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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite General - Steel Wheels wanted.

Who sells new steel wheels for spridgets?

My old rostyles are a bit rusty and I never really liked them anyway, so I can't be bothered to re-paint them. I'd rather like to go back to the old steels with hub AH hub caps.

But where can I get new ones? Anybody know of a supplier?
Lawrence Slater

Hi Lawrence

I don't believe they are made any more. I suppose you could try ebay as I have seen them on there from time to time.

Cheers

Tony
Tony Brough

I sold one recently for 99p. Don't know if I have any others.
Dave O'Neill 2

99p? wow, I'd have doubled that lol.

Seriously though I had hoped they would be more easily available than ebay. I don't like ebay much as there is so much crap on there. I have looked and there has only been one set (that I missed) in the last 6 months.

I could of course just go the minilite route, but whilst they certainly have a weight advantage, the old steels have an appeal that I seem to be drawn to lately. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I feel like taking the car back to how it looked when made. I like functional mods of course like the 5 speeed and hif carb conversion, but I prefer the looks of the original steel wheels and hub caps. Plus they were so much easier to keep clean than multi spokes.

Well if anyone has a wheel or two, I'd be grateful and I will hasppily pay more than 99p for decent ones. As long as they are not bent and rusted on the tyre bead seats, I'll have em.

Lawrence Slater

try Max at racewear.co.uk or Kim at Magicmidget.co.uk either may have some good s/hand ones.
David Smith

I tried buying 4 or 5 new from AH Spares but they only had 3 when I turned up to collect them - 'storeman says no'

but this was 15+ years ago so I don't think you'll find too many NOS wheels

I've never got the AH hub caps as good ones were so dear at the time

N Atkins

Thanks david, I'll try those links, esp as N Atkins has posted his picture and my mouth is watering at the sight of his steel wheels.

What number is your house? Can I can come round a take your wheels? will you sell them to me? LOL. Only joking.

They really do look nice.I wish I had kept mine all those years ago. I'll definitely keep looking, even without the AH caps they look very nice, nicer than minilites imo of course.
Lawrence Slater

sorry Lawrence the photo is about 15 years old the car went long ago

that was my point I struggled then so I doubt the situation has improved

(just noticed I put I've never got when I meant to put I never got)

I like you prefer the look of steel wheels and chrome hub caps

the car I bought with Rostyles and quarter bumpers

(the Mini a nd BGT were mine at the times too)

N Atkins

Well your rostyles look way nicer than my tatty rusty set.

If only we had enough time space and money to keep and drive all the cars and bikes we ever owned eh? I'm sure some lucky people do, and all power to their elbow.

I'd still have my '62 consul classic capri, my '79 Triumph 750 US custom Bonny, and my '90 E30 318iS B'mer. The rest were just fillers by comparison, and the Sprite has outlasted them all I'm extremely pleased to say. I almost sold it once, and I'm chuffed to bits that I still have it. I think I'll be buried in it, just so no one else can have it. LOL.
Lawrence Slater

photos tell a thousand lies

to cheer you up then my present Midget with as purchased wheels, the wheels that were on it when I viewed were too big a set of Cosmics I think but they were moody grey and would have suited the car with its old man red and miserable old git driving it

here it is seen as prepared by me for its insurance photos (I should have jacked the front up pre-shot)

door fitting is different now but not necessarily better

N Atkins

Nigel, you may have lost the mg's and mini but atleast you still have the same house.
Is the garage yours too?
Arie de Best

That's a nice tidy car Nigel.

Door looks fine to me, but then again i have to say that since mine don't fit half as well after years of abuse and poorly replaced A posts. Hey ho though they shut and stay closed when I'm driving, so I'm happy with that.

Even better, is that although I would be the first to describe my sprite as tatty, I now have neighbours and strangers complimenting on the thing. This is a relatively new phenomena. Used to just get ignored, now it's getting almost embarrasing, the amount of stares and interest I seem to draw. it's as if most people have either never seen or have forgotten that these cars ever existed. I live near an infants school, and if the car is on the drive, I get a parade of small children who seem to be drawn to it. I think it's the toyish appeal it has. It always did remind me of a Dinky or Corgi car. Maybe they still look like that all these years later.

