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Beetle Smoothies on Type 3

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eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 ·

#912231
Just a question. Want to Know if any of you guys have fitted Beetle Smoothie rims (wide 5) to your early swing axle type 3's?
Do you need to look out for a particular size or year or have to modify them at all?
I'm wanting to try a set of these If anyone knows of any for sale in good condition especially the stud holes which can get a bit flogged over the years.

what can I say - I like the look. The beetle smoothie rim seems to be the one to fit the logo-less dome caps with that flush look where it meets the smooth rim centre.

empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#912284
You might have to change from type 3 stock wheels to beetle stock wheels as the mounting for the hub cap is diffrent, also type 3 grease caps pertrude a fair bit so check that for clearance.
"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 ·

#912344
Yeah I can see the mounting of hubcaps is different but that is what is drawing me to the early bug rims. I can see the type three rim and hub cap retainer clip design are probably a tad more secure but the bug smoothies are ultra smooth.

There is a local wrecker who might be able to get me a set. I'll hit him up and maybe he'll let me buy one to try and refund if it don't fit.

Burrelli Officially Full-On Dubber

244 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#912391
A type3 rim is 15x4.5 with +46 offset

Type1 wide5 rim is 15x4 with +34??? offset

I would think you would not want to go to a narrower rim than standard.

A wider custom set of type1 rims with an offset of about +35-40 would be the way to go IMO.

I have no idea who does custom rims these days.

Non standard wheels are not easy with a 64-68 Aussie type3.

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 ·

#912416
Burrelli wrote:A type3 rim is 15x4.5 with +46 offset

Type1 wide5 rim is 15x4 with +34??? offset

I would think you would not want to go to a narrower rim than standard.

A wider custom set of type1 rims with an offset of about +35-40 would be the way to go IMO.

I have no idea who does custom rims these days.

Non standard wheels are not easy with a 64-68 Aussie type3.
Thanks for those specs mate. Much appreciated. I was thinking just last night I might have to re-dish the rims if I go type 1. I must agree about the early type threes being a difficult car to find wheels for. Especially since I never got a stock set with my car. Finding those stock type 3 rims is harder and mor expensive than I expected which is another reason to go for type1 rims. Apparently the formula vee racers like using type 3 original rims so they are very scarce because there are stacks of them hoarded in formula vee owners garages. Plus the fact that there were never many to begin with. Anyway thats just what I heard.

chequer57 Seriously Crusin Dubber

125 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#913001
Gee, never heard of Vee guys hoarding Type 3 rims. :?

Vees that ran drums over the last 20 year used "356 style" slotted rims with a double safety beads. We buy them new because road car sourced rims are bent on gutters etc and the old wheel have only a single safety bead.
Formula Vee, preserving engineering museum pieces in Australia since 1964

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 ·

#913111
cruiser wrote:Weren't the very early type 3 wheels smooth anyway?

This link may not help but they do look good.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1172589
Yeah you are right. I have seen smooth early type 3 rims but the profile of how the hub cap sits on the rim looks a bit more pronounced than the Type 1 rims. Some might think I'm just splitting hairs but I definitely like the way the caps sit on type 1 rims. They blend so nicely with the profile of the rim.

BTW, thanks to the link. It made more sense now. I had seen lots of pics on the net of type 1 rims on lowered bugs but they didn't quite look stock. hard to tell looking side-on to the cars but I'm thinking that a lot of what I was seeing (especially the rear rims) were widened type 1 smoothies like the link you posted.

PHAT BUG Dave says Bini's a fool

1,698 posts · joined May 2003 ·

#913334
They fit fine.


cruiser Seriously Crusin Dubber

193 posts · joined Aug 2007 ·

#915968
From the samba

VW Fact #216: 64-65 Type 3s used smooth rims, similar to Beetle rims but with a unique hubcap attachment

eXraycer Seriously Crusin Dubber

166 posts · joined May 2012 ·

#916011
PHAT BUG wrote:They fit fine.

That is one nice type 3.