Sunbug wheels????

[sasquatch]

I just noticed a listing on Ebay for a set of 5 Sunbug wheels for the 914. This is the same wheel I have on my 74 914. I had previously thought that they were a set of superbeetle wheels that the original owner had thrown on since I had never seen any 914 with them.

Can someone shed some light on this subject for me? Are these in fact original for my 74 1.8??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1872539563

Jay
87 944
74 914

[JWest]

These wheels were made in 4.5 and 5.5 inch widths and the 5.5 in two offsets. One of the 5.5 types were for the 914, the others were for VWs.

Yes those are most likely original on your car - lots of 914s had them

[Paul_Heery]

Those are most likely the wheels that came on your car. They are steel wheels that are sometimes referred to as Rally Wheels. They originally came with center caps and trim rings.

[norustscott]

I have heard that there is an offset difference as well. The wider 914 wheel has a greater back spacing...The bug wheels I believe come closer to the fender lip even though they are narrower...

just another 2 centrs worth...BTW that is the exact price of the four that are sitting in my shed. come and get em....

with center caps and trim rings!

Scott

[Conrad W Peden]

Yup,

The offset if different. By about a half an inch to the outside, on the Beetle wheels.

I had to replace one of mine and got a Bug wheel by accident, the guy had a stack of 15 - 20 of them. All of a sudden my 205/60's were sticking out past the fender well.


PS. Put them on the front. It will widen your track and improve handling?

[sasquatch]

Ok, so they are original. I think I will keep them and put the sticky auto-x tires on them. I am still unsure what type of wheel I want to install. My requirement is that I do not mind putting aftermarket parts on the car that are easily removable so I can return it to factory original, i.e exhaust, wheels, steering wheels etc..

Jay

[mike mueller]

I just sold a set of those that had been widened to 7" to fit under the stock fenders (with 205/50/15)

The look better widened since they have more "lip" and are deeper.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Supposedly the "Sun Bug" (limited edition of the VW Beetle, forget the year) had steel wheels with the same offset as the 914 wheels.

I don't know this for a fact, just repeating what I have read a long long time ago.

--DD

[JWest]

The sunbug was 1975 - parents had one. It used 4.5 inch wheels. The 5.5 inch VW version had the inch added to the outside (same backspace) as the 4.5 VW wheel.

The 914 5.5 inch wheel had greater backspace (fit further under the fender).

I do not know if there were different offsets in the 4.5 inch version.