Modern alloys on classic cars: your take?

[LotusOmega375D]

Have to say they make me want to gag! Stupid oversize shiny rims with super wide rubber band tyres on a car built in the 1960s or 70s.

That's one fad I wished had stayed across the pond. What next low-rider Morris Oxfords?

[marshalla]

(not mine!)

[VetteG]

I chose to have 'modern wheels' fitted, since my Corvette is still capable of +150mph and the only tyres available for the original 15" wheels were for Ford Transit vans and the like. I had replica wheels made in billet aluminium but with an 18" diameter (17" had a very limited tyre choice at the time, some 10 years ago)in order to get tyres with the correct speed rating.

G

[RichB]

LotusOmega375D said:

Have to say they make me want to gag! Stupid oversize shiny rims with super wide rubber band tyres on a car built in the 1960s or 70s. That's one fad I wished had stayed across the pond. What next low-rider Morris Oxfords?

I agree, they nearly always look dreadful in my opinion.

[vsonix]

VetteG said:

I chose to have 'modern wheels' fitted, since my Corvette is still capable of +150mph and the only tyres available for the original 15" wheels were for Ford Transit vans and the like. I had replica wheels made in billet aluminium but with an 18" diameter (17" had a very limited tyre choice at the time, some 10 years ago)in order to get tyres with the correct speed rating.

G

looks great

[Iva Barchetta]

Agreed,mostly doesn't work.

The London car museum in Hayes is stuffed with yanks on modern oversize wheels.

[garagewidow]

marshalla said:

(not mine!)

i'm a champion for modifying,...that oxford looks great,neat roof chop too.i expect that peashooter exhaust is hiding something more potent.

the world would be a boring place if we all kept them as intended from the showroom.of course there are some cars that need to be preserved due to the low numbers or pure value of them making it a crime to not keep to originality.

[skeeterm5]

LotusOmega375D said:

Have to say they make me want to gag! Stupid oversize shiny rims with super wide rubber band tyres on a car built in the 1960s or 70s.

That's one fad I wished had stayed across the pond. What next low-rider Morris Oxfords?

To be honest many modern cars look stupid on the wrong wheels. imho the age of the wheels is a red herring, it is whether they suit the car, and that is a matter of personal opinion/taste.

S

[fel71]

My 635CSI came on 'M' parallels when i bought it, definitely not to my taste, but i left them on until after the body restoration before sourcing period BBS's.

[DoubleSix]

VetteG said:

I chose to have 'modern wheels' fitted, since my Corvette is still capable of +150mph and the only tyres available for the original 15" wheels were for Ford Transit vans and the like. I had replica wheels made in billet aluminium but with an 18" diameter (17" had a very limited tyre choice at the time, some 10 years ago)in order to get tyres with the correct speed rating.

G

Understandable. Think 17" would have been perfick though...

[PositronicRay]

fel71 said:

My 635CSI came on 'M' parallels when i bought it, definitely not to my taste, but i left them on until after the body restoration before sourcing period BBS's.

Much better.

As said earlier it's not the age of alloys, its the style that detracts. Low profiles spoil the look of many cars, particularly if the're narrow and don't fill the arches. 4X4s on low profiles

[everyeggabird]

Mine from a few years ago. I loved the M6 wheels.

[DoubleSix]

That is an amazing example!!!


... of how not to do it

[ZX10R NIN]

PositronicRay said:

fel71 said:

My 635CSI came on 'M' parallels when i bought it, definitely not to my taste, but i left them on until after the body restoration before sourcing period BBS's.

Much better.

As said earlier it's not the age of alloys, its the style that detracts. Low profiles spoil the look of many cars, particularly if the're narrow and don't fill the arches. 4X4s on low profiles

As nice as your car looks with the standard BBS wheels on I think they look better with modern wheel sizes, & lowered but it's just a personal opinion.

[DoubleSix]

This thread was always going to be divisive.

The original BBS look so much better than those 'orrible wannabe gangsta "rims yo"...

[everyeggabird]

The 'correct' wheels for the M535 where the ugly metric ones, crap tyres @ £250 each. No contest, the big rims it came with stayed on. I loved them, not blingy and filled the arches nicely.

[fourfoldroot]

My 635 on parallels. They divide opinion but I like them.

[Nick Grant]

LotusOmega375D said:

Stupid oversize shiny rims with super wide rubber band tyres on a car built in the 1960s or 70s.

Agree, that's why I still run 14" rims on my '57.

Passenger 57 by Nick Grant, on Flickr

[DoubleSix]

Nick Grant said:

LotusOmega375D said:

Stupid oversize shiny rims with super wide rubber band tyres on a car built in the 1960s or 70s.

Agree, that's why I still run 14" rims on my '57.

Passenger 57 by Nick Grant, on Flickr

Amazing!

[theadman]

everyeggabird said:

Mine from a few years ago. I loved the M6 wheels.

it really depends on what your objective is - originality or individualism. I love original (unrestored if possible) cars, but I can realiy see the appeal of modded cars and enjoy seeing them.

To me everyeggabird's 5 Series looks great...because it's a different take on a mass produced car that I think works. Some simply don't, but this is always going to be an individual thing.

I think my car looks just right on its factory original steel wheels. Even the chrome rim embellishers some people fit I personally think look pants. However, I know others think that wider Minilites look the business.