hernanca

I'm starting a new thread on these wheels after seeing them in a thread I didn't realize was several years old (2017):

Merry Christmas from a lurker

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oosty
Those wheels are 18inch AZEV Type B's. Staggered, 9.5 rear and 8 or 9 fronts. They're pretty buggered. Straight but the chrome finish is peeling and they sat in mud and muck for years so not sure if they're salvageable. I'll take the worst one to a wheel guy and see what they say. It's a pretty specific look though...not for me but somebody may want them.
End Quote

I do like those Azev Type B wheels and find they look great on an early body! They remind me of the Porsche early phone dial design drafts.

Other than the offsets not being quite right for the 928, does anyone know more about them? How heavy do these AZEV wheels tend to be? Are they considered a quality wheel? Anyone happen to have some laying around, even if just for measuring? They apparently came in 17 inch and 18 inch diameter and in different PCD's including our 5x130.

I did find an old 2016 marketplace ad where someone in Europe was selling a set.

From the 2017 Merry Christmas thread:





A 2003 inquiry, I believe about the same car and wheels:




2016 Rennlist ad picture:



928 article in a 1977 Car Styling issue:

Petza914

I think the Porsche phone dial is a much prettier wheel, especially the 16" version that has a lip around each circle. These Azev wheels are too flat on the face for my taste and not particularly interesting visually. If looking for an 18" phonedial wheel, Augment Wheels makes a copy of the Porsche wheel in that size and you can customize the finish and the offsets. They're about $5k which is the reason I don't have a set.

drooman

One of my cars appears in that article! 928#2



I can tell you those wheels are extremely heavy, and it appears that many of them were chromed (like the set on that horror show parts car I had there) which made them MORE heavy. Center caps and inserts were very difficult to find (i looked since some were missing) I considered restoring those rims since they may have been used on strosek? ... but the cost of de-chroming (half of it peeling off) and the damage to the wheel from severe casting degradation from cheap chrome falling off exceeded the price a good clean complete set, WHEN you find them.

A very motivated VW guy gave me a few bucks for them so they're probably running around on a slammed jetta somewhere by now. If you find a set with missing centers get a big discount out of it, you probably could make replacements pretty easily they're pretty flat.

I do still have that rear wing around, and someone on here said it was early strosek, or a copy of early strosek. I can't bring myself to throw it away.

hernanca

Hey Petza,

I think it's the hot rodder in me that sees a little Weld Racing Draglites in these, so I don't mind the flat face. (I also see a little draglite in the Oz Stroseks.)

For me, the Phone Dial is the classic and ideal 928 wheel, and an Augment version (probably 17 inch) is kind of my backup plan. However, these AZEV Type B wheels are just so darn unique and check a lot of boxes for me: they pay tribute to the early phone dial designs, have a little draglite to them, some 70's vibe, and (for me anyway) some Sci-Fi vibe a la Richard M. Powers art which graced many of the sci-fi books I read growing up.

I wrote to AZEV to see if they can still make them and received a reply today saying (not surprisingly) they are no longer available.

If I still love them after pondering them for a while, I may consider an Augment-ed set!


^^^ Weld Draglites ^^^



^^^ Not my car, but a good example wearing OZ Stroseks ^^^


^^^ Classic Richard M. Powers Sci-Fi Art ^^^

hernanca

Andrew,

Good to know they are heavy! That tells me the Augment route is the way to go. I gave up on making some great looking Gemballa Le Mans work because they were just too heavy (probably the hot rodder in me there too!).

Yes, a discounted set is what I need - for the measurements. I have an eBay search going and have contacted those I knew about (and could reach) which were selling a set at some point.

(Edit: that wing could make good garage art! That would be great if it was early Strosek. At first glance, it reminded me of an A.I.R. wing.)