes Racing". It says, "They use Goodyear racing tires and the 7" wide wheels cast by American Mag to Pete's design weigh 12 lbs each." The comment about Pete Brock designing the Le Mans wheels is interesting. I asked Pete about that when I showed him #32 last year, and he said that wasn't true.

-Mike

I ask Mr. Brock the same thing a year or so ago.

Isn't this all to common in the automotive media? I can just hear it now....

"Good Morning, this is Frank at American Racing Wheel - how can I help you?"

"Hello - this is Peter Brock at BRE Racing. I need 12 LeMans wheels with the Datsun bolt pattern, in a 14" diameter, 7" width and with a 4" backspace. Can you get them out to me by next week?"

"Sure Mr. Brock, did you want the outer lips polished as usual?"

"Yes, and just put them on our account"

"Ok Mr. Brock, we will have them cast to your specifications and you can expect them next week. Thanks for the order."

So as we can see - If you ask Mr. Brock if he "designed" the Le Mans wheels - being primarily a Designer - he would of course say no. It is more than likely the original story from American Racing was that Peter Brock "specified" the LeMans wheels for his BRE cars. Along the way, someone in the media got sloppy with the use of terms, and by word of mouth or whatever - the act of specification became "design".....

Kind of like Mr. Goertz telling a writer about getting a one year contract for Design Consulting with Nissan Motors in 1963, and that being later reported as - being hired to design cars....

Huge difference however in that Mr. Brock refused to take credit for the design, where Mr. Goertz told, twisted and retold the story so many times - I think he believed the lie himself years later ... kind of like his "stint" at Porsche.... later being reported as "Goertz designed the 911"

BTW - Mike - what happened to Terry??? Where do we get the center caps now?

FWIW,

Carl B.

[Mike B]

BTW - Mike - what happened to Terry??? Where do we get the center caps now?

I don't know about Terry. The last I heard from him was last fall. I posted about it in this other thread http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showpost.php?p=282367&postcount=6

The only other source for caps I have heard of is Massey's in OK. I have a couple of sets, so I am good for now. Very strange about Terry though.

-Mike

[Arne]

American still sells some of their classic caps. Like this one?

http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=areacc&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=626552760&Count2=543693184

[Mike B]

So as we can see - If you ask Mr. Brock if he "designed" the Le Mans wheels - being primarily a Designer - he would of course say no. It is more than likely the original story from American Racing was that Peter Brock "specified" the LeMans wheels for his BRE cars. Along the way, someone in the media got sloppy with the use of terms, and by word of mouth or whatever - the act of specification became "design".....

Carl,

I obtained an old Interpart catalog recently dated 2-1-72, and it had an interesting comment about the Le Mans 14x7 magnesium wheels, which were listed in the catalog (although the have an asterisk indicating limited availability). The description says "A real magnesium racing wheel. Beautiful four spoke 'Le Mans' design make this the lightest and strongest racing wheel on the market. The same wheel used on the BRE/National Champion Team cars. Perfect for slalom racing or high speed rally work. Because of magnesium's porosity, BRE plastic impregnates them with a special aerospace process. This keeps your tubeless tires from going flat. Zero offset, 14 pounds each". I had never heard anything about them being plastic impregnated before. I wonder if that was done by ARE or a third party company?

By the way, I got my second set of 15" Le Mans aluminum wheels polished a couple of months ago by a local company and they turned out great. I painted them myself. Here are a couple of before and after pictures. I have emailed Terry a few more times and never did hear back from him.

-Mike

Edited June 26, 2009 by Mike B

[Carl Beck]

Carl,

.... Because of magnesium's porosity, BRE plastic impregnates them with a special aerospace process. This keeps your tubeless tires from going flat. Zero offset, 14 pounds each". I had never heard anything about them being plastic impregnated before. I wonder if that was done by ARE or a third party company?

Hi Mike:

Interesting question. The first set of wheels that I have, had been coated inside with something. It was kind of a greenish gray, and looked like an epoxy. I assumed it was done to keep the air in, so I did not remove it when I bead blasted the exterior. The second set that Les found and shipped to me, had been blead blasted already, and who ever did it blasted the interior of the wheels as well.. So I don't know if there had ever been anything on them. I painted the inside of the wheel that I used for the spare with POR-15 before mounting the tire.

Your 15" aluminum wheels look GREAT! I'm sure you'll be much happier with them for street use.

FWIW,

Carl B.