Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

Is your car running a type or style of wheel, different to when the car was first sold?

Are there any particular wheels that stand out as looking good, regardless of what they're fitted to (within reason)?

I'm quite fond of deep-rim steel wheels, the type you see on Lotus Cortinas and the like, and I think Rostyles look good on the big Farinas of the 1960s. Wires on post-1960s cars rarely look right to me.

I like original Minilites too on some cars (eg 10" on early Minis), although the proliferation of lookalikes on so many cars now tends to put me off them a bit.

RJ
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kevin2306 · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 7:56 pm Post subject:

I love the old steel dunlop rims that are about. I have some Enkie rims on my mx5 that i restored myself and are an improvement over the daisys, it will have some 15" steel rims this year tho to give the car a more retro feel to it.

Kev

Ellis · Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 9:07 pm Post subject:

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I only saw one Triumph Stag on "proper" wire wheels and from the time I bought my first one I hankered after buying a set of chrome wires for mine.
When I bought the second Stag a wire wheel conversion was on the "to do" list but other pressing improvements to the car, let alone the cost, led it further down the priority list.
I always thought the Stag had slightly effeminate lines but a set of knock on chrome wires negated that and made the car look something special.
The above photo I think gives a Stag a different aspect.
Wire wheels were an original extra cost option.

A friend in the village was a long term MGOC member, he owning a 1976 MGB GT V8 and one day he brought the MGOC monthly magazine and parts catalogue in for me to see. The club had just started offering bolt on wire wheels for the MGB/MGB GT.

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The Stag and the MGB share the same 14" wheel and PCD stud pattern and I asked him if he could order me a set. He told the MGOC club what they were for and he received a quick reply that they should not be used on a Triumph Stag under any circumstances. With the Stag's higher torque there was a danger that the rear wheel would spin leaving the tyres motionless until they would eventually tear off.
There was no internet in 1988 but made for the purpose ones were available in the USA.

How's this for a lack of foresight?

A long time Mini enthusiast in the area had "grown up" with a wife, children and a sensible family car. His shed was full of Mini parts from his past, so, he took the whole lot to a car boot sale/autojumble near a RAF airfield on Anglesey one Sunday morning in 1991. Included in his booty was a genuine set of these :

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He priced each wheel at what he thought a reasonable £20 each or the five for £85 with good tyres. He set up his stall at 7.30am and they were sold before 8.00am.

What are they worth today?[/img]
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
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badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1468 Location: Netherlands

I am not much of a fan of aftermarket wheels. In fact, just this evening I commented on the Jensen Owners Club about this. Someone has gone to great lengths to restore and improve his CV-8 (programmable fuel injection and ignition) but kept the outside and inside close to original. He widened the steel wheels by welding distance rings on the wheel centers. These 6" steel wheels now look fantastic with the original hub caps.

As for alu / magnesium wheels, I am bored to see again another fine classic with the usual Minilites. Revolution look much better IMO.

I am not sure about wire wheels. I think the original equipment chrome wire wheels look fantastic on my Jaguar 420, but then again I also like the original steel wheels with embellishers (rimbellishers?) and hubcaps.
For most 60s sports cars I actually prefer them to have the cheaper steel wheels with hub caps. From new most had these, but I think nowadays most have either wires or Minilites - the hubcaps cars have become rare.

Must be getting old - I remember the era when 90% of all cars on the road had steel wheels with chrome hubcaps. And chrome bumpers.
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bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta

Well I do like aftermarket wheels, in the past I really liked minilight style wheels, but nowadays they are too common and used on all sorts of classics.
Revolutions are another favourite of mine as are also mambas and the dunlops mentioned earlier for minis are very nice as are their cosmics equivalent.
However lately I've been liking the standard steel wheels widened and with the standard hubcap put back in, just like the reverse rims on minis or the lotus cortina steels.
I'd really like to buy a set of reverse rims for my blue mini but they are a tad expensive for what they are!
She has mille miglia aftermarket wheels on which I like too and have only seen 2 other sets in the past 15 years that I have owned the car.

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

Most of my cars, classic and modern have been fitted with after market wheels. The Minatour wheels on my Riley look like Minilites and are made by the same company as Minilites. I think they look good, others disgree but it was either those or widened steels (which my second 1.5 came with).

I'm not keen on wire wheels on post-war cars, it never looks right to me.
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1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

I love the Stag and I love wire wheels...but not together ! or on anything of that vintage.

Dave

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

So not

??

Factory Kent alloys suit Series 3 XJs well IMO

RJ
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Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7112 Location: Derby

Sorry Rick, dear chap, but I couldn't disagree with you more about Rostyles on big '60s Farinas.

Each to heir own, of course, but one example I can think of is the VP insignia on the hub caps of the Austin Princess (3 or 4 litres) which to my mind sets the car off nicely and just wouldn't look right with anything else.

Generally, I have never much liked after market wheels; to me they can detract from a car's identity and then you are on the slippery slope to modified/ hot rod etc. Great if that's your bag. It's not mine.

Sorry, I have just noticed your last post. Those jags do look good, I have to admit!