103 replies to this topic

[eldougo]

http://www.minilitew...s.com/index.htm

Having just seen today a lovely Ford Cortina road car on these wheel and being a fan and owner of these great wheels over the years two sets . The first one,s where on British Leyland UK Mini rally cars from memory ? However i was wondering WHO was the first to use them in your country,on what car etc etc.This should get you thinking.
And to get the wheel rolling so to speak .I think that a Marque sports cars where the first to use then in Australia Ross Bond ???. Or was it a Jaguar in Touring car racing. This is only a Guess from a fading memory on my part.
And picture,s would be a great on this thread if possible..

[gkennedy]

At a guess: In Australia I think it would be li'l 10" Minilites on Minis - and probably Brian Foley or Peter Manton, or possibly Ron Hodgson.

[RS2000]

In International rallying, Ford first used them on the works Lotus Cortinas on the 1966 Coupe des Alpes. BMC first used them on the Mini Cooper S on the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. Both were beaten to it by the Rootes Group. There are photos of the Rosemary Smith works Imp winning the 1965 Tulip Rally on them and I'm pretty sure the works Tigers had them as early as the 1964 Geneva Rally.

I suspect in racing it was earlier (but as far as I know Team Lotus and Cooper Car Co never used them in saloon racing).

Edited by RS2000, 15 January 2010 - 17:11.

[eldougo]

I sure i saw the one and only Jim Clark in a Cortina carring the front Minilite wheel way up in the airsome where,also remember Alfa GTV running with Minilite wheels in european touring racing.
And the Americans got into the act pics of Mustangs and Corvetts .

[RogerFrench]

I have looked at that Minilite Site on an earlier occasion, and I'm still not sure I agree with their claim that Minilites are produced to the same original design.
Surely the original, magnesium Minilites were less clumsy-looking around the hub area? I had a set of 13" Minilite "mags" on my Honda in 1968 and I must dig out a photo or two.

[cooper997]

Brian Foley and Peter Manton certainly used them on their respective Minis in Australia. Brian Foley Motors were agents for Minilite from around mid-1967 quoting prices of around $56 to $64 each. Which is a fair bit of coin for the day. It should be noted that Manton had been using Cooper 'Rose Petals' prior to using Minilites on his cars. Both look similar in design and at speed can be difficult to pick.

Stephen

[eldougo]

I have looked at that Minilite Site on an earlier occasion, and I'm still not sure I agree with their claim that Minilites are produced to the same original design.
Surely the original, magnesium Minilites were less clumsy-looking around the hub area? I had a set of 13" Minilite "mags" on my Honda in 1968 and I must dig out a photo or two.

When you look at the smaller diameter MINI wheels they look CLUMSY i guess because of the size the spokes are jammed into.I think they stayed the same on 13 inch and up wards ,when they began looked different was when they went to a bigger outside offset for wider wheels and thicker spokes to handle the tyre grip that was increasing the 70,s.

[RS2000]

I sure i saw the one and only Jim Clark in a Cortina carring the front Minilite wheel way up in the air.

On the November 66 RAC Rally, yes - but did Team Lotus ever use them in the BSCC? Were they even homologated for the Cortina in Gp2 before 66? Didn't the 66 Gp2 ETCC Mann cars use steels just as in 65? In the Gp5 66 BSCC, pretty sure Team Lotus never had them, did they? Who did make the TL Cortina wheels used in 66? - Dunlop?

[oldtransamdriver]

The North American distributor for Minilites was Hank Thorp, Inc. in New Jersey. I first remember seeing them on the Trans Am cars in 69, but there may have been a few cars with them in 68. My June 68 issue of CP/Autoweek has an ad from Hank Thorp and a photo of a Sprite with the Minilite wheels.

I don't believe the actual original magnesium wheels are being produced now - just aluminum alloy copy cats. I don't remember another race wheel being as light as those Minilites.

Robert Barg

Edited by oldtransamdriver, 19 January 2010 - 14:03.

[eldougo]

Thanks for the reply Robert ,it could be as i thought it all started with sportcars much the same as in this country.Then Touring cars followed later to my way of thinking anyway.I will do some searching and see what i find.

[eldougo]

http://www.minilitew...s/Specials.aspx

When you look at this site (above ) there is a difference in the wheels maybe this is what Roger french was talking about.

