New wheels for my 409

[pasini s]

Hello,

I don't know if other V8 users might have the same problem that I had with my Dunlop wheels, but the original 5Jx16" rims of my 409 were a bit 'warped' and I couldn't find the way to have them properly straightened; moreover the excellent 185x16 Vredestein radials were really designed, according to the manufacturer, to be installed on a 5,5 or 6 wide rim. After a long search for a modern wheel, I found that Mercedes uses 6Jx16" steel wheels on their B-Klasse and this wheel has the right size, hole pattern/size and offset (46mm) for the 409 hubs.
Officina Bugamelli in Bologna modified a set of Mercedes-Benz steel wheels to take the studs for the original hubcaps. This is the result:

First tests of my 409 at the end of the restoration

First test drives of the restored 409, April 2011

(please scroll to the bottom of each page to see the new wheels installed on the 409).

I am very pleased with the result both from the technical and visual point of view, and the cost was not so high. Maybe someone has the same problem and he can find a viable opportunity in this modification.

Have a nice Sunday,

Stefano

[Thor]

Those MB wheels are just perfect, Stefano, if anything thye look better than the originals. Did the workshop just have to add the studs for the hub caps, or was there other work to do to make them good on the Bristol ??

[pasini s]

Hello Thor,

the M-B wheels did not need any technical modification to be fitted on the Bristol, as the fixing holes and offset were spot on The big job was drilling (obliquely) three holes on each wheel to fit the studs holding the hub caps.

I can add that I wanted to fit steel wheels to try and keep the original look/style of the 409's original rims, but there are also some splendid Mercedes alloys that, in 6Jx16 size and 46mm offset, would fit equally well and are also quite nice to look at as well, as these 9-spokes wheels:

Original Mercedes 16" Alufelgen A- B-Klasse W169 W245 - eBay (item 260788453466 end time Jun-21-11 06:24:06 PDT)

Cheers

Stefano

[Thor]

There are far worse aluminium wheels you could fit to a Bristol, but even these just look too modern in my opinion. I think the steel wheels look great !

[pasini s]

Thanks Thor! I obviously agree with you about 'classic' steel vs 'modern' alloy wheels....

Ciao

Stefano