TheSamba.com Forums
 
  View original topic: Lemmerz wheels history?
674me2enjoy Wed Nov 25, 2020 7:18 am

These wheels were on my 67 Bug when I purchased it. When removed on the inside was stamped Lemmerz 1567 ....5 1/2xJx15. Made in Western Germany. Are these original VW wheels or aftermarket? Thanks.....unable to find any info when researched on the internet.


67conv Wed Nov 25, 2020 8:06 am

I believe these were an aftermarket wheel, made by Lemmerz - an O.E.M. wheel supplier to VW - but not as a FACTORY wheel offered in 1967. The 5 1/2" width is too wide for "stock" 1967 model year wheel width. Correct width for factory wheels in 1967 were 4Jx15, stamped on the rim, along with the "VW" circular logo next to it. If I remember correctly, "safety rims" with the added lip (4 1/2" width) were not introduced until the 1968 model year, w/ the 4 bolt lug pattern. The "1567" number on your rim might mean an internal Lemmerz part number? Usually, dating stampings are in fraction form within a circle, month as numerator and year as denominator.

674me2enjoy Wed Nov 25, 2020 8:13 am

Thanks for the quick feedback. I found one of these on Ebay listed as a early 60s VW Bus wheel.

EverettB Wed Nov 25, 2020 9:36 am

They are "Sprint Star" wheels.

Aftermarket optional wheels, often from EMPI.

They are reproduced but those sound like real originals.
They came in different widths but 5 1/2 is pretty common

Nice addition to your car, they are pretty collectible.

A zillion Sprint Star gallery photos
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_keywords=sprint+star



674me2enjoy Wed Nov 25, 2020 10:04 am

Great feedback, appreciate it. Taking them to a polish shop to get them cleaned up! Thanks

Rome Thu Nov 26, 2020 12:26 am

VeeDee recently posted this wheel list in the gallery. Your 1567 is the wheel model # "only for dune buggies and other modified vehicles". 2nd right column (Einpresstiefe) indicates 6 mm offset, which explains the extreme "deep dish" look.
Company history in this German Wikipedia article. The wheel company was founded in Germany by Johann Lemmerz with his brothers Franz and Simon in 1919. By the 1930's it was Germany's 3rd largest wheel producer. In 1997 it joined Michigan-based Hayes to become Hayes Lemmerz, the largest autombile wheel producer in the world. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Lemmerz

674me2enjoy Thu Nov 26, 2020 9:13 am

Great information, thanks for the research! Happy Thanksgiving

674me2enjoy Sun Dec 13, 2020 7:17 am

Would like to find a center cap replacement which has a inside diameter of 2 7/8” or 70.6mm. Not a easy cap dimensions to locate. Thanks again for everything. Will keep looking for a center cap.


VeeDee Mon Dec 14, 2020 3:37 pm

Would you like a NOS-set?

674me2enjoy Mon Dec 14, 2020 8:50 pm

Thanks for the offer. I ran a WTB add on The Samba and received several replies from members who had caps for my wheels. This afternoon I purchased a set from one of the members. Thanks again for all your assistance and quick response to my Bug needs! Happy Holidays.



Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group