By Robert Emslie
I happened upon an epiphany the other day. It was the result of quiet reflection, a bucolic, day, and a glass of good Scotch, and was the fact that the Panasport is – in my opinion – the best aftermarket street wheel there is. Now, I know that’s a bold statement to make, but hear me out on this one. You see, the Panasport is an old school wheel, it only comes in sizes that aren’t redonkulus, and it looks amazing on just about any car you can throw them under. I rest my case.
The thing of it is though, while Panasports look awesome under everything from Sprites to Three series, there are some cars for which they would very obviously be far and away the wrong choice. And today I want your take on what cars that might be.
In fact, let’s not limit ourselves to Panasports, let’s hear your opinion on what would be the worst possible aftermarket wheel/car mashups. Can you picture a Rolls with Daytons? How about Cragars on a Volt? What car doesn’t look good with Panasports, or any other sort of aftermarket wheel?
Image source: Turbomagazine
Jeff Glucker
1. No modern car looks good on Minilites / Panasports.
2. Minilites / Panasports only work on old British cars in my opinion.
3. Pretty BMW 2002, ruined by the wheels!
<img src="http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3849/img5227yz0.jpg" width="670/">
There's a Toyota Yaris running around in my area with Minilites/Panasports that, IMHO, actually looks good. Also, I like the way they look on that '02. So, I respectfully disagree with your assertions.
<img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3351/3417147906_dc8362ba92.jpg" width="450" height="301" alt="Volvo 123 GT Amazon rallye-car, 1967 s"> Honestly, they really are pretty British, like British but with sane wiring, or something.
What comes with dog dishes should stay with dog dishes (see my other comment below)
<img src="http://www.cartype.com/pics/6289/full/volvo_p121-122_58.jpg" width="600">
That is good point, but they finally changed over on all the body styles in all markets for '67 and the 123GT was never made with the old style dishes even in '66. http://volvo1800-120parts.com.au/images/123gt/bro…
Ha ha ha, wrong jpeg, sorry: http://volvo1800-120parts.com.au/images/123gt/bro…
Found it here: http://volvo1800-120parts.com.au/123gtbrochures.h…
Personally I like the later ones better and even old Dodge steelies without any hubcaps better than the dishes on the Amazon, but minilites best, matter of taste really though.
<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc2dpbkgdi1qf1f8ho1_500.jpg"> Alright I admit, pretty British too (there is a tumblr for panasports, cool, click if you like) but then wham bam thank you ma'am CELICA! (Also Kelly, if you read this, sweet car, ever thought about wing mirrors, flag poles, and rear louvers?) <img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdnpwiJCZE1rslasvo1_500.jpg">
First generation Sciroccos look great on Panasports, as do Miatas
Should be Minilites instead of Panasports since Panasport is the (nice) knock off. The classic Minilite look goes well with almost any classic. I'd imagine the real vintage stuff would look silly with them. Something like a Ford Model A. Most SUVs and larger trucks would as well. Once the Minilite style rim gets beyond about 15" it starts to look less and less good. 12-15" is the sweet spot.
I wanted to say that a Buick Reatta would look awful with Panasports, but after picturing it in my head, I think it may actually look good.
1978 Lincoln Mark V? No, it'd look good.
1985 Camry? Sexy.
1959 Cadillac ElDorado? I think they would work.
1985 Rolls Royce Silver Spur? My god. Beautiful.
Hummer H2? That must be the only thing I can think of looking bad with Panasports.
I am in love with a Lincoln Mark V that I saw photos of at a LeMons race. It was on American Racing Salt Flat wheels. Unfortunately I can't find this photo, so here's a different '70s Detroit sled with the same wheels I found in GIS.
<img src="http://gradasishop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/NISSAN-American-Racing-In-Concept-For-Touring.jpg" width=650>
Now that's a nice Buick Century.
I love those rims. They look great on almost all American hot rods, modified cars.
Almost got those for my Falcon, but they're like $350 each.
But you can't put a price on style! Okay, you can, but this looks sweet.
<img src="http://www.fordmuscleforums.com/attachments/falcon-pages/4292d1213884748-salt-flat-wheels-63-sprint-dsc01879-s.jpg">
As I recall, they're only available in 8″ and wider or something like that.Rocking not even 200hp means extra rotational inertia is not my friend: 15×7 with 205/55 tires for me, thanks.
They're only available in deep RWD offsets too, which means I won't have them on my LTD any time soon.
Panasports is one of those wheels that looks good in most (if not all) cars. It does look out of place in some modern cars though (see exhibit A below).
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v361/rippspeed/P1020252.jpg" width=640 />
But it's also hard to make a 4-door Echo looks good, never mind the wheels.
