Boober944

Hi friends, I don't post much (not at all really!) as I'm busy with 7 month old and 3 year old boys and my Cossie clone is buried in 2 feet if snow (I live in NE U.S.). I have some newer 16" Focus wheels on my car and they just don't look right. I have been pining for period correct BBS RS wheels but they are mighty scarce on this side of the pond. I ran across some BBS RS replicas in 16"x7" 34ET 4x108 size. I searched and searched to find who made them but the seller finally sent me a picture of the back of the center cap and they are Centra wheels. He said they came off a RS500 clone and that they were originally sold by Ford as a plus 1 wheel option (I know that's not true). Trouble is, I can't find a photo of what they might originally have looked like. They are in need of refinishing and I'm not sure what to do. I'm thinking of having the lips polished and the centers painted bright silver.

Anyone ever have a set if these? Anyone even SEEN a set of these on a Ford? I can't think there are too many left out there in the first place. The wheels in question:

The Current wheels (also 16")

Stage6

One of my friends on Facebook has these on His white mk4 escort cab.

will post a pic...

Stage6

Boober944

Looks like they might have been painted then, no polished lip. Thanks for the pic

Cragrat

iTrader: (4)

Nice rims,Even better home town name

Paul_RS

iTrader: (4)

They are a genuine Ford wheel called " RS Light Style 18 spoke alloy road wheel (B)" lol

They should be 16" x 7" and the Ford part number is 5050 656

Boober944

Wow! So the seller wasn't kidding, they were sold through Ford? The stamping on the inside has a part number 505065. It's strange that they don't have a Ford logo stamped somewhere.

Paul_RS

iTrader: (4)

Ford don't make their own wheels. Lots were made by Ronal for example.

Maxwell

Centra made production wheels, just as a lot of manufacturers do/have done (Ronal, Borbet, BBS, ATS)

For example, ATS made wheels for the Opel Mantas, but made aftermarket versions of the same wheel in different sizes/offsets/pcd etc. for the general public.

So regarding your wheels, either the general design of your wheel was to make it for the masses with no Ford badge and offer it across the board (So it may have a standardised design/casting etc) Or the wheel you have might have been an aftermarket version of the Ford accessory type, that bares the same part number as the Ford version.

Just depends on what way they tooled up and marketed the wheels.

As Paul said, Ronal made lots of RS wheels. But im near sure Centra done the diamond cut 7 spokes for the RS range.

Boober944

I know most all OEM's don't make their own wheels, I worked at General Motors Design center years ago, did lots of wheel designs and worked with several wheel makers. It would surprise people to learn that their crappy 13" production wheel was made by a respected racing wheel maker.

Maxwell

LOL I wouldn't doubt that. ATS have supplied wheels for years...racing, production cars etc. And they are really only known modernly for the shite seen on VWs.

There is a company in the UK called GKN that do aircraft components and do stuff for cars. But apparently their first line of work was production wheels for old Vauxhall Vivas and stuff from the 1950s in the uk and Europe.

PAUL S

iTrader: (8)

Rial made the 3dr cosworth wheels and these look to be a similar design, so maybe Centra were an offshoot. I have also seen this type on production Saabs from the mid 80s as well.

Boober944

Anyone know Centra/Ronal history? These wheels look almost identical to Ronal LS's After they bought Centra Wheels, maybe Ronal just change up a few things and re-issued these wheels as Ronal LS, though the LS were mainly fitted to VW and BMW. The center cap designs are clearly different but the rest is pretty much identical.

Boober944

I thought I might bump this thread out of desperation. I had the wheels sent off to a good wheel repair place and was given the harsh news that one of the wheels is twisted and not repairable. So....anyone got an idea where I could source another one? I'm not ready to give up yet!

Nathen138

Just came across this old post... I also have a set of these, originally the lips and wheel fave would have been diamond cut leaving the rest of the wheel in the standard silver colour... I have a picture of some brand new 15" Centra/RS wheels sold a few years back (to give you an idea) unfortunately my 16" Centras are also in need of a refurb

CheeRS, Nathen.

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tjRS500

I have a new old stock centre cap for these

Copping96

Hi mate abit of a long shot as it was a few years ago but you don't still have them centre caps do you can't find some anywhere!

tjRS500

Yes sure do, just the one left though. Still in its slightly tatty original packaging.

​​​​​​Private message me if you're interested.

Copping96

Deffo intrested mate but I'm new to this site as I ly done it to get hold of you 😂 I can't seem to work out how to private message would u mind dropping me one

Copping96

For some reason I can't private message you, are you able to message me or my number is 07831244522 if easier

Copping96

Can't mate it won't let me message you, my number is 07831244522.