Advice -To Paint Wheels Black Or Leave?

[CHRIS DAMSCH]

I wanted to try it also. I used Plastic Dip last fall. Just peel it off if you don't like it.

$8 a can at Home Depot.

Comes in a spray can

[Bartruff1]

Originally Posted by Rjw289

Wanted to get some input as to whether to leave my 289 FIA wheels in the cast color or paint them black as the competition cars were? Pros and cons appreciated.

The majority in Monterrey seem to have been a flat/matte blackish color but when looking at others elsewhere they are normally left in the standard cast color.

The only FIA competition car I see in here is CSX2323 in it's Targa Livery #146 (the Gurney car) and it does not have black wheels and I do not believe any of them ever did...now...I could be wrong...

If you want to paint them black.....paint them black but that is not they way they were raced...

[Blue Cobra]

Not black wheels but not cleaned either, guess they must be race cars.

[Rjw289]

I appreciate all the feedback. Went and looked at an aluminum Kirkhaum 427 last night with black powder coated wheels. Car is beautiful.
Keep commenting as I have not made my mind up yet but am getting close and it is interesting to hear from other Cobra owners.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Bartruff1

The only FIA competition car I see in here is CSX2323 in it's Targa Livery #146 (the Gurney car) and it does not have black wheels and I do not believe any of them ever did...now...I could be wrong...

If you want to paint them black.....paint them black but that is not they way they were raced...

I can't remember seeing any period pictures of Comp 289 or FIA cars with black wheels either but I found this pic of what I assume is GT/101, possibly ready to fly back to London after its NY showing, and it's wearing black painted wires....


Cheers,
Glen
BTW...I'd paint them black

[Tutosnake]

Originally Posted by Fullchat289

Here are a couple shots from the front and rear...just gathering what I can off of my computer...





- Allen.

Sweet Jesus, Allen. Your car is absolutely gorgeous. It is arguably the most aggressive, intimidating, and bad-to-the-bone 289 I have seen. The FIA theme is well accomplished here, and it almost makes me want to go back and start over with a 289 instead.
Hector

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by xb-60

I can't remember seeing any period pictures of Comp 289 or FIA cars with black wheels either but I found this pic of what I assume is GT/101, possibly ready to fly back to London after its NY showing, and it's wearing black painted wires....


Cheers,
Glen
BTW...I'd paint them black

Ed Leslie raced his 289 at Laguna Seca in 1966 or 1967 with black painted wheels, I think he had a black helmet and black drivers suit too. After watching him I went home and painted my wheels flat black and got lots of grief from my friends for ruining the "look" of the car. It was a lot easier than polishing those magnesium wheels once a week. Years later I had to have them walnut shell blasted to get the paint off.

I just had my Jongbloed racing wheels anodized black, I like the look vs polished on a light colored car.

[Obsessive]

Originally Posted by Fullchat289

ERA#2124

17" set from Vintage Wheels painted black on Hoosier A6's:



15" set powder coated satin black by a local guy on Mickey Thompson S/T radials:



- Allen.

I can't get enough of this car. Absolutely beautiful!

[*13*]

Buy a second set of wheels. Why limit your options?

[Nedsel]

Why not just do the wheels the way you want them? Who cares what the rest of us think; it's your car.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

Why not just do the wheels the way you want them? Who cares what the rest of us think; it's your car.

Exactly!
Cheers,
Glen