That's actually really not terrible. It's awkward, but that's entirely the built-in Toyota awkward. Plus, most small cars look just fine on Minilites/Panasports. Hyundai even offered a quasi-knockoff on the Accent several years ago (or at least I'm calling them out for being a quasi-knockoff), and it's one of the less objectionable things on the car. I mean, if I felt like throwing a single excess dime at a FWD Hyundai, I'd think about splurging for the real thing.
<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i318/jasonweremy/My%20Cars/6th%202005%20Hyundai%20Accent%20GSI%20Aug%2006%20To%20The%20Present/IMG_0528.jpg" width=500/img>
Actually, that makes the Echo more tolerable to look at.
True. The wheels draw the eye away from the pile of awkward above.
These are small car wheels. Anything large and muscular will look bad with them. Even Accord/Camry.
Mini-lites look acceptable on some muscle cars:
<img src="http://www.finecars.cc/typo3temp/GB/87f981bc3f.jpg"width=500>
Yes. Yes the do.
<img src="http://thecarsource.com/shelby/transam/jones302.jpg">
Thank you for that.
…sigh…
thank you.
The whole point of Mini Lites was the "mini" part. Hence they looked so good on a Mini. Imho, they don't look that great here. Not absolutely awful but definitely not great.
Dat dish…. Unf.
Old – New
<img src="http://v8racecar.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/allan-moffats-trans-am-boss302.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/12mustangboss30206optb.jpg" width="600">
Beat me to it.
I want those wheels. Look good and allow big brakes.
Maybe done in silver to show off brake dust…
No dog dish should ever be replaced with any alloys!!!
<img src="http://sphotos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/893521_10200974212187256_736572194_o.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://www.tyresave.co.uk/carpix/minilite14morris1000.jpg" width=500 /img>
This does not look right, like your grandfather wearing a cardigan and running shoes. Although in his defense, they're comfortable, and probably velcro, making them easy to put on. The Morris on Minilites has no such excuse.
Hang on- lowered with some slicks? Maybe a wider wheel with a deeper dish?
Some Minilites have that positive offset that just doesn't look sporting at all.
And thank for the early Morris pic. I was trying to describe to the kid the low headlights on these.
WheelerDealers worked up a Morris Woodie the last show.
I'll give you, it's not impossible, I was just looking at cars on Minilites, and that's the one that stood out as not right.
Those wheels and tires would have been what were sold for the MGB.
Even these wheels and tires on a 'B would have looked bad. Just not the right proportions in any angle.
I see what you mean, sort of like the Rover P5B with Rostyles (which were factory)
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Rover_P5_3.5_litre_Saloon_NZ.jpg/800px-Rover_P5_3.5_litre_Saloon_NZ.jpg" width="500">
Was trying to find a car looking bad but found this instead. A Nissan L20 powered 450SL
<img src="http://fatlace.com/lacedup/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/sl1.jpg"width=500/>
Ooh… Link to more info on this? I'm pretty sure those are Watanabes though.
Found more pics, but not much info… http://fatlace.com/2010/10/vintage-autos-mb-450sl…
There's a video there I can't watch though. Also, confirmed – Watanabes.
<img src="http://cdn.fatlace.com/lacedup/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/sl4.jpg" width="500">
Yes, they are. But close enough. Here, the Vortex link.
Holy hell, that looks amazing. Further proof the Watanabe R- Types look wonderful on anything.
Minilites/Panasports look good on just about any classic car. My co-worker has a '70 Mach 1 Mustang on 16" Minilites and it looks sooo good.
I propose that the Volk TE37 is the modern equivalent of the Minilite in the "makes everything look good" department.
<img src="http://www.vividracing.com/forums/gallery/files/5/5/4/3/gt3bronzevolks1.jpg" width="650/">
<img src="http://brendansgrainofrice.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/37453367.jpg" width="650/">
<img src="http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/2140/gal6k.jpg" width="650/">
<img src="http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/798/dsc0024nuu.jpg" width="650/">
Good call!
Agreed. I'm thinking of getting a bronze set in 18" for the GTO to replace my RPF1s.
I gotta be different.
RPF1s ALMOST fall into the same category, but they only look good in negative offset versions with a decent lip. The high offset flat faced versions for FWD applications don't look half as good.
Also agreed. There are also different types of spokes. The flat style that go straight from the hub to the lip, and ones that curve slightly to meet the lip. It seems to be a total crap shoot which ones you get. The 18×8.5" on my car have the curve. The 18×9" that my friend got for his RX8 are flat, but have the same amount of dish.
I think I'm the only one running them on a GTO, and I think it looks pretty damn good…
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8563026376_12ee3c8420_c.jpg" width="500">
Yeah, I've considered getting a set for my LTD, but in 17×8 +45 they'd have very little lip and don't look that great. 17×9 +45 has the lip and looks light years better.
