Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

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Roadsterdude had found a set of AR Libres in storage and sent me a picture. I immediately told him they had to be put on his white U20/SPL car:

While lending a hand sorting brake issues on the white car, bikermike suggested throwing the ARs on just for kicks.

One thing led to another and the three of us had a wheel fashion show of sorts.

The Lineup:
Mike's Stock steelie, AR Libra and EMPI from roadstrdude:


Libres:
Mike was excited to test these on his car, a '67.5 SPL. Wheels were refinished sometime ago with silver center and polished lip. Tires are new, 1st gen. Azenis in 195/60/14. Note casting on back:

We were all impressed with how well the ARs looked on Mike's car! Libras are just made for roadsters...hard to explain.



Almost a Twin to Mike Young's SRL!

Comparison:




EMPIs:
These are quirky but cool wheels. They are "split rims" with inner tubes. These were fully polished at some point with largish center caps held down by 4 hex bolts, pretty slick. Raul chose some cool tires: vintage AVS-i with 0 miles, 195/60/14.




Mike's SPL getting ready:

Looking classy with the EMPIs:




Roadstedude's SPL getting ready:

Sidenote: while jacked I snapped this pic to show the O2 bung welded in upstream the flex pipe:

I think the EMPIs look better on this car:

Head to Head:



Mike's car with all three:


More views:

"Libras are just made for roadsters...hard to explain."
I agree. Great job on the comparison, thanks.

JohnnyMac wrote:"Libras are just made for roadsters...hard to explain."
I agree. Great job on the comparison, thanks.

big thanks to roadsterdude for indulging us. Not everyone is so generous with wheels

Alvin wrote: ...big thanks to roadsterdude for indulging us. Not everyone is so generous with wheels

Agreed. Thanks to both of you guys for the wheel choices and the service bay.

Great pic set Alvin. Interesting how the different rim (and rim+ car color) combo's seem to change the stance, even you know it is ot changed.
The stockers with the white walls make the wheel/tire combo look larger in diameter. The Libre "chunky" look make the tire seem thicknes. The EMPI "bling" is different altogether.

Raul's high res. pictures are here, enjoy!

http://www.picturetrail.com/gid24519088" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have all three of those wheels and I love the polished Empi's. Thanks for sharing.

Do you have a picture of the backside of the Empi's? I am curious if left natural, polished, or painted?

Here is the wheels I am currently fixing for 218, ARE Lemans wheels. I love em!

Bob

The Lemans look sharp! I missed out on a set on ebay a week ago.

backside of EMPIs:

Bob, since you have a blast cabinet have you media blasted the back side of your Empis? I'm thinking of geting done to clean them up, seems like it would look good. Mike

Mike,
Yes I have glass beaded them front and back and been trying to find someone to polish them. I find a few, but unreasonable.

I can polish the outer edge easy, it's the 8 spokes and hub that is killing me. I thought I may do a gunmetal color on spokes. Just couldn't make up mind about the backside.

Bob

Bob2 wrote:Mike,
Yes I have glass beaded them front and back and been trying to find someone to polish them. I find a few, but unreasonable.

I can polish the outer edge easy, it's the 8 spokes and hub that is killing me. I thought I may do a gunmetal color on spokes. Just couldn't make up mind about the backside.

Bob

Bob if the EMPIs are for the black car I think the full polish would work.



I prefer the "natural" look of the spokes in either gunmetal, bronze etc.


Fully polished works on cars that are bright without trim too:

Bob2 wrote: Here is the wheels I am currently fixing for 218, ARE Lemans wheels. I love em!
Bob

Bob you are killn me!!! Was Ted wearing a hidden mic?

Alvin wrote: Bob if the EMPIs are for the black car I think the full polish would work.

They are for the black car. I also like the natural spoke color. I have been doing just that with ARE Libre wheels and find that the car just doesn't look right like that. I had polished Libre wheels on my 66, but the guy that did those no longer polishes wheels. Once I got my Empi's I knew I would have to try and polish them, and your photo shoot with different wheels has now convinced me to get my Empi wheels polished.

Thanks for posting Alvin!!

Alvin wrote:Libras are just made for roadsters...hard to explain.

Yeah, but there's just something about Panasports!



I'm still kicking myself for not buying your 14's when you upgraded.