Correct Wheel Colors

[dualref]

I have a 70 Beetle I am in the process of restoring. It will be a stock restoration.

Looking at the photos in the 1970 VW Sales brochures, the wheels appear to be a two tone color, the inner part being black and the outer rim being white or off white. This appears to be the same with the 1969 models as well.

My question is what color white is the outer rim? Pearl White? Savannah Beige? It doesn't appear to be a true white. The wheels I have on the car now are just plain painted silver. I'd like this to be an accurate restoration.
Thanks in advance!

[Bookwus]

Hiya dual,

Go with what you have right now. Unlike the 69s, the wheels on 1970 sedans were painted all silver.
_________________
Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck

Have an AutoStick? Check out www.auto-stick.com

[dualref]

Thanks Mike.
If you want to see something funny, look at the 1969 and 1970 Sedan sales brochures here in the archives. In both years they have the same photo, a picture of a convertible and a sedan on a beach.
It looks like the exact same photo was used for both years, but for 1970 they 'painted in" the side reflectors and bumper reflectors on the cars for the 1970 years.
What's interesting is that the wave action and tire marks in the sand are exactly the same for both years!
Since this was eons before PhotoShop was available, I imagine they forgot to paint the wheels silver!
Interesting stuff, eh?

1969 Brochure

1970 Brochure

Allen
70 Beetle
70 Square

[webwalker]

Probably a lot cheaper to retouch than to reshoot!

Cool!
_________________
"Consistent maintenance with quality products is the cheapest warranty you'll ever need."
1977 CE1 Transporter Deluxe, Subaru EJ22, Skills Cooling, Steedle HD 091 w/ GuardT .82 4th
Click to view image

[DrDarby]

They painted in hood louvers too. Cool ! Yes your car would have silver wheels.
_________________
Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Woodstock, IL

[toyvergnugen]

Chrome Silver L91 is the correct color code for 1970 Wheels. Even though it is called "chrome" it has an aluminum not too shiny finish. It may be availble from Wolfsburg West in a rattle can. I have also used Argent Silver from Eastwood as a substitute and it is a fairly good match. Not too glossy. It is a good long lasting paint with high solid content. I stay away from Krylon and Rustoleum. Usually the color is wrong and not as much solids in the paint. More thinners.

[gcbbug]

Painted mine with Rustoleum. I then sprayed a clear gloss over it to protect and to give it a baked enamel look. They turned out beautiful with the high polished hubcap.
Jerry

[dualref]

I imagine it would be best to take these wheels in and have them sand blasted before painting. Is there any specific kind of primer that works good on wheel applications?
Thanks for the great info, that Eastwood product looks great.

[gcbbug]

Sandblasting is the way to go although I was money tight and time blessed when I did mine. I wanted to keep working on the bug so I wire brushed and then sanded(by hand),now that's work. I'm a big fan of Rustoleum Auto Primer. It covers well,makes a good base for your color,and can be wet sanded. I buy mine at Home Depot. I think I pay about $3.99. Little more expensive than Krylon but I've always trusted Rustoleum. Showing my age again.
Jerry

[Bookwus]

Hiya dual,

That is a great picture(s)!

I spotted another item the guys with the airbrush overlooked. In 1970 the glovebox door and the screens around the speedometer would have been painted gray black (L43) not the exterior color as in the 1969 model year.
_________________
Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck

Have an AutoStick? Check out www.auto-stick.com

[markj60616]

[alex857]

Hi,
the blackish wheel center is correct, they used black like a primer, also for the backside of the wheels, and sprayed only the outer rim silver - it is the same at the all original spare tire of my 1974 Super. I guess they saved o.oooo1 Pfennig by doing this.

[hoghead]

What is the PPG paint code for L91 silver wheel paint.