15" 1958 Porsche 356 Monocoque Racing Wheels
Item Details
- Seller: ronn356
- Location: Hillsborough, NC 27278
- Lot #: P-0030649
Available for auction is a set of five Monocoque Racing wheels. These iconic wheels were manufactured in 1958 by Chassis Engineering of National City, California. According to the seller, this set was recently sent to Bogart Racing Wheels in Phoenix, Arizona, for restoration, as Bogart now owns the Monocoque brand and has been producing them since the late 1960s.
This set is configured for a Porsche 356 drum brake wheel or a VW of the same vintage. It is a tubeless 15-inch rim with a six-inch bead. Each rim weighs under 9 lbs - 4 oz. and the wheel halves are bead welded together, bolted, and sealed.
The seller is including spacers for wheel fitment, a set of 10 standard-length Porsche wheel studs, and 9 extended-length wheel studs. Directions for fitment also accompany the auction, which includes company documents and notes by the original owner from 1958.
Due to their strength and lightness, Monocoques have been used with success by notable racers such as Bruce “King Carrera” Jennings. Jennings has been called the winningest driver in SCCA history, and some of his wins were achieved using Monocoque wheels on his 356 Carrera Speedster and later, a 1968 SWB 911. Don't miss your opportunity to own a beautifully restored set of Monocoque Racing wheels. The buyer is responsible for shipping, handling, and fees.
Auction Results
- Highest Bid: $1,525
- Auction End: Jun 16, 2023 08:51:54PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 2
Comments (17)
Bid in the amount of $1,525
Will copy of restoration invoice be included in sale?
The wheels are wrapped and protected in rugged boxes supplied by the restoration service. They will be shipped insured by the usual known carriers at auction winner's choice of carrier.
@ronn356 I corrected my image of spacers and wheel bolts. In addition, I included an image from 1970 of my car with Monocoques mounted to indicate that they fit just fine in a standard 356 body. The second photo of it (in red) shows how much room was available to include spacers and thus increase track. The rears had been flared by 1976, as seen in the second photo, which allowed for more spacers, but the wheels remained the same—15 X 6.
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@Cande83821 @Cande83821:
I didn't see your question about the spacer rings and you are correct—those are not for the wheels in auction. My apologies—I removed them from the box. The single spacers, however, do work with the current setup.
@tlingo:
Thank you for your bid and interest in my auction!
@Cande83821 @Cande83821:
I eyeball-measured from the face of the wheel center, which has some thickness. In the case of the two halves that bolt together, they take up 1/2" and thus complete the 7" measurement. Thus, 4.25 + 0.5.+ 2.5 = 7.
That is how I measured it.
@ronn356 Thanks for your response. Since backspace and front space is measured in total width, backspace plus front space will equal total width (7”) for example 4.5”+2.5”=7”
Also Curious, do the included spacers line up with the bolt pattern of the wheels (5/205mm)? It’s appears they may be a smaller pattern such as 5/130(356c?)
TYIA
Bid in the amount of $1,500
@ronn356 @Cande83821:
Frontspace is 2.25"
@Cande83821 @Cande83821:
The total width of the wheel from outside edge is 7"
The backspace measurement is 4.25"
The frontspace measurement is 2/25"
This is known as "positive offset." As you can see in photos, there are spacers provided to adjust as needed; some were aluminum rod cut in different widths, others were large steel washers to finesse the spacing. From the photos that I have of my car, I am not sure if the spacers were needed, as the owner may have been increasing the track of the wheels to achieve some competitive edge in autocross. I have some period photos that show a spacing example, but I'll have to consult with PCar on how to load them.
ronn356, can you tell me the backspace measurements on these wheels (I.E., mounting surface of the wheel to innermost edge of the backside of the wheel. I’ll assume all 5 wheels are exactly the same.. TYIA.
@jentex Thanks for your comment. I don't think that they were used that much, other than a season or two of autocross , according to the records that I have on the owner.
nice wheels, have not seen any this clean or complete in 25 years. Good luck.
Monocoque wheels were produced and sold beginning in the early 1960s by Chassis Engineering in National City, CA. This particular set was purchased in 1968.
Hello and welcome to my auction! This is a spare set of Monocoques that came with my 1958 356A Speedster; I have retained the primary set, which are still on my car. Adding lightness to a car, especially in the wheels, transforms its handling, and Monocoques deliver that in spades.
These wheels were designed to fit 356 drum brake cars. I've been told that these wheels also fit a VW Beetle drum brake wheel, but I have not tested that. I'll be here to answer any questions that you might have to the best of my ability.