[Peter Darley]

[quote name='RS2000' date='Jan 16 2010, 21:39' post='4082415']
On the November 66 RAC Rally, yes - but did Team Lotus ever use them in the BSCC? Were they even homologated for the Cortina in Gp2 before 66? Didn't the 66 Gp2 ETCC Mann cars use steels just as in 65? In the Gp5 66 BSCC, pretty sure Team Lotus never had them, did they? Who did make the TL Cortina wheels used in 66? - Dunlop?

Team Lotus Cortinas did not use Minilites. Their wheels were made by Magnesium Elektron

Jim Clark - Life at Team Lotus

[eldougo]

http://www.minilitewheels.us/

Click for some more great pics off Minilite shod cars.I personally like Trans-Am cars wearing them

[Morris S]

In International rallying, Ford first used them on the works Lotus Cortinas on the 1966 Coupe des Alpes. BMC first used them on the Mini Cooper S on the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally. Both were beaten to it by the Rootes Group. There are photos of the Rosemary Smith works Imp winning the 1965 Tulip Rally on them and I'm pretty sure the works Tigers had them as early as the 1964 Geneva Rally.

I suspect in racing it was earlier (but as far as I know Team Lotus and Cooper Car Co never used them in saloon racing).

No Coopers didn't use them but Harry Ratcliffe certainly had them on his Mini for the first time at the Silverstone International in May 1965.

Edited by Morris S, 29 January 2010 - 00:50.

[eldougo]

Thanks Morris for that info.

[elansprint72]

No Coopers didn't use them but Harry Ratcliffe certainly had them on his Mini for the first time at the Silverstone International in May 1965.

I thought that Vita used the Cooper Car Co rosepetal wheels which Minilite later copied.

[Aero Z-28]

First Trans-Am car that I have seen use Minilites was a Z-28 Camaro driven by Lance Pruyn and Peter Pulver in 1967. The pictures show the car at Bryar on August 6, 1967 but the wheels may have been on even earlier than that. Definitely way ahead of any other Trans-Am car that I know of. Pulver owned Lotus East in Millerton, NY so I'm sure that's where his knowledge and usage of Minilites came from.

-Jon

[eldougo]

I thought that Vita used the Cooper Car Co rosepetal wheels which Minilite later copied.

Could you explain what you have written ? who is Vita. And i agree that they copied Cooper wheels and why not they are a good looking wheel to my mind.

thanks Doug

[eldougo]

[quote name='Aero Z-28' date='Feb 2 2010, 05:55' post='4109980']
-Jon



Well done Jon great info and pics they sure look good on the Z28 . and that Lotus -UK connection would had some influence him useing those wheels.

[eldougo]

http://www.trans-ams...untry2008-3.htm

Found this great web site with lots of current day Trans-am Monsters on Minilites.

[ianselva]

Could you explain what you have written ? who is Vita. And i agree that they copied Cooper wheels and why not they are a good looking wheel to my mind.

thanks Doug

British Vita Racing http://mk1-performan...ritish_vita.htm Harry Ratcliffe .

[elansprint72]

British Vita Racing http://mk1-performan...ritish_vita.htm Harry Ratcliffe .

Thanks for posting that link-more here, including the Buick V8 Mini, which did use Minilites- large at the front, smaller at the rear!

http://www.mountgreen.co.uk/home

[Sunbeam74]

I have a Sunbeam with a set of alloy knock offs. If you go to page 38 in this PDF presentation you can see the wheels. I always thought they were Mini-lites (Might be mistaken).

http://www.sunbeamal...ke_invasion.pdf

I believe the car ran with them in 1965 since it was advertised for sale at that time with knock off Alloys. Wheel usage in the US on production cars was drivin in part by SCCA rules. In the US the SCCA didn't allow aftermarket wheels on production cars until 1964. So, most production cars were running the steel disc or wires prior to 1964. The most popular alloy wheels in 1964 were the American racing Silverstones, JAPs, and other - Minilites soon followed.

Maybe some sport racers were running Mini-lites prior to the 1964 rule change? I think it was 1967 (or so) the SCCA limited the use of wire wheels on the track.


Steve Silverstein

Edited by Sunbeam74, 03 February 2010 - 13:45.

[elansprint72]

I believe the car ran with them in 1965 since it was advertised for sale at that time with knock off Alloys. Wheel usage in the US on production cars was drivin in part by SCCA rules. In the US the SCCA didn't allow aftermarket wheels on production cars until 1964. So, most production cars were running the steel disc or wires prior to 1964. The most popular alloy wheels in 1964 were the American racing Silverstones, JAPs, and other - Minilites soon followed.

