| Author |  Topic  | |
green96v4
V4 Mad
Canada
738 Posts |  Posted - 28 Jan 2022 : 12:28:19  
| 
Does anyone have a set of these for sale? (I'm not sure if they were even available or if these have been custom made...)
I've seen wider 5 stud wheels (Alistair - I recall seeing a set on your dads car many years ago) I also have a spare set of the standard oval holed wheels I could get rebanded, but thought it would be worth reaching out - and I know I could get soccerballs or blow the bank on a set of Chromodoras but I do like the look of them!
If these are truly unobtainium, then let the laughing start - happy to provide some friday entertainment in the widdle of minter!!
TIA |
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Borstlap
V4 Fanatic
Norway
334 Posts | |
green96v4
V4 Mad
Canada
738 Posts | Posted - 28 Jan 2022 : 17:13:02
| | thanks Alex - I'll take a look |  |
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Woody
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2764 Posts | |
melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 30 Jan 2022 : 20:38:14
| The wheels on the Sonett are so called RAC wheels (I think they're 5.5J?). Very rare, Gareth has a set on his 96.
www.saabv4.com | |
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Woody
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2764 Posts | Posted - 02 Feb 2022 : 23:02:59
| The Sonett steel wheels as supplied on the car from 1966 appear to have oval holes, based on photos from Bjorn-Eric Lindh's book Saab The First 40 Years.
A July 1966 article in Sports Car World, an American publication, has a Sonett 2 with two stroke engine being demonstrated by Erik Carlsson. It has the round holed wheels with domed hub caps. The car has Swiss plates so I suspect it was one supplied for his own use.
The Brooklands Books - Saab Sonett 1966-74, which has the above article also has assorted reports which show the oval holed wheels being supplied on Sonett 2s and 3s, and the wheels being 4 1/2 inch wide. They look outwardly like the production wheel as supplied on V4s from 1967 to 1972 which were 4 inch wide.
Below is the Sport and Rally catalogue page which shows the 4 1/2 inch steel which was used on the works rally V4s from 1968 through to 1971, before they adopted the alloy football wheels. This wheel as stated in the FIA Homologation papers (Recognition 5125 page 8/6V) was first available on cars constructed from 01 August 1968, and approved 1st November 1968. I ordered 5 of these steel wheels for my rally car back in 1972 through the local dealer, and also bought 5 more from a neighbour who was selling his car. I still use these on the Troll.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w139/SaabyWoody/2.12_A.jpg
The 4 1/2 inch steels were made in the UK by Rubery Owen Ltd in the West Midlands. I am unaware who manufactured the round holed wheels.
I have not seen any photos or articles to support that Saab used 5.5J wheels on the RAC rally. As such if there is an RAC wheel, then it would be the 4.5J ones. (for a better view of the wheels used by Saab see the video of the 1968 1000 Lakes Rally titled "The Flying Finns". The version on youtube unfortunately has this part edited out at the beginning of the film.
I have photos of the 5.5J wheels which appear to be dated 1968. The 4.5J wheels that I have are not dated.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w139/SaabyWoody/13168846284_5dee9a617d_b.jpg
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w139/SaabyWoody/13154055745_d6d2583f77_b.jpg
https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w139/SaabyWoody/13154055285_e096044e11_b.jpg
I would welcome any evidence regarding the 5.5J wheels. I cannot locate any photos of Gareth's car at the moment. |
Edited by - Woody on 02 Feb 2022 23:08:56 | |
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melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 03 Feb 2022 : 08:40:55
| quote:
Originally posted by Woody
A July 1966 article in Sports Car World, an American publication, has a Sonett 2 with two stroke engine being demonstrated by Erik Carlsson. It has the round holed wheels with domed hub caps.
I'm pretty sure the early Sonett IIs with round hole wheels had 4x114.3 hubs (like 99/ early 900), not 5x170. The 96 Sport also had those. I would have to look up the evidence though.
I have no idea why the round hole 5x170 wheels are called RAC wheels... Here's Gareth's car (bit difficult to see, I'm sure Gareth can provide a better pic):
http://www.saab-v4.co.uk/speedball/topic.asp?topic_id=2683&whichpage=14
Sim also has them on his 96:
http://www.saab-v4.co.uk/speedball/topic.asp?topic_id=4054&whichpage=1
And Alistair P's dad too:
And there was a verona green 95 on the forum with a few years ago, but I can't remember who that was (or is that where Gareth got his from?).
EDIT: I just noticed Woody added image links of Clive H's RAC wheels to an earlier post:
Woody, any chance you could you email me the images for my archive? Photobucket has disabled downloading...
www.saabv4.com |
Edited by - melle on 03 Feb 2022 08:59:41 | |
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green96v4
V4 Mad
Canada
738 Posts | Posted - 03 Feb 2022 : 10:13:46
| Thanks Woody and Melle, very informative!
So it's the RAC wheels that Clive, Alistair's Dad and Gareth have (or had) that I'm after. I've been offered some soccerballs for $75USD a pop + shipping, but (and this maybe controversial) I don't really like them, always thought they were a bit too angular for the 96....
Love that roof rack on Sim's car too - but a period roof rack is on another wish list
so the $6M question is, does anyone have the 4.5J RAC wheels for sale? | |
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melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 03 Feb 2022 : 10:25:53
| I think the RAC wheels (or whatever they're called...) are 5.5J? I don't like soccerballs either, but neither do I like most alloys in general. I'm a man of steel. 
www.saabv4.com | |
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Derek
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
2191 Posts | Posted - 03 Feb 2022 : 12:27:32
| | Note that the "RAC" wheels on the Sonnet have holes in a face that curves inwards as do the painted wheels on the lawn. I think those on the Sonnet are banded, possible out to 6" 0r 6 1/2". | |
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melle
V4 Guru
United Kingdom
3833 Posts | Posted - 03 Feb 2022 : 12:44:36
| The ones on the Sonett in the opening post and the ones on the lawn look identical to me. Note that they're riveted not welded, which suggests they're pretty early wheels.
www.saabv4.com | |
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| | Topic | |
Wider steel wheels
