quote:
Originally posted by Rocky:
... I hate to get the "wimpy brake" syndrome ...
In terms of appearance, notice that these Enkei wheels have a raised "rib" along the outer rim where the spokes attach. That rib will serve to make the rotors appear to fill the wheels "fuller". That same visual "trick" is being used for the show car in your picture above, the rotors aren't as big as they look.
I think the Pantera's OEM 11 inch front brakes would look fine behind a 17 inch Enkei RPF1 wheel. In the rear, you'd definitely need Scott's rear brake kit however.
In recent years I've also noticed many showroom cars, including big name cars like Corvette, Mercedes and Porsche, are being made with open wheels, brakes fully visible, where the rotors do not fill the wheel. I believe the public has accepted the "wimpy-brake" look, wheels full of brake aren't as much of a style statement they once were. Or to put that the other way around, brake rotors that don't fill the wheels aren't as big of an embarrassment as they used to be. The world belongs to a younger generation, and they have different perspectives than ours.
Of course, anything can be taken to an extreme, I wouldn't recommend the 11" rotors with 18" wheels.