COSMIC repros !

[RockStock]

Cosmics were a sitting duck to be reproduced at some point though, weren't they
original rims (ie BRMs, Gas Burners, Fuchs) that have already been copied seem to have kept good values, but then again what would their price be now if they hadn't been reproduced?

with Cosmics being reproduced, maybe it will actually mean more people getting introduced to Cosmics, & that this may actually increase the value of original rims

'new old' designs - there must be cool new ideas out there. i don't like Speed Masters. DSRs, like Cosmics, are a bit love/hate, and haven't sold in big numbers (maybe because they are expensive too)

i recently bought a set of Porsche-pattern Cosmics. i'm not sure how I feel about the repros. my initial reaction was disappointment - linked to the loss of exclusivity. i'm still glad i bought them though.
there aint no beating original rims! they make the ride they're fitted to x5 cooler

[Rick Meredith]

Its not an issue of the wheels being less or more popular, its an issue of them being more or less common.  Some people like to do things a bit different from the herd and search out unusual bits that make their car stand out.  Others enjoy the quest of searching out a really rare piece.  It is disappointing to then find out that this piece is being reproduced.

I am firmly in this category. I got Cosmics because I wanted my car to stand out from the rest of the Cal Lookers. I like the 70's over the top, busy, almost psychedelic look they have. I sought out my wheels about 7 years ago, had to buy 11 wheels to get 5 cherry ones that didn't have a ding, nick, or scratch in them, as I wanted to keep them in their original finish, not restored. I paid the going rate for them, which is a lot less then they go for now, but still a huge chunk of change for a 22 year old. I made sacrifices to get these things! And I see that 1200 euro isn't cheap, but it wont be long until another company comes along and makes a shoddy reproduction at 1/3 of the price of these, then the damn things will be everywhere. For me, the wheels and the stance tell everything about the car. They are without a doubt the most important pieces on a custom vehicle. And I know I'm being a whiny little bitch, but knowing that they soon will be everywhere, really knocks the wind out of my sails on this project, my first car, a 67 that I've had since I was 17. I'm torn on what to do. I still love the things, but now I can't imagine myself using them. So if I can get what I want for them I might as well just let them go.

Dude, do you think you're gonna see Cosmics on every cal-look now? I doubt it.

And even if they are... is that enough to scrap your dream?

I'll be the first to admit that my vision for my car has changed over the years but because I have better ideas (sometimes my own, sometimes offered by friends  ) and not because what others have done or if repro parts are available.

Live the dream... don't let the dream live you! 

[Harry/FDK]

Thank God for (still) cheap Cookie Cutters, but one day...

[roland]

Zach, to me the most important thing is to be right, not at all costs to be different!

I'm not really sure about cosmics, real or repro, but if they fit your project with the steering wheel you got and the whole plan, why ditch them because some guys will have the same wheels as you. I'm sure most of these repro cosmics will go on cars that are too low, narrowed beam, or maybe with a fugly interior, etc...

On my 68, I have the most common wheels of all, Fuchs. But I chose them because they fit my "porsche theme"...wheels, steering wheel, dash, color, and some other details;)  it's about making a great car where all the details are right, not a different one...

And like qubek said, when everybody is trying to be different, then you're just doing like everybody...

[MacRavens]

Whether true or false it does not matter ! I realy love these Cosmic !
They have the incredibel ability to delineate people who understood what gave the rims to the look of a car, and the others !
... Often, ego plays aganst the look of the car.

Like Cookies, Cosmic are angular rims that go with the cars with angles. Fit well on a T34 -a good example.
By cons, for me, they do not really go with Beetle curves, Bus or T3. It is an intricate design rim opposed to simple curves of VW.

Morality, all wheels do not necessarily go with all styles and cars ! Cosmic are a good exemple.

They were made in 5 lugs Porsche for the money, they have been reproduced for the same reason !
(It is a rim that should have stayed in four lugs 12" only for Mini's.)

