Chrome effect painted road wheels

[Brett Johnson]

I'm going to start this over, because the previous attempt went to steering wheels rapidly. The Reutter information on my #54205 (9/55) states chrome effect lacquer on the wheels (Kardex has bupkis). My car came to me with 15" wheels so they are/were not useful. The first listing of this on a Kardex was in July 1955. This was well after silver paint was first used on wheels, so there must have been something special. I am interested on definitive information on chrome effect paint. I am also interested in cars later than 1956 that have it called out either on the Kardex/CoA or Reutter information.

I'm trying to compile and document information on known options for publication in the magazine and eventual inclusion on this lovely new website.

If you prefer to not share this publicly, you can email me at: 356drb@indy.net

My wheels are currently dark blue metallic -- just wanted to include a photo!

[Brett Johnson]

Also note my wonderful photo of a moon hubcap without me in the reflection!!!!

[Martin Benade]

You are invisible!

[Michael Doyle]

I'm going to start this over, because the previous attempt went to steering wheels rapidly. The Reutter information on my #54205 (9/55) states chrome effect lacquer on the wheels (Kardex has bupkis). My car came to me with 15" wheels so they are/were not useful. The first listing of this on a Kardex was in July 1955. This was well after silver paint was first used on wheels, so there must have been something special. I am interested on definitive information on chrome effect paint. I am also interested in cars later than 1956 that have it called out either on the Kardex/CoA or Reutter information.

I'm trying to compile and document information on known options for publication in the magazine and eventual inclusion on this lovely new website.

If you prefer to not share this publicly, you can email me at: 356drb@indy.net

My wheels are currently dark blue metallic -- just wanted to include a photo!

Hi Brett,

Chrome effect paint on the wheels was a very light-bright Silver lacquer color .. as though no metallic in it. Many of the Steel/Alu wheels were painted this Chrome effect color as well. I have rarely seen it noted on the Kardex. More so on the Reutter Certificates that detail the materials and colors when the cars were first built.

Michael Doyle

[Joris Koning]

This is an interesting one. Depending on the color of the car it appears that most coupes and cabs upto mid '56? had the body colored wheels as standard. I always assumed the term to mean just plain silver wheels but guess I was wrong.

Curious why they would spec a different paint from the standard silver for the steel/alloy wheels. No direct apparent reason comes to mind why they should have had a different color.

[C J Murray]

Per Brett, I have added this option to the Reutter section of the VIN History Records database.

[Michael Doyle]

This is an interesting one. Depending on the color of the car it appears that most coupes and cabs upto mid '56? had the body colored wheels as standard. I always assumed the term to mean just plain silver wheels but guess I was wrong.

Curious why they would spec a different paint from the standard silver for the steel/alloy wheels. No direct apparent reason comes to mind why they should have had a different color.

Hi Joris,

The “Chromeffektlack” Silver color is noted on build Certificates for the Reutter T1 A into T5B series GT cars. I believe the T6 B/C GT models and 904’s wheels used same. Brett says he has it noted on some Pre A documentation as well which is interesting. There may be other production series model wheels too that were also noted this way. This Silver lacquer appears to have a lot of clear in it. Was it the same standard Silver paint as on all other steel wheels? … don’t know.

I have an old original 4.5 x 15 T6B GT wheel and a 5.5 x 15 (never mounted) 904 wheel in original Chromeffektlack paint. When I get to them I’ll take and post some photos.

Michael Doyle

From a T5B GT Reutter Certificate:

[Brett Johnson]

I have an old original 4.5 x 15 T6B GT wheel and a 5.5 x 15 (never mounted) 904 wheel in original Chromeffektlack paint. When I get to them I’ll take and post some photos.

I suspect that the inclusion on the Kardex was likely done only when it was first used. There are only a handful of Kardexes that list them, but it seems to be commonplace on 356s immediately prior to the 356A introduction per the Reutter information. I'm hoping to write about this in the next column along with chrome-plated wheels, so hope you can send me an image for the article/website.

Also if anyone has Reutter info showing this on T 6 cars, please let us know.

[Joris Koning]

Brett, seeing them on the kardex of early A cars makes total sense as the early A cars came with body colored wheels as standard. As such, someone wanting silver wheels would have to special order them unless they ordered a silver car

[James Davies]

Chrome effect paint on the wheels was a very light-bright Silver lacquer color .. as though no metallic in it.

Thanks for the description Michael. I would describe the body color Nitrolack paints used for the early metallic colors on Reutter 356 cars the exact same way. No discernible metallic grain in Fish silver grey, Adria blue metallic or Radium green metallic, nor Silver metallic. See below for Fischsilbergrau ME from my '53 coupe from the protected area under the Reutter tag, compared to a modern "match" spray out card in the background. Beside the difference in hue, the difference in grain (or lack thereof in the original paint) is the most obvious difference.

So yeah, "metalleffekt" paints Reutter used as supplied by Lechler had no discernible grain. Sounds like "Chromeffektlack" was the same, though it would be great to see a actual sample.