If you parked yours on my drive, I reckon one of these small kids would come and nick it, instead of battle scarred version. LOL.
Lawrence Slater

Not sure if these are any help?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLASSIC-MORRIS-1000-MG-MIDGET-Wheels-RACING-TYRES-/220813782647?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item336986ee77

Jed Butterfield

Nigels early steel wheels look remarkably like those fitted to the A35 at the time. Perhaps a foray into the "Flying A Club" website might be worth a look

Dave
D MATTHEWS

Lawrence,
the car is actually a bit tatty and 100% in need of a respray but I got let down earlier in the year on this, how unusual in the car trade you may think, or probably not, the dash and carpeting and engine bay would not be welcome for show but neither would I

the 3 steel wheels on the Spridget were bought from AH Spares as the last of NOS and were certainly charged as that

looking at my paper copy reprint of the 1977 BL Parts Catalogue it shows the wheels as AHA 6455, plain (MG) hub caps as AHA 5660 and AH hub caps as 2A 8055 but NLA

the wheels may have also been fitted to over vehicles but I’m don’t know

Arie,
garage, if only, my property is behind the camera and not quite as smart or big as that one and certainly no garage, apart from a period where I rented a garage two doors down for a roofless, doorless car I’ve never had the benefit of a garage, I do have the luxury of a hard standing instead of a front garden but I can only jack up one end of the car on it

don’t get me going on properties, we have lived in our first and only property a one bed roomed (two if you’re selling) semi-detached very small bungalow since Feb ’82 when mortgage interest rates were 15%, the lowest we ever paid was 8% interest even bank staff paid 5% then, which we weren’t and you try telling the kids that, and in no way have we caused house prices to ever rise

mind if I hadn’t have spent many 10s of thounds of pounds on cars we might not still be here

we lived here for 7 year before I found out there was an E-Type in that garage, still is, a 30 year restoration that will be finished one summer
N Atkins

Hi Jed, thanks, but no, I think they are another version of rostyles fitted to Midgets. I'm after plain steel with caps.

The A35 wheels are 3.5inch width, whereas the original spridget wheels are 4inch width.

I checked the AH spares website and they do still list the wheels I want (original part number AHA6455), and quote a price of 59 quidish reconditioned. But whether they actually have any, I have emailed them to find out.

Looked at racewear.co.uk they seem only to be clothing, but will email them anyway. magicmg do stock minilites, and I have emailed them to see if they have originals lying around.

If not, then just two options. Keep looking for a set on ebay or elsewhere, or go for minilites.

I don't hate minilites, I just like originals.

I never liked rostyles, I was mad to fit them, and now they are tatty looking and in need of a paint job, I want shot of them.

Lawrence Slater

Max doesn't advertise his car parts for sale on the racewear website - you just have to e-mail him with your requests, and he somehow seems to have something that is "just perfect for you" lying around ... He's jolly good at that, and has got lots of people out of a hole for a good price (thanks Max, hope the cheque's in the post:P!)
rachmacb

If Max can't help you out the A30/5 route may still be worth a try as in the same way you can get wider hub style wheels for the Spridget you may also with the A30/5

a mate recently got a hub cap wheel (or two?) 5.5 or bigger
N Atkins

Lawrence with Max and Kim you are dealing with individuals not vast companies, so just ring them up and talk to them; yes I know that can be a novel concept to younger generations but believe me it works. The URLs were just so you could find their phone numbers quickly
David Smith

Lawrence,
I don't know about A35 wheels, But I have original steels with hubcaps on my 68 and they are definitely 3.5" wide. 145/13 tyres are the theoretical max width.

Mark

M Crossley

Mark good call

I'd totally forgotten they were that small, on my Spridget they probably helped, along with the large sprung steering wheel, to make the steering and ride so delightful

of course . . .

if I'd only looked it up in the ever faithful (only one minor ommision found by all so far) owners Handbook

page 53 (of mine):

Pressed disc 3.5D X 13
Pressed spoke 4 1/2 J SL X 13
Wire 4J X 13

Tyre 145SR X 13 Radial ply (with tube)

that Lawrence lead me astray with his oversizing things, tut
N Atkins

I haven't got any and nor has Kim.....I checked. And the other person I was going to suggest was David but if he suggested me then he can't have any either!

