1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS (Lightweight)

Shown here in “Green” and, displayed on the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS (Lightweight), these are the legendary “Fuchsfelge®” (Fuchs) 5-spoke 15” alloy wheels. Created in the mid 1960’s, Otto Fuchs, founder of the Fuchsfelge® company developed these wheels in response to a requirement by Porsche for its new 911. The requirement called for a suitable and mass-produced alternative to the steel and wired-wheels available at the time. It required that the wheel be at least three kilograms lighter than its contemporaries; be of outstanding quality and strength and, be visually pleasing. Though a list of manufacturers met Porsche’s requirement with cast aluminum wheels that met the weight specifications, test results found all of these to be fragile and unable to handle the load requirements. Fuchs however, who also had experience in developing lightweight materials for the aerospace sector, was able to transfer the company’s technology and create a 6-step forging process from a single piece of aluminum which, at the time, was considered revolutionary. As a result, the Fuchs wheel exceeded Porsche’s requirements and enabled the company to deliver to Porsche, the very first lightweight forged aluminum wheel in automotive series production.  Today, Fuchs continues its legacy of producing wheels of superior strength while ensuring optimum levels of safety during critical driving situations. In this example owner Reid Vann of Reid Vann Luxury Imports runs the Pirelli P6000 185/70VR15 tires in front, and 215/60VR15 in the rear. Thanks to Reid Vann of Ladue, MO for participating in this shoot.

A bit of trivia: With Porsches’ release of the 1973 model year of the Carrera RS, Fuchs introduced a 15×8 inch wheel variant that coincided with Porsches’ manufacture of 6 and 7 inch widths. The Fuchs variant was only produced for a 6-month period and the uniqueness of these wheels commands a large price premium in today’s market as it is the only historically correct wheel for cars of this year. Motorsportraits™…“turning obsession into art”