Reliant Scimitar GTE (SE6)
<img src="http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt78/JoeySully/Scimitar%20Meet%20March%202011/IMG_2526.jpg">
Looks good to me!
Cant find an NSX on Panasports, sadly. It would either be awesome, or some kind of terribad.
Doesn't look too bad, actually!
<img src="http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1601/hondansxminilites.jpg" width=500>
Not bad. Not bad at all.
<img src="http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view6/2728554/not-bad-o.gif">
Oldcarjunkie already kinda covered this one, and I cannot find a picture, for good reason.
Jeep Wranglers and Jeep Universals. Certainly not any that hadn't been significantly modified otherwise, like this one:
<img src="http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/20-BS-Inspection-at-Vodden-the-Hell-Are-We-Doing-24-Hours-of-LeMons-626×426.jpg" width=500>
It's awesome, but in a highly context dependent way. It would look ridiculous with a normal Jeep ride height.
Speaking of Jeep. I'm playing with the caster angle on my CJ-5 to improve straight line stability. Any personal recommendations?
Alas, not for caster angle. All the advice I've ever seen was to get the front pinion angle correct, and let the caster take care of itself; the factory specs leave a huge margin (at least they do for my TJ).
Toe-in and axle centering are the ones you have independent control over. Centering isn't super critical, but can have an effect (this may be a quirk of track bar/coil spring setups, though).
Toe-in you can get pretty accurate at home with a tape measure. The best recommendation I've seen for that is to use some primer and a scribe to get a uniform vertical line on the tires, and use that to measure front to back. On my TJ, IIRC, you want something like an eighth of an inch (I think, working from memory, here) difference between the front and back of the tires (front narrower, of course). Not sure what you'd need for yours, but you might experiment. The paint should scrub off pretty quickly when you take it out for a test drive.
How about Watanabe R Types? I think it looks AMAZING
<img src="http://blog.bespokeventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sany2028.jpg" width="600">
And there was a guy who had a CJ-5 with some old Shelby Mini-Europa wheels (a rebadged minilite with the big Ford pattern) at the place I used to work. It looked VERY good. I'll try and find a pic, I know I took at least one.
That's what I was looking for. That looks awesome, but it's slammed to the ground (at least, by Jeep standards). However, I think they'd look a little goofy for a standard ride-height Universal/Wrangler with big knobby tires on them. OTOH, I cannot find pictures of that setup, as it appears that no one has done it. Or my google-fu sucks.
Ford Fiesta. I think minilites are out of place on modern cars, or at least ones that dont have retro throwback styling.
<img src=http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/media/img/projectcars/Ford_Fiesta_race_car.jpg width=600>
Looks good to me.
<img src="http://www.netz-kasten.de/fiesta1/9/9×2/167/1.jpg" width="650/">
<img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/plugins/PostviaEmail/images/1978_Ford_Fiesta_Rallye_Tribute_For_Sale_resize.jpg" width=650">
I found this while browsing my local craigslist.
http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/3714421890.ht…
why? (face palm)
<img src="http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s573/frank077/Picture4478_zpsef8da365.jpg" width="500"> Cause you got kicked-out of all future St. Pat's Day parades for doing a burn-out? I agree, minilites would look out of place on this Miata, though awesome on most, especially green ones. <img src="http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s573/frank077/Picture4481_zps8d40ddb5.jpg" width="500">
Why is one of the nekkid chicks on the trunk missing a nipple…?
You made me look closely, she's fondly her boob. I was worried the Leprechaun was up to no good tricks again.
Wait… is that just one of her boobs? I thought it was both. Is the line down the middle a strand of hair or something?
Weird choice in artistic license…
See it's like this, it's green. Who else wore green? No not a Martian. That's right, Robin Hood. These two poor girls only have one shoe and bikini top to share amongst themselves and taht's just not right. So Paddy here from the Hood has stole from the rich to give to the poor and all that, this here is him giving them a money bag on the back of my car. It's not provocative, it's a nuanced meaningful work of art with a redeeming social message.
I swear officer, that's the honest to God truth.
Want Panasports for my 2001 Lexus GS, want the complete opposite of "VIP"
Smart move
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L8dUx-_V-tE/S-YiFQhzSDI/AAAAAAAAGdI/uxLY7SjX_4I/s640/Photo0048_001_001.jpg">
I love my XXR-brand pretend panasports
What happened to the Moons?
I left them with my steelies and snows when I moved west (you have no idea how happy I was to not need snow tires anymore). I've had these wheels for about three years now, actually.
It isn't terrible, I guess, but the Panasports are not working here…
<img src="http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6081/picture1399rb.jpg" width="600">
they look sized wrong
Looks like it needs some spacers.
