Spun AL wheels "back in the day" - Deano?

[Fritter]

I know the bubble 3.5" front Ercos and the rear 6" Erco are the hot ticket nowadays for AL wheels, but...

What were the popular wheel sizes for the DDS and other spun AL wheels in the 70s? 

15" diameters?
Non dished fronts?
Backspacing on fronts and rears?
Held on with stock VW lugnuts?

[nicolas]

13" up front was popular, and they weren't the bubble kind. they were like the back ones. still a cool combo. not sure if there are 13" or maybe 14" wheels available these days.

[speedwell]

  12" 13" & 15" and 4" to 18" large

[deano]

Since DDS never made a sindle-mount, those race cars that wanted them had to go to Hugh Mitchell. The vast majority of DDS wheels were 4-1/2 x 15, then 5", then 6" wide. Anything wider than that would be for off-road use (Ascot racing for example). Only full-tilt racecars wanted the 13-inch diameter wheels for the front, but once the Mitchell spindle mount came out, the masses wanted to get rid of the front hub all together.

From what I can learn, the DDS tooling was sold to Rick Goudy of Streaker wheels (long Beach). They saw the off-road demand, and not so much the drag racing or (heaven forbid) street....

I remember buying my DDS wheels for my old '67 street car (1973?), and Dean and Ken thought I was a bit crazy... Other than Bob Chapman, there was very few cars on the street with DDS wheels.

[speedwell]

dean ,does  have you it have different model like the ercos??? streets or races models or just one models same for the dragstirp/street

[lawrence]

I have the "blister" ercos on the front of my car, but I want to get the dished kind so that they look like dds wheels. A vintage look.

[Fritter]

Since DDS never made a sindle-mount, those race cars that wanted them had to go to Hugh Mitchell. The vast majority of DDS wheels were 4-1/2 x 15, then 5", then 6" wide. Anything wider than that would be for off-road use (Ascot racing for example). Only full-tilt racecars wanted the 13-inch diameter wheels for the front, but once the Mitchell spindle mount came out, the masses wanted to get rid of the front hub all together.
From what I can learn, the DDS tooling was sold to Rick Goudy of Streaker wheels (long Beach). They saw the off-road demand, and not so much the drag racing or (heaven forbid) street....
I remember buying my DDS wheels for my old '67 street car (1973?), and Dean and Ken thought I was a bit crazy... Other than Bob Chapman, there was very few cars on the street with DDS wheels.

Deano, what sizes and backspacing did you get on your blue '67?  I know it was a long time ago though......did you mount them with stock VW lugs?

What I am looking for is the "common" size/backspacing of DDS wheels that were commonly bought in the '70s, so if one wanted to get authentic '70s looking AL wheels from CMS, they could call them up and give the specs.  Maybe I am dreaming....

[deano]

My old '67 had 4-1/2-inch DDS all the way around, with stock brake drums, and wide '67 rear axles...Tires were 135 and 165s.  I used stock lugs at first, then later, switched to chrome lugs with one as a lock. My new car has the 4-1/2 up front, and 6-inch on back. Most of the DDS wheels I've seen are basically centered offset (same on the front as the rear). In other words, they used two identical halves to make these wheels, along with a center stiffener, all the same thickness. I have seen some CMS/Erco wheels are looked really close to DDS, in the 6-inch width. I think Greg at Vee Dub Parts ULTD, had some 6-inch at Irwindale a few weeks ago, that stopped me in my tracks, they were so close to the old guys.

I don't recall DDS having that many options and offsets back in the day. I think Ken was having his hands full, just trying to get these wheels out the door. I remember one day at Fleming & Aronson, when a shipment of DDS wheels came in. Two of them were mine, and the others went to God only knows. Well, we took each one, and laid them flat on the floor. The ones that rocked the least, were the keepers, the ones that were not exactly straight were moved out the door.... I think it was a heat treating problem. Most of these wheels were anything but straight. Ercos are SO much better in many ways!

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

Here's a Pair Of 13 inch Deano's For Sale On Samba
 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=533061

[Bewitched666]

I ran centerlines back in my days(80's)
3.5 in front(3.5 rearspacing,kind of bubble look) and 7's in the back with 3.5 rearspacing.

