Mags - Thoughts

[Cliff]

When I purchased my 2 x 240z's they came with a set of jelly bean mags and a set of spoke style (like an mg look).  I hated both of them when I got the cars and was just going to sell them, but now after drinking numerous beers and looking at them, they have grown on me.  I don't know if I am nuts or not but I am thinking of restoring one set for my first car.  My question is- have any of you seen these on finished 240s and how do they look?  Do I need to check into the nut house?

[PeterH]

Hi Cliff....should be plenty of photos around of the "jelly bean" style wheels on the cars ....by "spoke style" do you mean that they are a cast wheel with criss cross looking spoke things?? 

[PZG302]

The Jelly beans are period wheels, so get them polished up. Being a strong wheel structurally, they should only need a decent clean all over and then a polish of the face.

 

With the jelly beans I ran on my 180BSSS I painted the inside of the "spokes" of the wheel yellow to match the car, they came up pretty good, so colour matching maybe an option.

 

On the Jelly beans I had on my old ZG Fairlane the inside area was painted black, and on my Charger, they were polished as was the face.

 

The original W35 optional wheels for the Valiants at the time had a machined face that gave a satin look to the wheels.

 

I also ran various wheels on my first 260Z including Jelly bean mags, they suit Zeds pretty well, especially as they would be close to a zero offset being old school wheels.

[hmd]

http://philwisewould.zenfolio.com/p256711689/h691f0671#h691f0671

[d3c0y]

Just because they are period doesn't mean they look any good...

[gav240z]

I love the jelly / kidney bean wheels myself. I'd restore them if possible.

[gilltech]

By 'spoke style' do you mean the old Cheviot Hotwires? They were on my 260 when I bought it, nice enough to look at but bitches to clean & keep clean, too many tight triangular corners, so I sold them off, they weren't a good offset anyway.

[jeff43]

I like the jelly bean mags and very period correct. I like them so much I bought a set recently.

[cracker]

Do you have any pictures of the cars/wheels Cliff? What colour are the cars? Sounds like the spoke style are more like a jag e-type original wheel than a hotwire style?

[Cliff]

See photos of the wheels.  Both cars are white, although one is stripped.  Not sure what colour I will paint when finished - time will tell.

 

 

[AK]

I Polished my Jelly Beans Mags to mirror shine - Gloss black on the inside and they look mean as - I think generally we are getting to the stage that large wheels with huge openings are almost the norm and have become almost boring - so these old school wheels are starting to get a lot more curb appeal mine are 225 at the back 215 at the front - I like them - I was going to change at one point to ROTA RKR  style spoke but I dont think they look much better now and if I went that way it would be diameter and width up grade as well - the Jelly Bean are certainly very strong strong.

Cheers AK

[gilltech]

So the spoke ones are real spokes? Real spokes look 60's-era to me & say 'old money' hence suit the old Jags, Astons, Ferraris etc. On a Zed? Hmmm - maybe, maybe not, undecided.

With alloys I prefer either the factory 260Z alloys or the jellybean style as they just look right & are era-matching.

Many people like the 'Minilite' style I think it's called, but they're not to my taste on anything.

When old wheels are 14" it's a pain as it doesn't give one much choice with tyres these days.

Edited October 29, 2016 by gilltech

[hmd]

What sizes are the wheels?

[Cliff]

Both 14 inch.  Not sure of width - i think 7 inch.

[EJ101]

jelly beans are good.

 

the wire wheels.........i'd ditch those.

 

Don't suit the Z at all.

[cracker]

It's all just personal choice, so do what you want really...

 

Personally, I don't really like either set that you have, but both will look fine as they are about the right era and style. Maybe keep them all handy for when the cars are done and by then you'll know what colour car you're trying to suit, and maybe have decided on a style that you like as well.

 

I put a set of hotwires on mine because they look okay and I didn't have anything else handy - 12 months later they're still on the car! Haha

[gilltech]

Or use the wire wheels and put a 250 GTO kit on the car to match.....

[Cliff]

Or use the wire wheels and put a 250 GTO kit on the car to match.....

hahaha not me, I don't like them at all.  I saw one at a car show once and, well, yuck....

[Cliff]

jelly beans are good.

 

the wire wheels.........i'd ditch those.

 

Don't suit the Z at all.

Yeah, the beans are growing on me.  That said, I am still cutting rust and 'de trolley bumping' (dtb) the first one so I have lots of time to think/drink about it.