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westylover69
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2016
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:59 am Post subject: '83 Westfalia wheel colour, please? |
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Hi, everyone..I am curerntly trying to find out what the original steel wheel colour would have been on an '83 Vanagon Westy..the wheels had those (perhaps not so nice) plastic trims fitted, as on the bus in the pic below.....my current wheels, on the Westy, supposedly original and in superb condition , are black, rather than the standard silver???
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32987
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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westylover69
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2016
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 6:57 am Post subject: Re: '83 westfalia wheel colour,please? |
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Thanks for the info..yes, I agree that the wheels should be silver if the chrome hubcaps are used..if full-size covers are available, then not..now looking for a mint set of original wheel covers, as in the pic above...have a super-low mileage, original, untouched, unmolested and camping-interior-never-used van..hence trying to keep it "correct".
Thanks again. |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10305
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 8:34 am Post subject: Re: '83 westfalia wheel colour,please? |
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I take it that is not your van in the photo (not a Westy).
| Quote: |
| ...now looking for a mint set of original wheel covers, as in the pic above... |
Good luck finding a 34 year old plastic exterior part in mint condition in a set of 4.
I do have the ones that were on my 84 for years -- also a few spares I picked up. The vulnerable area is usually the plastic tabs that secure them to the steel wheel - they can be easily broken during removal or installation.
It is pretty easy to repaint them to look decent and the tabs are not visible when installed - so as long as they stay on they can still be used.
I have pretty much settled on the look of black steel rims (as original) and the small chrome hubcaps:
If you are interested in my collection of basket weave wheel covers I can work with you, though shipping will not be cheap. They are light but 6-8 of them (do not recall how many are on the shelf) will be very bulky. |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10305
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 8:45 am Post subject: Re: '83 westfalia wheel colour,please? |
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Had to go back to 1999 to find a photo of those original wheel covers on the van (still had the original tent, no awning, no window tint):
I rather liked the look but the small metal ones are easier to deal with. |
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10305
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 9:25 am Post subject: Re: '83 westfalia wheel colour,please? |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
| ...shipping will not be cheap... |
Uh oh, I just noticed how you spelled 'colour' in the subject line. Shipping may be prohibitive. |
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westylover69
Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2016
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:30 am Post subject: Re: '83 westfalia wheel colour,please? |
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Hi, thanks for the messages..yes, I know it wil be hard to find some..honestly, though, I am not particularly keen on those plastic covers..they look too after-market and generic for me, like something fitted to a 70s Chevy van.....I do prefer the chrome hubcaps (of which I now have a set of 4 new ones, correct for Vanagon, rather than Type 2 )..However, the Westy is soooooooo perfect and original (38k miles from new and never been camped in, etc.), that I am really torn between originality and cosmetic preference..I do live in hope that a decent set of covers might emerge....failing that I may have a set of 4 steel wheels professionally repainted in the corect silver and fit them to the van with the chrome hubcaps..keeping the orignal, mint black wheels wrapped and available, should I ever sell the van...and no, that is not my Van in the pics..rather a pic I used to demonstrate what I was looking for..and, yes, located in the UK, but have friends in SF, Ca. so shipping not toooo much of a problem.....
I live in hope...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1931434 |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10524
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:32 am Post subject: Re: '83 westfalia wheel colour,please? |
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| westylover69 wrote: |
Thanks for the info..yes, I agree that the wheels should be silver if the chrome hubcaps are used..if full-size covers are available, then not..now looking for a mint set of original wheel covers, as in the pic above...have a super-low mileage, original, untouched, unmolested and camping-interior-never-used van..hence trying to keep it "correct".
Thanks again. |
I know you're looking for "correct" but just an idea. Looks a bit "circus" like but idea was a variation of the older Bug wheel look. One actual "correct" option might be the (Wolfsburg?) type wheel covers.
Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10524
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 10:37 am Post subject: Re: '83 westfalia wheel colour,please? |
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Just saw that link. My Canadian '81 Westy came to me with those wheel covers. I think they look great. But beware; they can "wander" off.
Neil.
my '81 before wheel cover "wander"
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32987
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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