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Wire Wheels for a 1971 Spider?

5071 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  JEFFDHURLEY1, 
M
I am looking to re-body a 1971 Alfa Spider to look more like a 50s race car... Has anyone seen any Spiders with wire wheel conversions? I am not really interested in the bolt on kind as you can always see the lug nuts, but if someone has a bolt on suggestion I am all ears.

What I am really looking for is information on what parts and how much work is involved to replace the original parts and put on MGA or Jag wheels.

Or if someone knows of a bolt on adapter that does not totally screw up the offset then that would be cool

Thanks

Michael
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Andrew
A very few Giuliettas came with wire wheels, with a converted spline hub (Rudge maybe?). It would not be a direct/easy conversion to a 105 car, but it could be done with the right machinist, etc. That said, I think I've only ever seen one Giulietta with wires, so it's not like they're common. Never seen an adapter, which would widen your track some. Again, you could make something to accept British wheels, but I wonder about the cost and value.
Andrew
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M
Andrew:

Thanks... yes cost effective is rule number one...

Best

MF in Fallbrook...
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kcabpilot
So, if cost effect is number one why on Earth would you even consider the thought of making a 1960's era Italian sports car look like a 1950's era British sports car?
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M
Not a British Sports Car... An Alfa Like Sports Racer!

Sorry I forgot to mention... The car has no interior except a steering wheel and a few gauges... no seats, no seat belts, no carpet, nothing, Body has bad dents and crappy paint, It has only 2 wheels and they do not even match, was being made into a race car so basically stripped clean. Has sat for 8+ years, but motor, trans and brakes all function (need some work), there is no top, nor frame for the top and the pan has been damaged by someone trying to mount a roll bar.

So hardly a candidate for restoration (not being cost effective in the end) yet not ready to be scrapped or parted out as the title is a clean CA pre 1974 title...

I never mentioned a British race car (God forbid, of course with the exception of an Aston Martin DBR2)... This is what I want it to look like:



I am not sure Alfa even made a model like this... But I think I would rather spend the money on a one off Alfa Art Car than a restoration.

I mentioned Jag or MGA to be cost effective... I would love a set of Borrani's, but I think that is not going to be cheap...

Basically if I am going to spend the time and money I want something no one else has... So it will look like a 50's race car, but with Alfa flare as I plan to badge it as an Alfa too.

Thanks for the concern...

Best

Michael
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6
Past the 50's, most sports cars and racers went to alloy wheels. These are much lighter than the wires, and not prone to warping. You can buy wires for most alfas, at about $1000 per wheel!

Robert
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Biba69
Gosh, for someone who is going to make, or have made, a custom body, I'd think that $1K per wheel would be a very small drop in the bucket.

I'm guessing the body alone would start at well over $50K unless you have an English wheel and really know how to use it. Then there's the welding of the sheetmetal along with finishing up/smoothing out the body. After that the interior work begins including sourcing vintage looking seats and gauges.

I'd guess the '71 body as it is, is worth around $1K unless it has the bumpers and grill and they're in good to great shape. I'll add that since the car is unit body construction, there really isn't a separate frame with which to build on - though not saying it couldn't be done.

Please prove me wrong on all counts.
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Superflow
Personally, if I were to build an Alfa Spider custom, I'd go for one of the Superflow variations:

COACHBUILD.com
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Biba69
I believe all of the variations on the Superflow were done on the same body. Do note how close to the Duetto/Round-Tail the final iteration of the Superflow is - though it has considerably better proportions than the Round-Tails.

The enclosed photos are of a reproduction 1953 6C 3000 CM Spider and were taken at the French/Italian Meet last year at Woodly Park (Van Nuys, CA). The owner - whose name escapes me - is very well known in So.Cal's Alfa circles. He is in the center of the second photo with the red collar.

I believe he said he used a '63 Spider or Sprint 'chassis' for the base, then had the hot-rod shop use the plans on page 493 of Fusi's book for the custom body. I'm pretty sure it is aluminum. I forget what engine he used. Note wire wheels.

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Superflow
Disco Volante/Superflow Specs Specifications

Road & Track magazine published an article in September of 1974 about the Superflows. Here is a scan of the specifications page.

As you can see, it's a bit wider than a Spider, with a slightly shorter wheelbase.

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Anfanuts
I saw a 69 Spider with Borrani wire wheels at the Irvine CNC last September 2010. He had a resto shop resto the wheels with new SS spokes and had adaptors made so he could utilize the knock-offs. I imagine he paid more for the wheel work than the car.

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vespam5
Don't do it!
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ICBomber
MFrost in SD said:
Basically if I am going to spend the time and money I want something no one else has... So it will look like a 50's race car, but with Alfa flare as I plan to badge it as an Alfa too.

Thanks for the concern...

Best

Michael
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I say go for it, if you have the skills, then use them.


This is what a buddy is building from a crappy '80 Spider. Looked like the PO just poured oil on top of the engine it leaked so bad...:eek:






He's building a '20's style race car from a piece of '80's junk!:D

Personally, I would like to see what you come up with! BTW, the wheels my buddy is using are big dollar Dayton's adapted to early Ford brakes.

Good luck!

Pat
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JEFFDHURLEY1
daytons work great see pics of my 85 grad under "parade pics" in picture section were on there when I got the car but i get so many positive comments I have kept them
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