Old Style Fuchs

All of this talk of Fuchs has me scratching my head again.

Did they make old style 69-73 Fuchs in 6x16 and 7x16? I would like the advantages of modern size wheels, but I want it to look somewhat original.

I have seen several early 911s with deep dish 6x16 and 7x16 and (at the risk of offending some around here) they just look wrong to me.

If they do exist, I bet there a bear to find.

I don't think 16's were introduced until around 74, perhaps even later. I've never seen or heard of "deep" style 16's but your're right, if they do exist, they must be made of 24K unobtainium.

According to my "Original Porsche" book, Fuchs first appeared on the first "S" models in 1967, in a 15x4.5-inch width. This was updated (after numerous complaints in the automotive press about the skinny wheels) to 15x5.5-inch wheels in August of 1967 (for 1968 cars). On hydro-pneumatic suspension cars, there was a 14x5.5-inch Fuchs wheel available, the goal being a more forgiving ride.

In 1969, 6-inch Fuchs were available, with slightly flared rims to accommodate them --although I believe they were all 15-inch at this time. The 14-inch wheels were an unpopular option, and were eliminated after 1971.

The cookie-cutter, also a 15-inch wheel, was available from 1973 to 1983.

I don't find mention of 16-inch Fuchs until the UK Sport model of the SC, which came out in 1982, I think. It had polished, not anodized rims, and gloss-black centers.

16-inch rims were still options on the Carreras. I haven't found any evidence of the old-style Fuchs, with painted insets, but polished spokes, ever being available in the 16-inch size. 15s, yes, all the way to the Turbos, in 8-inch widths. I can understand it looking 'not right' to someone who's seen a lot of early cars, and gotten used to the smaller wheels.

I happen to like it, though.

------------------
Jack Olsen
1973 911 T (3.6) sunroof coupe
jackolsen@mediaone.net

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 03-21-2001).]

I've got a 69 as well, it came with 7 and 8 fuchs when I bought it, the guards/fenders are apparently from an SC according to the previous owner. I've got 205x15 on the front and 225x15 on the rear, and I'm happy with the "original" look.

The "deep-dish" Fuchs wheels were only made in 6x15.
They had only one "hump" (H1) so they were not that safe for lateral forces which increased with better tyres. Therefore, they were exchanged by H2 rims later on, known as a standard for SCs front. These are the more common 6x15.
I have not found a single reference that 16 or 17" wheels were available from the factory at that time.
Remember, that the standard diameter in the '70s was 13" on european cars.

Jens

My 82 has the 16"ers which were an option . I think the SC line had theses as an option through the production run.

------------------
Bob
1982 911SC Targa
PCA - Founders Region