Maybe some sport racers were running Mini-lites prior to the 1964 rule change? I think it was 1967 (or so) the SCCA limited the use of wire wheels on the track.


Steve Silverstein

I am not an authority but I would be surprised if Minilite were making much other than wheels for Minis in 65, according to their website that is what they started out with; they would be Magnesium, Alluminium coming later.
Cooper seems to have been making the rose-petal design since at least 1956 (source: photos in John Cooper, Grand Prix Carpet-Bagger), from which design the Minilite was copied.
Mini-lite was, I think, one of the very many copies of the Cooper style.

Attached is a link to the modern Minilite company (it has been thro' many incarnations), the yellow and white car with the tree growing out of it looks very familiar.

Minilite wheels gallery

I'm open to correction on any of the above.

[Sunbeam74]

Here is a close up of the wheel. I would love to know who manufactured it. Even thought the 1965 ad said they were aluminum I think they are magnesium. (I have never really looked that closely.... I figured we'd never use the wheels again and opted for a new set of wires. Simply storing the wheels/tires as they were)

Edited by Sunbeam74, 03 February 2010 - 21:35.

[Odseybod]

Here's a rather grotty pic of a Minilite-clad Tiger (Harper's?) at the Heathrow start of the Monte Carlo Rally in January 1966, plus a plain-disc-wheeled Mini next to it.



And (off topic) a support vehicle pic from the same occasion (Bjorn?

[Odseybod]

p.s. Sorry, don't know how that scowly smiley got in there and it won't let me edit it out.

Edited by Odseybod, 03 February 2010 - 22:24.

[Tim Murray]

It's taken your closing bracket next to a colon as a smiley, Tony. The way round it is to put a space between them:

And (off topic) a support vehicle pic from the same occasion (Bjorn?) :

[Odseybod]

It's taken your closing bracket next to a colon as a smiley, Tony. The way round it is to put a space between them:

Ah, easy when you know how. Thanks (bloody helpful predictive thingy ).

[elansprint72]

Here is a close up of the wheel. I would love to know who manufactured it. Even thought the 1965 ad said they were aluminum I think they are magnesium. (I have never really looked that closely.... I figured we'd never use the wheels again and opted for a new set of wires. Simply storing the wheels/tires as they were)

From the way that the "petals" are chopped off at an angle to clear the earss on the spinner and the "little radial lumps" I'd have to say that's not like any Minilite I'm familiar with but, as I said before..... I ain't no guru. As you probably know, Mag is considerably lighter than ally but it also burns at a VERY high temperature; store these wheels well away from the house!

[Giraffe]

Two shockingly poor pics of the giraffe fleet of circa 35 years ago, including S2 Europa on magnesium Minilites...........


By giraffe138 at 2010-02-04


By giraffe138 at 2010-02-04

[Catalina Park]

.. I ain't no guru. As you probably know, Mag is considerably lighter than ally but it also burns at a VERY high temperature; store these wheels well away from the house!

Have you ever tried to set fire to magnesium parts? We found that we could melt a VW gearbox in a fire well before it would catch on fire. It took a lot of heat on small broken bits of magnesium to set the whole lot on fire.
I doubt that the wheels would set the house on fire but the house might just set the wheels on fire.

[eldougo]

Here is a close up of the wheel. I would love to know who manufactured it. Even thought the 1965 ad said they were aluminum I think they are magnesium. (I have never really looked that closely.... I figured we'd never use the wheels again and opted for a new set of wires. Simply storing the wheels/tires as they were)

I would have to agree with elansprint72 they don,t look right to me that cut off area is the work of another copy ,however it is a very very early copy of a Cooper which is something in it,s self.WHO made them another mystery for TNF.s.

Thanks Doug.

[eldougo]

[quote name='Giraffe' date='Feb 4 2010, 17:27' post='4118521']
Two shockingly poor pics of the giraffe fleet of circa 35 years ago, including S2 Europa on magnesium Minilites...........

Any photo is good Giraffe the Lotus sure looks good resting on them.

[eldougo]

http://www.mountgree...ivements_68.jpg

Here is another Photo that would of interest to..... bjorn the transporter guy.

[elansprint72]

btw; Vita stickers are back on e-bay UK today, nothing to do with me, other that I have just bought one.

[elansprint72]

Two shockingly poor pics of the giraffe fleet of circa 35 years ago, including S2 Europa on magnesium Minilites...........


By giraffe138 at 2010-02-04


By giraffe138 at 2010-02-04

Who is that remarkably tall, handsome fellow?