Max
Max max-at-midgetmax-dot-com

sadly not - unless you want to go up a size to 14s and use low-profile tyres, I do have a set of Morris Minor wheels (Max, don't ask!)
David Smith

Is there a similar lack of supply with the round hole ventilated frogeye wheels?
Mothy - '65 GAN3 and '65 HAN8

David how wide are those minor wheels?

For std ones Andy Jennings might be worth a try..
Onno Könemann

they're 3-1/2" x 14" and take 155 tyres maximum.
David Smith

That's a bit to skinny ;)
Onno Könemann

Just for the record...

A30/35 wheels were only 3" wide and normally the centres were rivetted to the rims rather than welded.

There is one Midlands based 'specialist' that allegedly used to buy A35 wheels and then have holes drilled in them to 'make' Frogeye ventilated wheels.

I may still have a couple of early Spridget steel wheels somewhere. I also have some A35 wheels, unfortunately.
Dave O'Neill 2

Well that's a sad revelation, and now I am even more gutted that I got rid of my steels all those years ago.

My wheels easily took 165's, so I always assumed they were 4inch at least, and knowing that the rostyles are definitely wider than the original steels, I just assumed that 4 inch was the standard steel.

Obviously not then. doh.

btw, David, "so just ring them up and talk to them; yes I know that can be a novel concept to younger generations but believe me it works" ---- heh heh. Yeah right, I wish. I was born when you still wrote to eachother with a Quill, and it was delivered by the pony express. lol. but thanks for thinking of the wrong side of 57'something, cough cough, as being of "the younger generation".:)

Anyway,
I definitely don't want to go back to 155's, so unless I get some original steels and have them widened, or find a set already widened, it looks as if my sudden pang of nostalgia, is going to give way to the all too common minilites.

And there it is. I have as I write this, pinpointed my aversion to minilites.

Everybody and his auntie have 'em. I just hate to be one of a crowd. That's why my sprite looks the tatty way it does, it's a rebel, like it's insufferable and unchangable owner. Bugger me.

Maybe if they had been called spritelites or even midgetlites, I might have bought them ha ha. Nah, way too naff.

Maybe I'll just service my rostyles and make a disc to hide the pattern. lol. Maybe I'll just super glue hub caps on the things, and make believe.

Maybe I'm unhinged. Why almost suddenly, am I bothered how my wheels look, when it doesn't bother me at all how the rest of the stuff bolted to them looks?

Come to think of it, if I get nice new wheels, I might not like them at all. They would make my 20 year old tyres look a bit dated lol.

Maybe that's a GOOD thing then?

Accentuate the positive.

New wheels will make my old wreck, look even more like a wreck than it actually is, and that will satisfy the non-conformist in me even more.

Waddya think? Unhinged?

Lawrence Slater

You know, looking at those pictures of the originals makes me realise my old steels WERE wider.

I remember painting them in primer once with a paint brush just prior to getting shot and getting the rostyles. There was more metal on the rimms than seems apparant in the pictures you guys have posted.

So it seems, mine weren't standard after all. Not surprising since I got the car from a breakers yard. Tiny steering wheel, (still got that) and racing knackered bucket seats (not got those anymore).

PO must have fitted non standards. So I've been chasing my tail for nowt. Bummer.
Lawrence Slater

Well the steel wheel(s) a mate got recently were difinitely wider than standard

if it helps - the minilite copies I have are called Minatur and are grey - see profile photo (centre caps should also be darrk grey too but are light grey on this photo)

front wheels go even darker with brake use
N Atkins

If you want something different from the "usual" minilites, Lawrence, MWS do a nice black minilite-alike with polished rims which looks different from the usual silver or anthracite grey ones - shown here on here on my old midget Holly:

Mothy - '65 GAN3 and '65 HAN8

Widened steels do come up on Ebay from time to time.

I really like the period look of them.

In fact, I think Gary has some on his Frog IIRC.
Dave O'Neill 2

I think me may have a British version of Prop in our midst ;o)
D MATTHEWS

I've got some 6" wide white weller (I think) eight spoke with racing slicks on, I might not want if someone is hungry for them!
MarkDJ-glos

Yeah, the black centers and chrome rimmed minilites dont look too bad at all. Hmmmm.

D MATTHEWS, Essex, United Kingdom
I think me may have a British version of Prop in our midst ;o)

Who's prop, who's the english version, and why?

