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Reply to "Is there a supplier of 18 inch wheels with the OEM Campagnolo design"

Custom manufactured Campy clone wheels, which can be ordered in larger diameters, are still available from American Republic Wheels (Boyd Coddington Wheels dot com web address) as far as I know.

Their "Campi" wheels ( http://boydcoddingtonwheels.co...oyd-coddington-campi ) are among their "Elite Series" of wheels. The centers of these wheels have 3 dimensional "depth" like the OEM Campy wheels, more so than other Campy clone wheels. For instance the frames around the "windows" tilt outwards at an angle whereas other Campy clones are flat as a pancake. To machine the wheel at multi-angles like that requires more time on the CNC machine, and makes the wheel more expensive. These wheels are gorgeous, and a good option for Pantera owners.

Boyd Coddington once manufactured the wheels for Pantera East, the Pantera East wheels had several features which made them closer in appearance and function to the OEM Campy wheels than other Campy clones on the market.

  • 62mm hub bore diameter
  • wheel center designed for the OEM logo disc held-in by a circlip, instead of a "pop-in" cap
  • reproduction of the intermediate "step" built into the original wheel
  • old-style (traditional) wheel "lip" design

Boyd Coddington is under new ownership, it has been owned by American Republic Wheels since 2010. Please be forewarned their standard "Campi wheel" spec is a rather generic style wheel spec. It lacks the features listed above that were found in the wheels formerly produced for Pantera East. It is not marketed as a "Pantera wheel", it is intended for owners of classic American hot rods and muscle cars who like the Campi look. If you want a wheel that is more Pantera-specific or similar to the Pantera East wheel, be sure to start the exchange by explaining the wheels are for a Pantera AND you want wheels machined and assembled to the former Pantera East specification, except in terms of diameter, width, and offset. Be specific with what you're looking for. They have a CNC program for the Pantera East wheel, owners have been able to have wheels produced to that spec.

Please also be forewarned that doing business with American Republic Wheels has been an exercise in frustration and disappointment for some folks. As Larry mentioned, you have to be very specific about what you want. If you take the time needed to work out the details with them, there's no doubt you'll end up with a gorgeous set of wheels.

My unsolicited advice for a modern tire and wheel set are thus:

Front Tire:
245/35ZR18
Front Wheel:
18 diameter, 8.5 width, 16mm offset

Rear Tire:
285/35ZR19
Rear Wheel:
19 diameter, 10.0 width, 13mm offset

There are currently 14 tire sets available in these sizes via The Tire Rack. This is in no way a "cutting edge" tire set, its been a rather "standard" set of tires for sports cars and performance cars for several years now. The offsets I've advised will set the tire sidewalls inward from the edge of the fender arch by 20mm both front and back. The wheel widths will square-up the sidewalls the same for both front tirs and rear tires. Squaring the sidewalls offers better wheel protection when negotiating pot holes, and a bit of curb rash protection for the wheels during parking maneuvers.  Sidewalls are short and stiff nowadays, there is no reason to use wheels that are wider than the tread as we did in the days when sidewalls were taller. Also be forewarned, modern gas shocks are a necessity for tires with such short sidewalls, the suspension, bushings, etc must be in good shape, any stiction in the suspension is amplified as there is very little cushioning via the tire sidewalls.

-G

Last edited by George P
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