[Bob Riebe]

I would have to agree with elansprint72 they don,t look right to me that cut off area is the work of another copy ,however it is a very very early copy of a Cooper which is something in it,s self.WHO made them another mystery for TNF.s.

Thanks Doug.

Up into hte seventies there was an Italian company (campagnolo?) that sold wheels similar in appearance to the Minilite.

[eldougo]

Following a Google search.

At the end of the 1950s Campagnolo started to manufacture magnesium parts such as wheels for sports cars like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati . In the 1970s they also supplied wheels for Ferrari Formula One cars.

Going off the subject they also made magnesium frame or Chassis for NASA for satellites in 1969. I wonder how many people know that?

That is great info MrRiebe those crafty Italians are good at making copies of anything, why not wheels .My only knowledge was that they made push bike wheels.

Thanks Doug.

[elansprint72]

Campagnolo are very much still in business and apart from superb car wheels they have always made the best quality cycle components, gear shifters, brakes, hubs, etc..

Campag

They also make the best wine cork puller in the world.

[Paul Hurdsfield]

Here's a rather grotty pic of a Minilite-clad Tiger (Harper's?) at the Heathrow start of the Monte Carlo Rally in January 1966, plus a plain-disc-wheeled Mini next to it.

And (off topic) a support vehicle pic from the same occasion (Bjorn?

Do you think he could see where he was going ok, Have I counted correctly? 26 lamps
And if they didnt see him coming they should hear him, 5 horns and I guess 5 on the other side

Edited by Paul Hurdsfield, 06 February 2010 - 22:19.

[eldougo]

I guess that if he turned on all the lights the LUCAS system would overload very quickly. Can smell the burning now.

[eldougo]

Snetteron 1967 easter meeting GordonSpice on Minilites on full lock a big push down the inside of Nick Britain. (Sports Car World. June 1967 )

[eldougo]

They also make the best wine cork puller in the world. :
[/quote]

Ok . ES72 so do we get a picture of this implement. i could not find it on the website.

[eldougo]

Having gone through my magazines and back checking photos on the net i have to agree with J Kennedy it would have to be either Peter Manton or Brian Foley who were the 1st to use Minilite wheels in Australia.

Manton had white steel wheels and (copies) Minilites wheels in 1964 at W/Farm ( Pic) from web site cant be used,then he went back to steel wheels in 1965 for a little while and then Minilites later that year. and both drivers had them on at Lakeside Tasman meeting Jan 1966.(Pic) unable to use. Unable to say who was the 1st to use them in OZ.

The L/Weight Mini of Foley was the next car 1st used at the 1966 Rothmans 12 hour at Surfers Paradise where it came in 6th overall a great result. Followed by the Broadspeed GTS mini owned and driven by B. Foley and L. Stewart.1966/67 . Then Bob Skelton in the MG midget the 1st with 13inch Minilites wheel in this country and the first Sports Car to have them 1968.Still trying to get photo to show of said car.

Ross Bond had wire wheels on the Austin Healey 3000 at Oran Park in 1968 and then showed up with Minilites at W/Fram in 1969 no long before he went to British Leyland colours like many other drivers of that time like Les Crane, Graeme Laurie, Ian Corness and John Leffler.

[eldougo]

The above photo is a Cooper alloy wheel attached to Bruce McPhee wife MiniCooper S 1071cc, 1964 August SCW magazine. Note the Neptune fuel & Oil sticker and the Cooper sticker.

[Andy Somerton]

I own the Lotus Elan that was entered by Brian Sherwood in club races in 1966 under the Team Minilite banner. Attached is a photograph of the car at the 1966 Birkett 6 Hour relay race.

http://img297.images...woodelangg3.jpg



regards

Andy

Edited by Andy Somerton, 09 February 2010 - 12:57.

[eldougo]

Thanks Andy for that picture ,iam glad you told me what it was at first glance it looks like a Marcos ,i have never seen a fastback Elan amazing
And how did ( Team Minilite) go in that 6 hour race , what colour is it then and now one car i always like was the Elan .

[Morris S]

Snetteron 1967 easter meeting GordonSpice on Minilites on full lock a big push down the inside of Nick Britain. (Sports Car World. June 1967 )

I think that's the car he pranged a Brands, had it converted back into his road hack by Radfords. Still looks like Harry Ratcliffe may have been the first on Minilites then in Summer 1965 ?

[eldougo]

It,s looking that way Morris S.....thanks.