Sprint Wheels Paint or Powder Coat

[59Sprint]

I have a couple questions regarding the steel wheels on my '59 101 Sprint?

When I got the car it had four steel Fergat wheels mounted and a Borrani in the trunk as a spare. One of the Fergat wheels still has the Fergat name painted or decaled on the outside of the wheel. All four Fergats are date stamped 59. Is it possible that the car came from the factory with four Fegat wheels and one Borrani wheel?

I'd like to keep the car as original as possible and restore it simply by cleaning and touching up. However, the original paint on the outside face of the wheels doesn't look too good and there is light surface rust where the paint has deteriorated. The wheels need freshening up. Is it best to have them repainted or powder coated?

By reading past threads, I can see that specific silver color is a well discussed topic. I'll cross that bridge after deciding whether to paint or powder coat.

[Mikes4C1300]

I've painted mine (a couple of times) and, over time, removing and reinstalling the hubcaps and balance weights always leaves nicks and scratches. Powder coating would probably eliminate that problem, I can't think of any downside to it. Before you do either make sure the wheels aren't bent or cracked. There's nothing like spending a ton of money only to have the part turn up unusable.

Mike Hollinger
Atlanta

[Gordon Raymond]

The only $ disadvantage to powder coat IS it's durability. The wheels have to be media blasted to remove ALL old paint (and rust). Once the powder coat is baked on, it is difficult to remove. (Good and Bad) Should the wheels need to be re powder coated due to a bendornick, the old powder coat must again, be removed. Not as easily done as with paint. Also more expensive. Paint can be touched up.
Your car came with 5 Fergat wheels. The Boranni is a later replacement, probably for the bent 5th Fergat. Gordon Raymond

[Andrew Schank]

Powder coating works well on steel wheels as long as they are not badly pitted, and the powder coater knows what they are doing. If they are pitted, the pits will show. (if you paint, you can prime and sand and fill in the pits) The other issue with powder coating a silver color is sometimes they end up looking more gray than silver depending on how the process is done. (temperature used, time in oven, thickness of application, way clear is done on top). It is a pain to have them redone if they do not turn out well. I do powder coating and love the way it works, especially on small parts. I have not done wheels-my set up it too small scale, but have sent customer wheels out. Some have turned out great , others didn't look anywhere near as nice I ones I have painted.

[Randal Harris]

Prior posts have touched on the main issue - color selection. BMW Polaris Silver is generally acknowledged to be the correct color for Alfa wheels of that period, Fergat or Borrani. How close can you get in powder coating (my experience with powder coaters it that you can not get very close) and how important is it to you? If the detail is important then paint them. If you run the car a lot on the street then nicks are inevitable, so, paint them and touch-ups are easy. To me, powder coating is for low mileage cars (or for a set of show wheels) if you can find a good color match.

Randy Harris
'62 & '67 Spiders
'78 Sport Sedan

[Joseph]

here is a couple pics of 57 Sprint borrani wheels, now powder coated.

[Gordon Raymond]

WoW Joseph! Very nice and complete with a non-available tire size, 165 x 15.
You looked hard for those!

Gordon Raymond

[Andrew Schank]

Vredestein makes both a 155 R 15 and 165 R 15 tires and both are currently available and are quite good quality.

http://www.tiresunlimited.com/vred_tires.htm

[Gordon Raymond]

Thanks Andrew!

Best, Gordon Raymond

[Za-gato]

Hello! I did a restoration of one set of wheels to my Spider (5 rims). I tried to get a paint code for the color but the mix is home made. Take my reply as a hint of color setup as the one I have is not original but close enough for me. My credentials were to have a dull paint setup. Read some ware in this forum about that BMW has wheel paint suitable for old-timer wheels/rims but I forgot where to find this thread. Attached you have a link to one thread in AlfaBB regarding rims.

Wheel color

[PSB]

2nd what Andrew said all the way!
If it is a SV it would be all Borrani.
2 sets of powder caoted wheels on my SV and 750 spy.
I Love powder coated.

[cervara]

hi I p/c my 1750 wheels and will also do my 750 B wheels as well I believe only way to go. 67 sprint veloce 57 750 B G/sprint