[Fritter]

Bumping this thread....

So, anyone ever have CMS custom make them a set of AL wheels? 

Could I call them and have them make some 4.5" centered offset wheels that would be close to original DDS?

 

[Ole]

I ordered a set from CMS to replace my damaged DDS rims. I ordered them with a plate welded between the halves like the DDS rims used to be. For some reason I took the .190" version, today I would order the thin race version to get the perfect period look. If the hole for the valve is drilled at the right place it's hard to see the difference between the CMS and the real deal...

Here's a pic of the CMS wheels, they are 3.5 inside and 2.5 outside. Frontwheels are Mitchell.



Here's what they should look like, the DDS wheels are 4.5"

[deano]

Here are some photos of real DDS wheels. I've shown a 6" and a 4.5"...., both 15" diameter.

[cameron shorey]

Old Mitchell wheels. Also see the thread about "old school wheels".

[Fritter]

Deano, were the original DDS wheels .125 or .190 thickness? 

[WCB Hitler's Hot Rod]

Old Mitchell wheels. Also see the thread about "old school wheels".

Did those come off of Mike Mabe's ghia?

[deano]

Deano, were the original DDS wheels .125 or .190 thickness? 

I just measured one of my 4.5 DDS wheels and they vary (oh, yes), from .130/.125 at the center (x3, two outside and one center plate), and goes down to almost .100 at the lip. Oh, mercy. And to think I drove on those wheels over 30,000 miles.

[Fritter]

Deano, were the original DDS wheels .125 or .190 thickness?

I just measured one of my 4.5 DDS wheels are they vary (oh, yes), from .130/.125 at the center (x3, two outside and one center plate), and goes down to almost .100 at the lip. Oh, mercy. And to think I drove on those wheels over 30,000 miles.

Yikes!  So DDS were the thinner .120 AL (or close to it....)

I may have a line on getting some repro DDS wheels made in 4.5"

[deano]

here are my 'mystery' front wheels... any ideas? 

Those could be some old Streaker wheels, made in Long Beach....

[cameron shorey]

Old Mitchell wheels. Also see the thread about "old school wheels".

Did those come off of Mike Mabe's ghia?

Yes!

[cameron shorey]

Deano, were the original DDS wheels .125 or .190 thickness? 

I just measured one of my 4.5 DDS wheels are they vary (oh, yes), from .130/.125 at the center (x3, two outside and one center plate), and goes down to almost .100 at the lip. Oh, mercy. And to think I drove on those wheels over 30,000 miles.

You're a brave man. I don't think it's a good idea to run such flimsy wheels on the street.
Bump a curb, or go flying around a corner, and they'll fold up like an aluminum pie plate.

[WCB Hitler's Hot Rod]

Old Mitchell wheels. Also see the thread about "old school wheels".

Did those come off of Mike Mabe's ghia?

Yes!

Please let me know if you ever decide to sell them  Steve.

[Fritter]

Deano, can you measure on your 4.5 DDS wheels:

1.  Diameter of the hole
2.  Diameter of the flat center section

Thanks.

[deano]

Mike, the open portion of the (4.5" wide) wheel measures 6-1/8" across. From the edge of that hole, to the beginning of the first radius is 3-3/8". The first radius appears to be 1/4".

[Cornpanzer]

Hey Cam,
Howd you get those wheels?  Is that car still around?

[.]

I had it happen. I was mounting a tire, one of the inside studs that hold the wheel together let loose while trying to pop the tire bead. Once the stud let loose the inner wheel shattered launching the outer rim into space. Looked for that half of the wheel for months, then one day I see a man on my neighbors roof holding my empi 5-spoke. I said hey thats my wheel and after paying to fix my neighbors roof and ceiling I wish I had just shut up. I had a friend have one explode while driving his car, I ignored his warning and kaboom. They make a great hose reel!
Andy S.

How did that reply end up on this thread ?
 

[horatiocaine]

Richard, I have no idea how that post ended up here. I was reading the other post replied and there it was. Rookie I guess I am!
Andy