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Fuchs wheels: A Porsche 911 history

At just 4.5 inches wide, the original Fuchs ‘five-leaf’ alloy wheels were diminutive in size however, since their introduction in 1966, the distinctive rims have become one of the defining features of almost all classic Porsche 911s.

The (now-incredibly-rare) 4.5-inch Fuchs wheels were first seen on the Porsche 911S, itself making its debut in 1966. Designed to aid with brake cooling, the wheels quickly became a popular option on all 911s in Porsche’s Sixties line-up.

Made of forged aluminium, the Fuchs ‘five-leaf’ wheels also proved lighter than the steel wheels they replaced, improving acceleration and handling thanks to their reduced mass. Porsche and Otto Fuchs had hit upon a winning combination.

Porsche 930 LE wheel
Fuchs were synonymous with the Porsche 911, especially in the Eighties. The 930 LE saw widths hit 9-inches.

As the Porsche 911 entered the Seventies, the Fuchs wheels gradually grew wider and wider. By 1974, the newly-introduced Porsche 930 sat on 7-inch Fuchs at the front, with a staggering (for the time) 8-inch version at the rear. By the time the 930 LE was introduced in 1989, the rear wheels had grown by a further inch.

After a brief replacement by the ATS ‘Cookie Cutters’ during the late Seventies, the Fuchs were back with a vengeance in the next decade, appearing as standard in various guises on all Eighties Porsches.

However, come the introduction of the Porsche 964 in 1989, the Fuchs’ time was up, replaced by the much-maligned ‘Design 90’ rims. Its legacy still lives on though, with various replicas now available, including Porsche’s own interpretations on the 997 Sport Classic, and the new 991 50 Jähre edition.

Porsche 991 50 Jahre wheel
After the 997 Sport Classic’s replica Fuchs, the 991 50 Jähre anniversary edition sits on alloys inspired by the ‘five-leaf’ design.

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