A certain amount of ego is necessary to modify a car, the Cosmic is the final straw in my opinion... and this is just my opinion.

[Cornpanzer]

Quebek, never be offended...Its not about personal shots, but rather about an interesting discussion. 

(Although I know that Zach must be totally confused.  On one hand I make fun of his wheels, but on the other I take his side in the debate) 

I find it interesting that when I bring up designing new retro themed wheels, the first rebuttal I see is that we all want wheels from back in the day.  But the truth is that Cosmics, Gas Burners and gasp... Americans were never considered to be "traditional" cal-look wheels.  What we have now is revisionist history.  So, why cant a new wheel in an old theme be accepted like these other wheels? 

I totally agree with MacRavens - I never cared for Cosmics until I saw them on that Type III on page 1.  Wow that is one of the coolest T3 Ghias ever!  On an early 911 however.....ick. 

Finally, showing that I too can be fickle and argue both sides, I am looking for a cheap pair of 5.5" Fuchs so that I can run paint detailed Fuchs on my Beetle someday.  Sure everybody has them, but they are so sweet! 

[GASBNR]

Is anyone in the US or CA selling these yet?

[Speed-Randy]

Hey Zach, run he wheel you want to run, not because everyone else does, because you want to. I'm still runnin my Flat 4 BRM's because that is the wheel that does it for me, I know that BRM's are pretty played out, but back in the day that was wheel I always wanted, could never have, would i like a set of real BRM's, HELL YEAH!!!! Would i put them on a car FUCK NO!!!!

[Donny B.]

Hey Zach, run he wheel you want to run, not because everyone else does, because you want to. I'm still runnin my Flat 4 BRM's because that is the wheel that does it for me, I know that BRM's are pretty played out, but back in the day that was wheel I always wanted, could never have, would i like a set of real BRM's, HELL YEAH!!!! Would i put them on a car FUCK NO!!!!
   

I have to agree with this 100 percent!  This is exactly how I feel!

[Bruce]

On my 68, I have the most common wheels of all, Fuchs.

I think that title belongs to fake BRMs.

[SlingShot]

On my 68, I have the most common wheels of all, Fuchs.

I think that title belongs to fake BRMs.

I think its time for a poll.

[AssHull]

It sucks that nothing is sacred anymore. Wait long enough and your rare part that you've spends years saving/looking for will be reproduced. Like it's been said though, the reason we don't move forward with new designs is because we don't support a market for that. We are all constantly trying to find NOS parts or "traditional" items...not new looks. The look really hasn't evolved much over time (the 80's kind of sucked but luckily we got through that  )

I agree with DKK Rick though. Just because there are repro cosmics doesn't mean that every Cal-Looker is gonna have them. They weren't too popular back then which means that most people will still buy repro BRMs because BRMs were popular back-in-the-day.

Zach, run your Cosmics. They'll go great with what you wanna build. Besides, if you don't run your Cosmics, what's left? Cookies? 

[Speed-Randy]

It sucks that nothing is sacred anymore. Wait long enough and your rare part that you've spends years saving/looking for will be reproduced. Like it's been said though, the reason we don't move forward with new designs is because we don't support a market for that. We are all constantly trying to find NOS parts or "traditional" items...not new looks.

sometimes we should be thankful that anyboby is making anything for these cars, and then remember that manufacturers are in it for the money. They are gonna make what sells. Then you want to bitch about not having NEW designs, but when someone does, it gets ridiculed as "ugly, wouldn't have that in my car, what was that guy thinking" bullshit. Just look at the "Black Mamba" shifter thread, then take a look at who talked the most shit.

[Fastbrit]

I like five-lug Cosmics, and the Mamba shifter is easily the best shifter I have ever used… So there!

[Zach Gomulka]

I like five-lug Cosmics, and the Mamba shifter is easily the best shifter I have ever used… So there!

The Mamba shifter is very nice... if you never look at it

I'd like to see more things like the Speed Master wheels- a new product with classic looks.

