Restoration Blog: Restoring Chrome Wheels

What do you when the chrome rims go rusty?  Is it feasible to have a reliable chrome plating company rechrome them (with the narrow gap between inner and outer rim).  Or should pitted wheels be beadblasted and painted?  Please send in your comments.  Thanks to Bernard Laverton for this question. 

Check the 912 BBS for more discussion on this and other topics>

From: Douglas K. Robertson; I owned my 69 912 since 1983.  Graduate school, work and kids forced me to set it aside for a couple decades.  My son and I are now restoring the car, slowly. Boltons in California did the wheels.  The were rusty and the chrome was flaking off.  For $95/wheel, they did a WONDERFUL job.  I recommend them to anyone with chrome wheels. I wish the rest of the car was that easy.  We just found more than a tad bit of rust in the pan.....

From: Dave Mauk; Hey There, I have been restoring my 69 912 for some time. Purchased a very dirty set of chromies on ebay for $100 + $80 shipping. Once I cleaned them up they looked pretty good, but I am anal and these were not the originals, so I went on a hunt for a respectable company to rechrome my originals. After hours and hours of internet searching I found a great company that came highly recommended. I even contacted a 356 owner who had his wheels restored there. Boltons Classic Wheels located in Gardena California.  Cutting my rims apart, media blasting them, re chroming them and then putting them back together true and straight. $95 per wheel. What a deal!!! Happy motoring Dave Mauk

From: gavin joule; Hi Guys, I sold my 'Chromes' to a 356 guy who had them blasted and powder coated pale grey.  This was a viable option although expensive. It produces a nice look although not 'stock'. The problem arises when you want to rechrome. To do the job correctly you really need to split the wheels which involves rewelding them together again. This along with all the stripping and polishing starts to get very! expensive. Ouch! Better to get some of those repro mexican chromies? Has anybody seen them we don't get many over in the UK where any Chrome wheel lasts about 5 mins anyhow... lol  .  Keep the Faith, Gavin Joule, 1968 912

This site is not associated with Porsche Cars North America, Inc., or Dr. Ing.h.c.F.Porsche, AG. Porsche and Targa are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing.h.c.F. Porsche, AG. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

© 1997-2010 912 Registry. All rights reserved.  Please send suggestions and comments to the Webmaster.  Legal Notice