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Posted by: vitaminc914 Apr 21 2018, 12:44 PM

I just bought this 73 1.7L, I have never seen these wheels before. I know they are aftermarket but I am hoping someone can help me identify them in the hopes of finding center caps for them. Thanks!


Attached image(s)

Posted by: PlantMan Apr 21 2018, 12:59 PM

Dan Gurney wheels. There may have only been one manufacturer.
You can actually polish them up real nice too!

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Apr 21 2018, 01:24 PM

they are the old american racing alloy wheels. Very popular for vws at the time as well, since they have the vw bug offset and cannot wear the widest tire at 914 could wear

Posted by: Mueller Apr 21 2018, 01:35 PM

Good thread about those wheels and how to figure out manufacture (could pop one off and look for castings)

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332135&highlight=gurney

Posted by: GeorgeRud Apr 21 2018, 02:29 PM

I had those on my old 914 2.0. Bought them from a company called Nicholas von Rosenberg back in 1974 and I think they were the Western wheels but really don’t remember anymore. Much nicer looking than the factory steel wheels and not as expensive as the Porsche alloys. Just needed to use the proper lugbolts.

Posted by: BIGKAT_83 Apr 21 2018, 03:20 PM

This is what I love about this site. Ask a question and get 3 different answers. Take your pick, only one is right.

Posted by: vitaminc914 Apr 21 2018, 03:39 PM

Thank you everyone for the responses. I will be picking up the car in a couple of weeks and I will have a chance to go through it. Regardless of the brand, I am going to keep them since they are in good shape. I think I can find a center cap and I have a friend that will make me a vinyl sticker with the Porsche logo to go on the center cap.

Posted by: Ed_Turbo Apr 21 2018, 04:10 PM

QUOTE(BIGKAT_83 @ Apr 21 2018, 02:20 PM)

Posted by: Dave_Darling Apr 21 2018, 11:35 PM

QUOTE(BIGKAT_83 @ Apr 21 2018, 02:20 PM)

Posted by: Craigers17 Apr 22 2018, 02:11 PM

I can't attest to all the definitive differences between Gurneys and Westerns, but I can tell you that the set of Dan Gurneys that I have don't have the screw holes for the center caps, ...they are push in. They are also only 4 lug and have the valve stem lined up with the window as Mueller's link implies.

They also have 3 castings on the back of the wheel. One telling the size of the wheel, 14x5.5 in my case, one telling the maximum wheel load in lbs, and one saying either "Dan Gurney Inc" or "Dan Gurney Ltd"....or something like that...it's hard to read the last three letters.

In any event, the bore is roughly 3 and 1/4 inches in diameter, and I have 4 brand new center caps that fit the wheels I have. If your wheels have a similar bore, and you're interested, pm me, as I am not going to install the caps on my car. They are the "taller" caps and are roughly 4 inches long....pics included. There are no scratches on them, although it kinda looks like that in the first pic.

Posted by: URY914 Apr 22 2018, 02:46 PM

The set I had on my car were American Racing.

Posted by: URY914 Apr 22 2018, 02:48 PM

Posted by: ConeDodger Apr 22 2018, 03:16 PM

Sometimes referred to as Western Wheels, the mafia uses them to make sure bodies never come up...

Seriously, that's some heavy shit.

Posted by: Mark Henry Apr 22 2018, 06:00 PM

I had a set drilled for VW bay window bus years ago.

Posted by: vitaminc914 Apr 23 2018, 10:06 AM

Just sent you a PM. Thanks...Ray

QUOTE(Craigers17 @ Apr 22 2018, 04:11 PM)

I can't attest to all the definitive differences between Gurneys and Westerns, but I can tell you that the set of Dan Gurneys that I have don't have the screw holes for the center caps, ...they are push in. They are also only 4 lug and have the valve stem lined up with the window as Mueller's link implies.

They also have 3 castings on the back of the wheel. One telling the size of the wheel, 14x5.5 in my case, one telling the maximum wheel load in lbs, and one saying either "Dan Gurney Inc" or "Dan Gurney Ltd"....or something like that...it's hard to read the last three letters.

In any event, the bore is roughly 3 and 1/4 inches in diameter, and I have 4 brand new center caps that fit the wheels I have. If your wheels have a similar bore, and you're interested, pm me, as I am not going to install the caps on my car. They are the "taller" caps and are roughly 4 inches long....pics included. There are no scratches on them, although it kinda looks like that in the first pic.

Posted by: vitaminc914 May 10 2018, 11:04 AM

Update. I took one of the wheels off and the only inscription on it is the word "SPORT" so I am not sure what they are anymore.