Thanks for all the input, guys. I didn't mean to turn this into a group hug thread I remember people talking about reproducing these wheels right after I got mine, which of course was always followed by swearing and death threats on my part. So I can't say I'm surprised, it was inevitable. I suppose I'll hang on to them for now. Like I said, I love the wheels, and I really can't imagine anything else on the car. So if I sold them, I would have to sell everything I have saved for the car. Even if I got 10x what I paid for the stuff, that would be a tough trigger to pull. Hopefully I will become inspired once again, and get the motivation back to build something really nice around them.

[Nico86]

Zach, to me the most important thing is to be right, not at all costs to be different!

I'm not really sure about cosmics, real or repro, but if they fit your project with the steering wheel you got and the whole plan, why ditch them because some guys will have the same wheels as you. I'm sure most of these repro cosmics will go on cars that are too low, narrowed beam, or maybe with a fugly interior, etc...

I agree with that, and Zack you'll have the real thing on your car

[Zündfunke]

.... would i like a set of real BRM's, HELL YEAH!!!! Would i put them on a car FUCK NO!!!!

  ...what a statement! I love it! And damn you´re right!

[Germanlkmanx]

I am firmly in this category. I got Cosmics because I wanted my car to stand out from the rest of the Cal Lookers. I like the 70's over the top, busy, almost psychedelic look they have. I sought out my wheels about 7 years ago, had to buy 11 wheels to get 5 cherry ones that didn't have a ding, nick, or scratch in them, as I wanted to keep them in their original finish, not restored. I paid the going rate for them, which is a lot less then they go for now, but still a huge chunk of change for a 22 year old. I made sacrifices to get these things! And I see that 1200 euro isn't cheap, but it wont be long until another company comes along and makes a shoddy reproduction at 1/3 of the price of these, then the damn things will be everywhere. For me, the wheels and the stance tell everything about the car. They are without a doubt the most important pieces on a custom vehicle. And I know I'm being a whiny little bitch, but knowing that they soon will be everywhere, really knocks the wind out of my sails on this project, my first car, a 67 that I've had since I was 17. I'm torn on what to do. I still love the things, but now I can't imagine myself using them. So if I can get what I want for them I might as well just let them go.

Yep, I'm sure midlands wheels will be knocking them out just as soon as they can get their grubby mits on a back door entrance...

[Dimi DKG]

Who cares about the others? What matters is having FUN and that everybody is pleased with his/ her car, period. Ilove the looks of BRMs, don't have the money to buy original ones and would be scared to use them as they're pretty brittle anyway. So I got a set of replica ones, got the look I want and use them. i don't like unpainted BRMs or seeing them on narrowed beamed hood rides but I'm not ditching the ones I have just for that. I love their look, I think they look great on my car and I don't care about the rest...

[MacRavens]

Who cares about the others? What matters is having FUN and that everybody is pleased with his/ her car, period.

Dim, whit those words, I think you are ready to go to the dark side of the force... Wild... Custom !

I believe more and more that these cosmic wheels are wheels for the German Look style !

[Nico86]

 

[plasticblack]

[/quote]

Is that Kempston???

[RockStock]

are you slating the photo, or the German Look comment?

Is that Kempston???

yes, just off Ampthill Road, Bedford. you must be local! cool name for a road. i didn't leave the rims there long lol

[plasticblack]

Is that Kempston???

Yes, just off Ampthill Road, Bedford. you must be local! Cool name for a road. I didn't leave the rims there long lol...


I bought a Variant from around there, many years back. I remembered the name of the Road......   

[Nico86]

are you slating the photo, or the German Look comment?

The repros vs real ones on the pic. I like your "gasburners" avatar by the way.

[RockStock]

thanks. it's my neighbour's cooker

[Critter1]

Here it is!!...

[sofaking]

Here it is!!... I love it!!  I'll be getting a set....

I think the value of my wheels will hold up just fine now

[Sander/DVK]

They are not 100% te same as the original ones 

[Zach Gomulka]

That is a GOOD thing!