Thread: What wheels are these?

VW wheels used to bolt straight onto my 1948 Ford Mercury's, you could buy them cheap as chips from the wreckers, I think early Ford F100's had same pattern as pre 50" Fords which the VW beetle wheels fitted. Regards Frank

Land Rover, Morris Commercial and FJ Holden are 5 on 6.5" PCD (165.1mm)


Big 5 stud VW are 5 on 205mm (always metric, no inch size)


36-39 Ford are 5 on 10.25" (aka "Wide Five").


40-52 Ford, (and F100, Jeep, etc) are 5 on 5.5" (139.7mm)


52 and later Ford cars are 5 on 4.5" (114.3mm)


I can't see how a Big VW pattern wheel could possible fit any year Ford or Mercury.

Unless you're thinking a postwar English Ford Popular? I think they were something like 5 on 8", which would still require some modifying of the VW's 205mm PCD.

Originally Posted by 303gunner

Land Rover, Morris Commercial and FJ Holden are 5 on 6.5" PCD (165.1mm)


Big 5 stud VW are 5 on 205mm (always metric, no inch size)


36-39 Ford are 5 on 10.25" (aka "Wide Five").


40-52 Ford, (and F100, Jeep, etc) are 5 on 5.5" (139.7mm)


52 and later Ford cars are 5 on 4.5" (114.3mm)


I can't see how a Big VW pattern wheel could possible fit any year Ford or Mercury.

48 Mercury, they fitted perfect, bit skinny but they did the job, maybe you can't see it because you weren't there and I was, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

..maybe you can't see it because you weren't there and I was, Regards Frank.

I've owned a few sidevalve fords myself and am always interested in hints and tips from those who were around "back in the day". What I can't see is how you fitted a wheel with a PCD of 205mm to a hub with a PCD of 139.7mm?


Pictured below are 3 Ford wheels. Left, English post-war Ford (Pilot, Prefect, Popular, 8" PCD), centre pre-war US/Canadian '36-'39 Ford (wide five 10.25"), right 40-52 Ford (5.5"/139.7mm PCD) which is also fitted to a '48 Merc.




And this is the VW wheel with a 205mm PCD:



Maybe you have a photo of that VW wheel on your Mercury?

I did say VW beetle, not a kombi, no sorry, they didn't have cameras back then, BTW is the Merc' for sale, Regards Frank.