I hate this.
<img src="http://eurocars.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/mini_cooper_wheels.jpg" width="460">
I don't hate this, but it could be better on era-appropriate wheels (the owner has since moved on to an edgier 80's style).
<img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8034/8029687366_574d43538f_z.jpg" width="460">
But this does work quite well IMHO.
<img src="http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g26/Shaguar47/dsc_0007_copie.jpg" width="600">
I can't help but think they would look awful on a big '70s land barge like this:
<img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2009/12/14/15/20/1978_mercury_marquis-pic-8651128780311107116.gif">
But I also can't find an image proving that.
Minilites- maybe not.
But BBS CH*? Hell yea. Saw a Caprice rollin' with some deep dish CH's last year and it looked friggin' cool!
*Another wheel that looks good on anything.
I generally like them on just about anything, but IMO they don't look good on 64-66 Mustangs. Idunno why. I also think they look terrible on that NSX above.
[img ]http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/5/web/665000-665999/665320_29.jpg[/img]
Courtesy embed:
<img src="http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2662/1401/6653200029_medium.jpg" width="500">
Posting directions at the bottom of every page here on the 'verse: <a href="http://hooniverse.info/about/image-embed/” target=”_blank”>http://hooniverse.info/about/image-embed/
I thought there were a few cars… then I googled the ones I disagreed with. HOLY CRAP YOU'RE RIGHT. Panasport wheels look great on everything!
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Nullset.svg/100px-Nullset.svg.png"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_set” target=”_blank”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_set
So far as all the Japanese cars on "Minilites", they're actually referencing Watanabe's (which I learned from visiting sites like speedhunters and japanesenostalgiccar).
True, but I'm pretty sure those are minilites or really good knockoffs like VTO on Kelly's Celica above. I'm careful like that.
My favourite wheels, particularly on a NA miata. The only cars they don't look good on are cars that don't look good.
The only times I have seen them look "bad" is when they are incorrectly sized for the application. Any time they make the car look awkward, or if the car is independently ugly.
Is this a trick question?
Yeah, I can't find anything bad. Just awesome…
<img src="http://images.craigslist.org/3G73La3N25N65H65J6d41c5e63f5947dd1536.jpg" width="500">
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/3717409259.ht…
QUIT MAKING ME LOOK UP AWESOME SHIT!
<img width=500 src="http://www.motormavens.com/emAlbum/albums/Antonio%20Alvendia/Papercuts/Super%20Silhouette%20Japan/_fullsize/yanki-super-sillhouette-racing-japan-bmw-m1-panasport.jpg">
The only thing I can think of that Panasports wouldn't look good on is a Jeep Cherokee.
<img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSH6bj_XnbSl-Fsu-3zoCHtXmo5qnWR578AfXZ1oFwVUrdWoezF">
I tried for a GIS with a Cherokee on Panasports. Could not find one. It may be there, but any GIS with "panasports" as a search term reveals too much awesome to hunt for the ugly.
<img src="http://i414.photobucket.com/albums/pp223/verytallbrad/2cv2.jpg" width="450/">
Holy shiz! Even the tin snail looks the dogs bollokz rollin' on 'lites. Unbelievable.
Incidentally; I have just decided (while carrying out in-head mental photoshop exercises) that an '83 Lagonda on BBS cross-spoke split-rims, might well be the official car of me.
Definitive proof that you cannot go wrong with Panasports:
<img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/hoopd87/dajiban1_zpsb14e1d64.jpg" width =500>
I rest my case.
Dajiban is always right.
Nice Dajiban on Watanabes!
Big Healeys look a little weird on Minilights. Not bad, just a little off. Not to say I don't want a set for my car for hooning tires.
<img src="http://www.sherwoodrestorations.co.uk/media/image/portfolio/medium//1965%20Austin%20Healey%203000%20BJ8.jpg">
I would posit that Minilites would look ghastly on prewar cars and on many cars designed immediately after the war. I think the exceptions would be cars from this period that carried on in production into the 1960s and beyond (eg VW Beetle) and possibly hot rods.
I'm one of those people who hates modern wheels on classics and I think the same theory applies here.
IMO, most old-school JDM type wheels don't really look good on anything that doesn't have fender flares or very pronounced fenders.
newer cars just have to have the panasports from the newer minis. i think they are 17×7 and the spokes stop right at the bead-lip.
<img src="http://www.aspecwheels.net/INOVIT%20WHEELS/OEM%20wheels/200/200%20mini%20cooper%20s%20gloss%20black%20%201.JPG">
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a
colleague who has been conducting a little homework on this.
And he actually ordered me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for
him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending the time to talk about this matter here on your web site.