Latest from AH spares. They have a set of four, with AH caps, recons, £93 plus Vat PER wheel.

Now that plus the fact that I cant get 165's on 3.5 rims seems to rule them out.

Does anyone wanna sell me their widened steels for a song?

6 is too wide for my needs and wellers dont look that nice to me (imo).

So I'm re-looking at minilites to see if I can get to love em, and checking ebay for the rare event that a set of widened midget wheels come up again.

I figure there must have been quite a few around at one time. Since the originals were only 3.5 there must have been quite a few people fitting bigger tyres back then and no doubt they were catered for by the aftermarket.

Maybe I'll just stick to the rusty rostyles after all, and save myself the hassle, and 2-300 quid.



Lawrence Slater

D MATTHEWS, Essex, United Kingdom
I think me may have a British version of Prop in our midst ;o)

I'd have to agree
Onno Könemann

So, -- who is prop, who is the UK version, and why?

Be specific, he and this prop, might wish to respond.
Lawrence Slater

Lawrence I have one steel in fair condition used as a spare on my frog I have now got hold of the mk1 steel as a spare so this will be on ebay soon unless someone on here want to buy it.

Keith


K A Smith

Whoever the cap fits - wear it.

No names, no pack drill

Dave
D MATTHEWS

Hi Lawrence,

Not read the whole thread but there is a set of pre 1970 steel wheels on ebay. They were posted there about an hour ago. Hope this helps.

Ray
Ray Rowsell

Ray, I'll take a look on ebay again, thanks.

K A Smith. Love the frog, it's a peach. My brother had a MKii sprite same colour, mad to sell it. He bought a red mkii midget later, went like the clappers with a tuned engine, but was never as nice as the mkii imo.

One wheel is a start I suppose, but if i want 165 tyres on it, its not much use it seems? Did you ever fit 165's? Will they fit? At 3.5 wide it seems not, but I've never tried.

David Essex.
If any cap I own fits me, I wear it with pride, but first I need to know what it looks like.

Forget your reticence, and desire to hide behind the old chestnut of "no names no pack drill", your talking about me, and your talking about somebody called Prop, who I assume is the prop of the hot dissy thread over in technical, ----

SO WHAT'S YOUR BEEF?


Lawrence Slater

Corection Props dissy thread is here on general too, so perhaps he's reading this, and might also like to know what cap he is supposed to be wearing?

Is it a nice one?
Lawrence Slater

Hi Ray, I found a few on ebay. One is 6 inch bandeds, but they start at 200 quid and at 6 inches too wide for me with square rear arches.

I found a couple of others that might suit and if cheap enough, I might get em and see if i can get them banded to 4.5 like the rostyles.

Lawrence Slater

This guy widens wheels...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WIDE-WHEELS-ANY-WHEEL-ANY-WIDTH-TRACK-DRIFT-STOCKCAR-/150630959635?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item23124e0a13
Dave O'Neill 2

Hi Dave Solihull, I emailed him for a few more details.

I also found a co called bandedsteels.
http://www.bandedsteels.com/

Emailed them too. I think this is the way to go if I really want originals.

Depends of course on the cost of getting originals of course, as the price of banding doesn't appear to come in too cheap. The link you supplied is 60 quid per plus postage both ways. But if I really want them, its probably worth it I think, when compared to the cost of minilites that I wont really be happy with.

Whilst looking at banding today, I came across all kinds of comments about banding being illegal for road use. Then I found a post on a BBS from somebody who checked with VOSA. They replied that it is categorically LEGAL to band wheels for road use, and that there is no specific legislation covering it.

As long as it is done properly, there is no problem. There never was it seems, it just fell out of fashion for a while.

Just added that in anticipation of potential comments raised about illegality, and elf and safeteee.
Lawrence Slater

What does the cap look like?

Well, there's a choice of two, one is a dark blue Metropolitan Police Commissioner's cap with lots of silver braid on the peak (only just become available)

The other is a tall paper cone with a large "D" printed on it.

Both are uk size six and five eigths.

David Essex (I wish)
D MATTHEWS

Well that's a shame, my heads way bigger than that.

Plus I've got a criminal record, and I'm not a druid. You'll just have to keep 'em. But then again the criminal record is probably a good qualification for the silver braid.

