Wanted! RS Watanabe Rims

[mmagnus]

I am looking for a set of RS Watanabe Rims in black.

Either 15 or 16 inch. If anybody has a set for sale or knows where I can find a set, please let me know.

Must be in good shape.

Thanks

Mark

[2ManyZs]

Well, you could try lemonZ and see if those are still available. I think the ad is still in the for sale section.....

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4799

[mmagnus]

Thanks for the referral. I sent him a reply. Are these Japanese import only or can you get them online somewhere?

[240brian]

there is a place in rosemead, california called So Cal alteraions, Inc. Give them a try.

[EricB]

SoCalAlteration = Alta of Japan...

On the corner of Valley & Temple City Blvd

Owner's name is Ken (Japanese guy with the primer black Z)

It's where my wats came from FYI....

Good people.. Shipments once a month (I forget which day of the month the new batch arrives..)

[mmagnus]

Eric,

Do you have a phone number for them or website

[EricB]

i don't but they should show up on 411 information....

SoCal ALteration or try Alta Wheel Shop, for the city I guess you could try Temple City - they are ON Valley near where it intersects with Temple City BLvd, not the other way around.... DOn't bother going there before say noon on a weekday.... I THINK they are closed on mondays but open the rest of the week.

-e

[mmagnus]

Thanks. Do you know the model number on your wheels.

[EricB]

watanabe rs-8 comes in four basic varieties:

type A (normal, little to no lip - like the ones you see for sale for corolla ae86's)

type B - lotsa lip - look at Alan's (HS30-H) photo gallery of vintage Japanese 240ZR's - or on my photo gallery of all the old Skyline GT-Rs I've got pictured there

type R - hold on for this one: not Aluminum alloy but straight magnesium - LIGHT and EXPENSIVE

and then there's the 2piece variety that I am really not so fond of... (there's a pair on ebay right now, keyword to search for is watanabe)... yuck

"Black Racing" a japanese rim company makes knock offs of Wats so make sure you are getting the right item... Black Racing logo is simply BR inside of an ellipse... Watanabe logo is three little ducks in side view where one is above the other two... kind of like a pyramid, yes?

Most often they come in gunmetal, but I've seen them in shiny balck, gold, and bare Al (not polished)... The lips are usually pretty smooth but the 8 wheels spokes usually have a pretty rough casting - this is totally normal....

Rough Japanese retail on some 15x8 or 15x9s NEW is roundabout $350-500 each for the Al alloy variety... I won't even bother to quote you a price on the Mg ones...

about a year ago, because i was at my old apt where i only had dialup internet access i missed out (didn't refresh fast enough) on a set of 15x10 front and 15x12 rear typeBs that were coming off of a Japanese Z based in Alaska... and they sold for guess how much? $750.- .... I still haven't swallowed that bitter pill.....

-e

-e

[mmagnus]

Thanks for the great info. So, what I am seeing in your photo gallery of your orange Z are type B? What size are you running in that photo?

[Alfadog]

Eric,

You probably already know but I LOVE your car. One of my favourites on the site (can't leave out Alan's ZG can we!)

One question - do you have a large version of the " http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=3011&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 " picture? I'd love it as a background image if you had a really big one...

As for watanabes... I saw a set of black 16's go for $550 - AUSTRALIAN. That's about $300 American dollars... I would have grabbed them up but I was late by 2 months.

[trs]

i was late to those 550 dollar watanabes by one day..

sigh...