I have seen a few older cars with body-color wheels- was that ever original? Also it seems that white 356s of any age are seen with white wheels sometimes. Is that a personalization, or was original even on some "C"s? I prefer silver, but I don't begrudge anything that makes the owner happy.

_________________

As far as my knowledge goes the factory used silver for their painted wheels as a standard rule. If one looks closely you would see the undercoat is of a blue translucent hue with a silver overcoat. The blue was used I believe to make the silver more brilliant . Anyone else have another theory. I have seen body colored painted wheels on the early cars up to and including some Pre A's. I don't recall anything but silver painted wheels from the A's on.

_________________

1956 coupe, 55549, original green wheels.
82616, original white wheels.
I have seen other 356s with body-color wheels. Obviously an early-A thing.
Certainly not standard after that.

_________________

A white pre-a speedster with matched wheels=awesome! A pre-a coupe in deep maroon with matched wheels=fantastic! Opinons vary.....!

_________________

Another question that arises is weather or not wire wheels were used on any of the Porsche. I don't have the answer to that, but a very old photo contained in a Brian Long book called, "356 Porsche, Der erste Sportwagen aus zuffenshausen," shows a Porsche with wire wheels and knock-offs, possibly a 1956 or 1957. What's more, a number of body-color painted wheels are show in the book. Most of the material emanates from the Porsche Archives and may be considered authentic unless otherwise proven so--Alex Ford

_________________

I hate to say, I cut up a metallic green early A years ago that had green wheels- I thought Earl Schieb at the time but probably was original as the paint wasn't thick.

_________________

That's interesting. My 59 A Coupe spare shows some paint wear, and the blue looks identical to the car's original colour - Aquamarine Blue.

Max, is this the same blue hue that the wheels were painted, or could my rims have been painted the same as the body?

_________________

I recall seeing early period photos of some T-1 cars also with color matching wheels (same as the body). I would say that T-2 and later most likely all were either chrome or silver.

_________________

Here are some "old" pictures from Christophorus magazine and a factory sales brochure showing wheels painted the color of the car. This was common with Pre-A's. Not so much with 356-A's as the factory parts books and the accessory booklets only show silver painted wheels and chrome plated wheels. Of course, like everything else with 356 Porsches, there probably are exceptions for special orders and the like.

CW

_________________
Charlie White

Contrasting colour and chrome.........nice.

_________________
mats carlsson

Most, if not all, 356 wheels were painted body color, starting in 1950 and into early 1956. I am not sure if and when silver wheels could have been special ordered and chrome could be special ordered also. Maybe some 'old timers' i.e. over 85 years young, can offer some insight.

Silver painted and chrome wheels showed up as early factory accessories in the early 356-A accessory catalog, FWIW!

CW

_________________
Charlie White

Further on wheels,

The 1955 factory parts book dated January 1955 lists the following wheels:

"356.68.021 Slotted jaut, first paint 3.25 x D-16 (not sure what a "jaut" is)."
and
"No part # Slotted jaut, chromium plated 3.25 x D-16 (upon special request)."

I wonder if "first paint" means the body color?

CW

_________________
Charlie White

The C of A on my '55 included chrome wheels. Being the "Hacker" that I am, I'm putting them on my '54 as well. I can hear the screaming already.

Hey, they sure look nice with the Turkish Red. ........... Jim.

_________________
Jim Liberty