Gold Anodized wheels - factory option?

[Brabham]

Hi guys,

            I have seen a few sets of the standard 4 spoke mags that have been gold anodized/painted. Was this ever a factory/dealer option? Cheers.

[260Coupe]

The "Gold" colour of the wheels was actually due to the discolouration of the clear coat applied to the 260z alloys.................likely due to UV radiation damage.

I had an original spare that has barely seen the light of day and it was silver.................it then started to turn gold after being left outside for a few years

 

 

[Brabham]

These are bright gold - not discoloured clear coat. I have seen a few sets.

[DatPilot]

the 10th Anniversary 280zx had gold ones I think?

[stevo_gj]

Sounds like the 10th anniversary Black Gold 280zx edition:

 

I laughed so hard when I first watched this video. Wish I'd lived in the 80s!

[gilltech]

Yes some special edition 280ZXs had gold (anodized?) mags. I have seen a set on a late 260 but am fairly sure that it was a retro-fit.

[mike95]

Sounds like the 10th anniversary Black Gold 280zx edition:

 

I laughed so hard when I first watched this video. Wish I'd lived in the 80s!

 

:D

classic

 

[T-roy]

most 260z spare wheels had a gold coating all over, however i have seen one car with all wheels this way

[RB30X]

Sounds like the 10th anniversary Black Gold 280zx edition:

 

I laughed so hard when I first watched this video. Wish I'd lived in the 80s!

 

You must have lived in 'some' of the 80's Steve.

You can't be that young.

You'd have 180sx or something if you were.

[boyblunda]

I am not sure in my mind whether or not we are talking about the 260Z alloy rims or the 280ZX "Iron Cross" rims here. They are the only two genuine four spoke rims that were fitted to Zeds but to the best of my knowledge the 260Z rims were unique to later model 260Zeds.

 

I do not ever remember seeing gold 260Z rims as standard although dealers may have given them such a treatment. However, I do have gold rims on one of my Zeds and I have also bought a set of gold rims on ebay from a NSW seller - both sets were painted by the previous owners and were unpainted prior to that.

 

I do think they look okay with some paint colours but will soon start removing all paint from these rims and repolishing the flat surfaces and painting the recessed areas black as the rims are fitted with new tyres. A polished rim with black paint would be more versatile for my situation if I want to move rims between cars.

 

I will follow up at home next week and check if there were paint options for rims in the factory parts manual - unless somebody beats me to it in the meantime.

 

Regards

Dave

[gilltech]

I've seen both mag wheel styles on 280ZXs with the gold finish, & from the thin metallic look to them they appeared to be anodised not painted. I'm recalling in particular some NZ-new Z-club ZXs that were concours as-delivered new & hadn't been buggered around with. Gold mags seemed quite fashionable in the '80s.

I can't recall the source (would be in one of my many books of Datsun specs) but I understand that factory mag wheels didn't become available on 260Zs until late in 1974 at the earliest, possibly at the change-over between the 'early '74' & the 'from late '74' 260 variants, but it could have been a little later depending on the market. I know that my early '74 therefore missed out on them & why it had after-market alloys.

[boyblunda]

I looked up my parts manual and there was only one magnesium wheel listed as available for the S30 although there is also a competition or performance catalogue around that may have an additional listing for the four spoke Watanabe rims that were used on early S30 race and rally vehicles. I have a clear memory of the Australian Nissan rally cars using a four spoke gold (Enkeii???) wheel  with their Stanzas.

 

Just to support what has already been contributed by other members on this topic ;

* Peter Evanow “Z  35 years of Nissan’s Sports Car” page 60 has a picture of the gold recess four spoke Iron Cross wheels that were a feature of the 1980 10th Anniversary Z (read ZX).

* Wick Humble “How To Restore Your Datsun Z Car” on page 191 describes the introduction of the true aluminium alloy wheel “these were coated with a clear epoxy that suffered yellowing and deterioration from weather and direct sun. Datsun recommended having the clear coat removed by stripping or polishing and respraying with an acrylic clear.”

 

It is sometimes a little hard to make definitive comments about what was available to the S30 given the variations in the Australian, North American, European and Japanese domestic markets.

 

FWIW

Dave

 

[Brabham]

Got myself a set last week. I think they will look good on a blue car Either that or I will have a rather bling Z!

[boyblunda]

Good looking set of rims from what can be seen in the one picture you have posted.

Do they look to be original rims or do you think they might have have refreshed to look as good as they appear to be? What is the general condition of the rims with regard to wear, marks from wheel weights and the like? Can you tell us a little about how you came across these rims and what the previous owner might have said about them?

 

[Brabham]

Hey Dave,

                on further inspection it appears that they have been painted gold - although this has been done pretty well. There are areas that are still silver where wheel weights once were. Therefore I am not sure if they came like this from factory - it is looking doubtful. The previous owner received them as is and did not know their history. Maybe painting your wheels gold was fashionable in the 80's? I will give them a touch up as I still think they look pretty cool and there are a few paint chips missing. 

[boyblunda]

Thanks for your response Brabham.

As previously stated I have two sets of gold painted rims, one of which I will definitely be taking back to a clean alloy surface and repolishing but the other set are clean and unmarked. You have now got me thinking that I might try putting some tyres on the clean second set and try them on my black car.

All the best with your own wheels - from the photo they are certainly a smart looking set.

I agree that the gold rims were a period thing. Was it the LE Monaro that came out with the gold honeycomb rims as a standard item?