Cars, Coffee and California...

[Greasemonkey2000]

My goodness they look spectacular! And they are magnesium!! 14s just look so right!!

[bogaut]

they look better without center caps IMO. looks amazing!

[druz]

Can never go wrong with Wats, and Mg is icing on the cake. I wouldn't have been able to pass up that deal either, amazing all around.

[bogaut]

also really cool how the stamp is on the spoke. must be an older mold they used, the newer models always have the three falcons by the lug holes

[oldgrayleather]

Wheel porn! I absolutely LOVE the Wats, Pete! They are the perfect wheel for these cars, and if I could manage a set without flares that worked with my brakes and setup, I'd gladly pay the price.

Thanks Matt! Wheels can really and completely transform how a car looks. Just like shoes. At least that's what I explained to Mrs. R (I'm just teasing, she is a saint, honestly).

Watanabe will machine them to accommodate bigger brakes (they were reluctant however for Mg) but you could also do that and step up to 15's? I suppose given what you're putting under the hood, guessing you'll want 8.5. 9 or even 10's to keep the power on the ground and wtihout flares, those kind of offsets won't come from them.

My goodness they look spectacular! And they are magnesium!! 14s just look so right!!

Thank you Chad, very much appreciated!

Can never go wrong with Wats, and Mg is icing on the cake. I wouldn't have been able to pass up that deal either, amazing all around.

Thanks Drew, appreciated and honestly not going to disagree with a word you said.

they look better without center caps IMO. looks amazing!

also really cool how the stamp is on the spoke. must be an older mold they used, the newer models always have the three falcons by the lug holes

Bo... It turns out the Mg wheels have the 60mm bore (aluminum in 63 or 70) so the only caps that work are the more subtle ones. A set is already en route so hopefully will see if I can convince you soon:
b60.jpg

Because of that and some other differences, apparently the Mg wheels use a different mold and since they're not made very often they still have the original logo placement. A nice little detail I was quite pleased to discover.

[Antonio]

Great choice my friend! I love watanabes, actually I have a set laying in the garage for 2 months, waiting to be installed because I wanted to lower the car before and to put on a R front lip. The lip came broken from ilmotorsport so I had to wait more for a replacement
Congrats again, you know my true love for sharks, but watanabes are a never aging classic!

P.S. I like them without caps as well ;)

[HarryB]

Wow! Guess patience pays off then, right? These are my dream spec Wats, 14's look awesome, in particular in aggressive offsets and as wide as these. And they are magnesium, which makes them even more special. Now you own two of my most beloved wheels...kind of jealous! And thanks for sharing the journey with us, really makes us appreciate what it takes to get there. Enjoy!!

P.S. I kind of prefer the hex caps. This is what I (occasionally) run on mine as well, but I like the "bare" look as well. If you want to make them seem more finished, you can machine 4 aluminum caps that are recessed and get fitted from the inside out so it looks like a hub cap.

[Antonio]

Pete, is the ET of Wats the same as the Sharks one?

[ueru]

This is amazing. I love the look, the Mg, the... everything. One of my favorite roadsters on a set of my favorite wheels. Gotta see it in person someday!

[Corifto]

Thanks gents, all sound advice on what I'd have done differently on baking the lenses if I were to do it again - lower temp, bigger oven!








As many local roadster friends know, my driveway is unforgiving. In fact, my ride height was determined as the lowest it could be to get my car in with limited scrape-age. That and LA's tortuous speed bumps has meant the rails have also seen a lot of action. But then again, I've used those excuses for too long. Maybe rails will actually help the car clear the driveway because there's less flex! Thanks for the push. Every testament on their transforming effects and your encouragement has now motivated me enough to stop procrastinating on this project too! Unfortunately I didn't read these until now so will have to be next weekend ;).

Your driveway is indeed torturous. I will say, the Sunburst was much easier than Bucky was a few years ago.


They look right at home on Benny, and as much as I would love to swindle those Sharks, I'm glad you're keeping them! All in all, well worth the very little effort it took to have a conversation at the Watanabe booth.

[—tsingson—]

Gosh, I want a set of Wats so bad. I think I am even willing to part with my extra pair of Lotus seats and brackets for a set. They look awesome!

[benpopham]

Contrags Pete! Lovely wheels and really suit Benny!

So under a year since we visit Watanabe in Japan, and now there is a set on your car, nice work

[Keilani]

Wow, and even though I own 14" MTE37 I still feel the desire to own a set of Watanabe's in the future. Absolutely beautiful!

[oldgrayleather]

Great choice my friend! I love watanabes, actually I have a set laying in the garage for 2 months, waiting to be installed because I wanted to lower the car before and to put on a R front lip. The lip came broken from ilmotorsport so I had to wait more for a replacement
Congrats again, you know my true love for sharks, but watanabes are a never aging classic!

Can’t wait to see them on the Sunburst, I am more than certain that lowered, with an R lip and Wats is going to look amazing! ��

Pete, is the ET of Wats the same as the Sharks one?

The specs are very very close (only the 5 offset difference between -8 and -13) but the simpler design in darker monochrome vs the polished barrels and the intricacy of the Sharks could not be more different.

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Wow! Guess patience pays off then, right? These are my dream spec Wats, 14's look awesome, in particular in aggressive offsets and as wide as these. And they are magnesium, which makes them even more special. Now you own two of my most beloved wheels...kind of jealous! And thanks for sharing the journey with us, really makes us appreciate what it takes to get there. Enjoy!!

Always so kind, thanks Harry. I always hope I wouldn’t make anyone feel too jealous but even moreso that no one is resentful. Building out my Roadsters has never been about bragging rights but simply fueled by passion for these cars, the JDM heritage and the connections that’s built with so many of you! xoxo

This is amazing. I love the look, the Mg, the... everything. One of my favorite roadsters on a set of my favorite wheels. Gotta see it in person someday!

*blush*. Thanks my friend. You know you are very welcome to visit any time you’re able to come back stateside! I mean, LA could be a stopover on your way home to Texas, right? Always enjoy our “conversations” and can’t wait to see your NB video soon ��

They look right at home on Benny, and as much as I would love to swindle those Sharks, I'm glad you're keeping them! All in all, well worth the very little effort it took to have a conversation at the Watanabe booth.

Correction, there are THREE things you need to know about Corey. He likes making the impossible, possible. And then dismisses any effort that it took to pull it off!

Gosh, I want a set of Wats so bad. I think I am even willing to part with my extra pair of Lotus seats and brackets for a set. They look awesome!

Extra wheels for me beats extra seats! Haha

Contrags Pete! Lovely wheels and really suit Benny!

So under a year since we visit Watanabe in Japan, and now there is a set on your car, nice work

Thanks Ben-san. Crazy to think that flying to Japan and attending Karuizawa feels like such an impossibility in the current climate. Our trip to Watanabe and seeing their little operation (and interrupting our slightly perturbed host who humored our enthusiasm and still left us with some stickers and brochures) even further fueled my admiration and love of Watanabe’s roots.

Wow, and even though I own 14" MTE37 I still feel the desire to own a set of Watanabe's in the future. Absolutely beautiful!

Thanks. MTE’s are amazing but also feel like Wats would be an exceptional complement. Best of both modern brilliance and heritage but I would say that…

[Roadster7]

Less talk, more photos!