A car outcast needs some input from car guys.

[Healey Z]

It is funny how I get very little response on the Austin Healey forum I frequent, which I can only attribute to the fact my drive train is Datsun.

Here is my question and I would appreciate the input from your "car guy" perspective. The wire wheels have been patched up spray painted with at least three different colors. I am ready to remove, clean, prep and paint them again. The stock color is a silver/gray with little metallic in it. Other options are to go wild with other colors or perhaps even a darker gray color. What do you think would look best on the car with my (non-original) British Racing Green color?

[Steve Parmley]

How about chrome? I am normally not a fan of chrome wheels but when I had a BRG XJ12 Jag outcast(Chevy V8), the chrome wheels looked fantastic with the green.

[Willoughby Z]

I, too think about wheel color options, as I have 6-spoke ZX wheels on my '77. They were media blasted and powder coated gloss black by a PO. Sometimes I really admire them, other times I want something different. They look unfinished at times, as if they are plain steelies without hubcaps but there is a look of no-nonsense street machine that goes with the black rubber trim and black pinstripe. I've contemplated minor changes such as having the lips redone in bright sliver powder coat and/or silver in the spoke depressions, combos of gunmetal/back, the body color with black or body color with silver, etc, etc. and as yet, have not decided.

As to your car, I could see using bronze or gold with polished or silver lips.. Dark or antique gold, perhaps, not 24K shiny gold. I have seen some unusual layouts with the color on the lip and the spokes polished/silver. Even some triple combos- polished lip, body color at the base of the spokes with gray/silver wires.

It's tough to find the balance of car/wheels, with neither overshadowing the other.

I came across this link:http://www.daytonwirewheel.com/gallery/customer_wheels.htm

Perhaps there is a member that could use photoshop-type software to help play with options. I saw some of that on other car forums when their members had a similar query.

I imagine that part of your decision may be determined whether you're planning on DIY or is subbing the work out, what the cost would be.

Good luck.

[FastWoman]

Personally I like the silver.

[olzed]

It is funny how I get very little response on the Austin Healey forum I frequent, which I can only attribute to the fact my drive train is Datsun.

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You hit the nail on the head. There is still some snobbery lingering . God knows why,

BTW your wheels look great the colour they are. Chrome would be my choice but I imagine an awful lot of work.

[EScanlon]

The color combinations that Willoughby mentions would be extremely difficult to effect on wire-wheels that are already assembled. I'm thinking that those triple color combinations are done at the wheel factory from components that are already color coated.

Without disassembling the wheels completely, to mask each and every spoke, and it's receiving nut as well as the rim itself would be a task even a compulsive anal retentive would abhor. To do this twice (for 3 colors) would be a masochistic nirvana... and still a major undertaking for 4 wheels (+ Spare?).

Your best bet is to paint them in one color, with maybe a color accent on the rim. Have them media blasted to remove the paint; paint stripper wouldnot be a good recommendation as it would make a huge mess and still leave areas untouched as well as the residue which would affect the final paint.

Then, either have them powder coated (you'll have to remove the tires obviously) or use a good epoxy or hard finish paint.

Colors? Up to you.

2¢

E

[Willoughby Z]

The color combinations that Willoughby mentions would be extremely difficult to effect on wire-wheels that are already assembled. I'm thinking that those triple color combinations are done at the wheel factory from components that are already color coated...

Your best bet is to paint them in one color, with maybe a color accent on the rim. Have them media blasted to remove the paint; paint stripper wouldnot be a good recommendation as it would make a huge mess and still leave areas untouched as well as the residue which would affect the final paint.

Then, either have them powder coated (you'll have to remove the tires obviously) or use a good epoxy or hard finish paint.

Colors? Up to you.

Totally agree, I got carried away imagining the options! :tapemouth

Still, I vote shiny lip, bronze spokes/hub.

And to the point regarding prep? Absolutely blasted, regardless of the process for the final finish.

[5thhorsemann]

Powder coat gloss black hub and rim with polished stainless steel spokes would be my choice. I'm sure the spokes can be found in stainless somewhere.

[Willoughby Z]

Powder coat gloss black hub and rim with polished stainless steel spokes would be my choice. I'm sure the spokes can be found in stainless somewhere.

Oooohhh, polished SS! Now we're talking!

[Jetaway]

It is funny how I get very little response on the Austin Healey forum I frequent, which I can only attribute to the fact my drive train is Datsun.

Here is my question and I would appreciate the input from your "car guy" perspective. The wire wheels have been patched up spray painted with at least three different colors. I am ready to remove, clean, prep and paint them again. The stock color is a silver/gray with little metallic in it. Other options are to go wild with other colors or perhaps even a darker gray color. What do you think would look best on the car with my (non-original) British Racing Green color?

Classy looking car needs classy wheels. I like the look you have now, so I'd say repaint in the same color.

Chris

[Healey Z]

Thank you for the replies. Here are a few pics of Healey race cars with the wheels painted a completely different color. I think a race car can pull it off, not sure a street car could.

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I say get them stripped and get them chromed. THEN I would design a new decal for the spinner centercap you have to accentuate the Healy-ness and Datsun ness of it all. Something classy. Get them made in super thick vinyl and enjoy the questions you get.

I agree with Chris, classy looking cars need classy rims.