Unknown Steering Wheel

[Keep it stiff]

No markings on this, given the multi-fitting boss my guess is that it is an after-market item, any thoughts on make or if it is specific to a model?

It is well made, does not flex and it has a dish depth of about 50mm.

[One Shot]

Looks like the Les Leston wheel I had on my Mini in 1964. A black roof, no hubcaps and a Les Leston wheel and you were the dog's bo****ks in the sixties.

[Auntieroll]

Astrali ?

[Auntieroll]

One Shot said:

Looks like the Les Leston wheel I had on my Mini in 1964. A black roof, no hubcaps and a Les Leston wheel and you were the dog's bo****ks in the sixties.

Only if you had the Cooper reverse rims as well .
Better still a set of Minilites or J A Pearce alloys!!
Not forgetting the Speedwell throttle pedal extension and column rake adjuster,
Madadash etc; .....sorry got washed away on a tsunami of nostalgia !

[dandarez]

Gilbern GT wheel?


It's a Les Leston

Usually has name where ringed in yellow

[Keep it stiff]

dandarez said:

Gilbern GT wheel?


It's a Les Leston

Usually has name where ringed in yellow

It was in my box of Gilbern GT bits but it is not original to the Gilbern. I have the original Gilbern wheel too but it would need restoration. I think the earlier suggestion is correct, a Leston wheel, I'm undecided as if I should keep it for my GT.

[Huntsman]

What size are both?

Mine is tiny and I'd like a bigger one. Plus I have a very annoying MG badge in mine!

[One Shot]

I've just had a look at current prices for period Les Leston wheels and all I can say is, I wish I had kept mine. Some were also engraved with Stirling Moss signatures. I bought mine from "The Pit Counter" in Derby owned by Turner dealer, Gordon Unsworth.

[Carsie]

Auntieroll said:

.....sorry got washed away on a tsunami of nostalgia !

Very lyrical..10/10!

..and yes I was totally with you on the dash and the column drop etc.

I had a Mini Cooper in blue with a white roof and then later a Riley Elf that was horrible, in yellow with a black roof but it did have the reverse Cooper rims. I used to park it round the corner so my Dad didn't know I had it, at the age of 16..no ANPR in those days lol!

I used to drive my local insurance broker daft. He had a whole counter full of books and he had to compile my quote from them.

Change of car....Cortina 1500GT -Mini Cooper, to Triumph Spitfire, to Girl Friend No 2 , Provisional, to Full Licence, back to Girlfriend No 1....lol! All TFPT and on a three month cash plan...

I often say it , but actually technology forces us into a corner where leniency and common sense fails to prevail. The old Dixon Dock Green cuff around the ear taught more about who to respect and what was acceptable and I'm not speaking with rose tinted specs...

To more light-hearted..

Nice post! Thank you.

Edited by Carsie on Sunday 23 February 19:56

[One Shot]

Auntieroll said:

Only if you had the Cooper reverse rims as well .
Better still a set of Minilites or J A Pearce alloys!!
Not forgetting the Speedwell throttle pedal extension and column rake adjuster,
Madadash etc; .....sorry got washed away on a tsunami of nostalgia !

Yes, I had the seat adjusters, steering column bracket and then had to buy gear lever extender and dashboard switch extenders to be able to reach them. I may have had the Speedwell throttle peddle, but can't remember. Nearly forgot the Peco Big Bore exhaust.

[Mikebentley]

Was the Peco a single or twin upswept?

[Pica-Pica]

dandarez said:

Gilbern GT wheel?


It's a Les Leston

Usually has name where ringed in yellow

Les Leston! There’s a blast from the past, he used to live in our village way back when I was a youngster.

[Riley Blue]

One Shot said:

Yes, I had the seat adjusters, steering column bracket and then had to buy gear lever extender and dashboard switch extenders to be able to reach them. I may have had the Speedwell throttle peddle, but can't remember. Nearly forgot the Peco Big Bore exhaust.

I had every single one of those on my first car, a '62 Mini Traveller plus the rally seat covers and checker tape.

(The steering wheel was Astrali)

[Carsie]

Mikebentley said:

Was the Peco a single or twin upswept?

You could have both.

I've been looking for ages for my son's Lotus Elan. Single up-swept Peco or perhaps an SAH single up-swept. BRM used an E-Type single pipe. I've eventually settling for a custom made pipe; be interested in buying one if there's one in a loft somewhere..

[mk1coopers]

Looks like a 15 inch Formula wheel

[Lotobear]

Agreed, 100% that's a Formula wheel

[One Shot]

Mikebentley said:

Was the Peco a single or twin upswept?

Sadly only a single, it was only an 850.

[dandarez]

Lotobear said:

Agreed, 100% that's a Formula wheel

Agree too now!

Gilbern GT in 65 with wood wheel (2 spoke) Formula did several like one in pic for Jag.
Gilbern GT originally had wood dash too, but quickly dropped in favour of leathercloth one.

[Lotobear]

...had one on my Lotus