Need help breathing..are these real 4.5" fuchs??

tuned6 · 01-14-2012, 12:13 PM

I just got in on a deal and got back to my shop to discover these wheels have no stampings. It looks like what was there was ground off, maybe or never existed. I can see where the stamp for rim size, looks just like other Fuchs size stamps, is rubbed half off. I know from having other 4.5" Fuchs there were some with no stamps but I thought they would always have a fox stamp..

any Fuchs pros know the low down and can tell me if these are real? My plan is to flip them and make a buck here...
Thanks in advance for all help.

Btw.. these came off of a '68 that has been stored indoors since 1984.

Sacto S · 01-14-2012, 01:30 PM

As you said, some were only marked with an ink stamp and nothing more. The paint is 100% incorrect if that is any help.

Arne2 · Arne2's Garage

Judging from how the 165-15 tire fits, I'd say they are wider than 4.5", maybe 5.5"? Just a guess from appearance in the first pic...

Shaun @ Tru6 · 02:46 PM

if they came off a 68, they are much more likely to be 5.5s or .04 wheels. 5.5s were a one-year-only wheel in 68.

best way to identify width is to remove the tires of course.

if they are 5.5s, and the numbers have been ground off, probably worth $300 per wheel.

doesn't seem to be a date code on one of the ridges of the center ring in between wheel stud hole bosses.

I hope these were really cheap!

mbruen · mbruen's Garage

I have a similar wheel (1) that looks the same. My thread went back and forth with some thinking it did not look painted right and others explaining that they used to grind off the numbers on the 4.5 inch wheels. I could find no marking except for apparent grind marks.

I think the end result was he told me how to measure with the tire on to figure out if it was 4.5 or 5.5. I think I measured and thought it was a 4.5, but it wasn't an accurate measure. I think I really have to take the wheel off and measure to be sure.

I was told "Measure the width of the wheel where the tire fits. You can approximate through the hole. The diameter is on the tire. The overall will be about 5.25X16.25."

My post was on early Esses, not here.

tuned6 · 01-16-2012, 08:11 PM

Did the spokes stick out like the 4.5" do on the faces? I guess I haven't seen a set of 5.5", or I am staring right at them..

RatBox · 01:36 AM

4.5 fuchs that have no casting numbers or size (width & diameter) do not have them ground off ...they are just not present on the early forging equipment , thus do not turn up on the wheel.

As far as I know , the 'grinding' (on 4.5's only...not later wheels) is also on the earliest forging eguip. ( the piece the center get's pushed on to at very high pressure).

On any of them (4.5's , early or late versions) you should still have a Fox head , only it will be stamped ....in the spot a 1968-on fuch has the date code (near center hole).

Sometime single letters will also be stamped in the same area (various inspectors marks).

Arne2 · Arne2's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuned6

Did the spokes stick out like the 4.5" do on the faces? I guess I haven't seen a set of 5.5", or I am staring right at them..

I'm not a Fuchs expert, so I can't say from looking at the rim what it might be. But I do have 20+ years in tire/wheel sales and service (mid '70s through late '90's), and am quite familiar with those Michelin XAS tires. As I noted briefly above, the tires look to be stretched a bit on the rim, they don't have the sidewall bulge I would expect to see if they were mounted on a narrow rim. So I'm still leaning towards these being 5.5", not 4.5". Might be time to have one of the tires dismounted so you can be certain.

tuned6 · 01-17-2012, 01:42 PM

I am pulling a tire today... But, I see no fox stamp... But, I have read that there were no fake 4.5" wheels as of the "pro's" post date in 1990 and these guys are definitely old tires and I know these wheels have been around since 80's.

An interesting thing is that the tire size script is barely noticeable on one wheel and looks identical to all others that I have seen on fuchs.
Thanks everyone for the help so far...
Christopher

jsoderbe · 01-17-2012, 11:14 PM

I have one 4,5" in the garage, ant the black on the wheel is totally different than on your wheels. It looks like your wheels are painted, is there any way to see the original bläck finish underneath?

A 4,5" should only have black around the triangular holes, not that far up on the spokes.

Thanks,

Johan