After having EMPI Sprint Stars, MWS BRMs and genuine EMPI 5-spokes in my '60 Vert I thought I needed a change. As much as I have been into Old School Cal Look ever since mid 90's, I am bored in seeing original colour cars with either repro BRMs/5-spokes or Fuchs or Sprint Stars.

I read a lot Street Rod magazines and I had seen various kinds of pimp wheels, so I really wanted hot rod kind of wheels, something that is both modern ("airy" big spokes) and has a classic look. Intro Wheels Vista's became my favourite since they had quite good offset options and they're available with Porsche 5x130 bolt pattern. That would have given an opportunity to upgrade the Porsche 356A drums to discs. After some phone calls and lot more magazine/web-browsing I chosed 17" American Racing Torque Thrust IIs. The decision was also helped by the Hot School project Oval of Julien-David Collombet of Super VW Magazine. Wheels looked way cool (on a way cool car) and American Racing had dealer in Helsinki. So far I have seen about 10 other Volkswagens in various magazines in internet that have Torque Thrust IIs, so my wheel choice is not today all that unique.

I wasn't subscribing the Super VW Magazine when the project car was built, so I would like to thank both Serge and Julien-David for their patience with my various questions of details about project car and wheels. Local drag racer Jyri Erämaa was kind enough to borrow one of his Torque Thrust wheels with Mopar bolt-pattern, so I could fit test fit the wheels (thanks dude).

The wheels were delivered by local parts shop Part Corner within three weeks from my initial order. This is quite amazing since the factory in USA didn't probably have the offset I wanted in stock. Since I kept the 356 brakes they needed new bolt pattern which was done by Matti Äyräväinen.

356 wheel studs and bolts were replaced with some 1/2" american car studs and bolts which were available from local speed shop. They are as good as Porsche/VW 14x1.5 ones but cheaper and available in various lengths. The rear brakes needed total overhaul (no surprise) and the 356 brakes can be bit difficult parts-wise. Surprisingly replacement rear cylinders were available from CSP and along with fixing the old ones it is possible to bolt Split (mounted with 4 screws/16mm diameter) or Oval (2 screws/17mm diameter) cylinders since both are bolt-on to the backing plate. (The most sensible way would have been to modify the backing plate and fit ordinary Beetle cylinders.)

I liked the way my Berms looked with 145/165 tyre combination so I wanted the new tyres to have same diameter. Front tyres are 195/45s and rears are 215/50s. Both sizes seemed to be bit exotic but Autotek had them. 356 brakes look nice behind the spokes and are large enough. I wanted to avoid the the "amis-urpo" look many tuning cars have with large wheels and small rusty or even better, red, brake drums.