As for wishing, you might wish for his dosh, but not his voice surely; and as regards his pulling power, well I think that's long gone. So careful what you wish for.



Lawrence Slater

Anybody know if Austin A40 wheels were the same as Spridget wheels?
Lawrence Slater

David Essex looks good for his age in that photo

I've got a criminal record it's by Des O'Connor - boom, boom, tish

A35/40 wheels - http://www.2ndhandcarparts.com/parts/Austin/A40Sports/
N Atkins

Maybe he does, but i'm glad I don't look like him.

Thanks for the A40 link nigel, but it doesn't tell me what spec of the wheels is.

I was wondering if they are the same size, as in PCD offset and width. My guess is that they are 13 inch the same as the spridgets, but I need to know the rest too. I googled a few sites, but can't find the info.
Lawrence Slater

sorry Lawrence don't know what happened on that link it should have went to 3 set of wheels for sale
try - http://www.2ndhandcarparts.com/parts/Austin/A40Sports/

A35/40 - 3.5J, 4" PCD - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390331861521&clk_rvr_id=248639072187

or banded 6J - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320728921101&clk_rvr_id=248637179520

or A40 - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180695603660&clk_rvr_id=248647605891

ETA: previous link is now working correctly - bl**dy computers
N Atkins

The A40 Sports link is a bit confusing. That car bore little resemblence to the A40 Farina, which shares its mechanical components with the Spridget.

The A40 Sports had an aluminium body (IIRC), was built by Jensen in west Bromwich and had a 1200cc engine, as used in the Somerset/Devon.
Dave O'Neill 2

Ah, ok thanks, so the sprite/midgets, share the same wheel spec as the regualar A40. That all i need to know, and of course everyone else who now is going to compete with me for wheels lol.
Lawrence Slater

Hi Dave, the link was supposed to go to 2nd hand car parts including wheels which it does now again!

I've no idea why it went to a text page other than a site error

each time I click it now it goes to where I wanted - try again or same link in my later post

ETA:
Lawrence I got my info from the eBay link - it may or may not be correct I don't know
N Atkins

You can also get them from Image wheels, just outside of Birmingham, and, if you've got a particularly awkward car, then they will adapt to fit. (www.imagewheels.co.uk)

Of course, not for the cheapskates!
rachmacb

Do they do steel wheels?
Dave O'Neill 2

www.imagewheels.co.uk

Think I already asked them, and they don't do the original steels.

And anyway, if you mean by "not for the cheapskates" prices of 500 plus for 4 wheels, then too bloody right, I don't think my car is worth 2K lol, so I aint about to spend more than a 1/4 of that, just on wheels. :)
Lawrence Slater

Dave Think of the weight!!!!!!!!!

Actually I think you might find it's £1000 - 1500 a set - although there are some secondhand on eBay for £599.
rachmacb

I'll email them just for a laugh then.
Lawrence Slater

Lawrence just spotted a set on ebay see no 220815424583 in essex might be just what your looking for.
p kiely

Thanks for the heads up on the ebay link, I'll take a look pronto. :)
Lawrence Slater

Nice one P kiely, thanks for that. :)
Lawrence Slater

I take it you've bought some wheels, then? ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

yup, £31.50 for a set of 5. Plus pick up petrol which for me is about 20 quid return from where I am.

My thanks to those who tipped me about the wheels on ebay. :)

Now I need hub caps. 22 quid online, but I'll look for a bargain.

Lawrence Slater

So you managed to grab a bargain then,£31.50 for five,glad to have helped. Paul
p kiely

Yes a bargain indeed I think at 10 quid each including petrol to pick em up. Thanks again PK.

Next step is to widen them. Usual method being to part the rims, and add in a steel band to the desired width.

However, I am now investigating (in case it is cheaper), NEW rims, added to the original wheel centers.

They cut off the original rims and discard them, and weld on ANY width of rim you want thus preserving your original offset.

Basically they make a new wheel. Might be pricey, maybe more than banding, and if so I'll go with banding.

Here's a note of interest too, to all you previous mini owners from days past.

Remember when minis weren't cool unless they had wide wheels, before the days of mass produced and cheap alloys?

Well guess what? Current classic mini owners, have caught the retro look bug again, and they want wide steels. So there getting them banded.

Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed between 11/07/2011 and 25/07/2011

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