I Only Wanted The Wheels.... by 72clubman

By diyauto
( 1 )

5 minute(s) of a 153 minute read

5-2-2014

Ahh my dad had a 3500 Vanden Plas, absolute beast. Sadly it was nicked quite a few years ago. Ever since I've had an itch for one. I'm hankering after a twin plenum Vitesse especially after going to Longbridge. I spent about 20 minutes talking to a guy about his.

 

That is funny about the rot colour, how apt on a mini! The same reason I knew mine was blue then! The rear parcel shelf hadn't been painted green. Going through the charts I was pretty sure I knew the colour. I cheekily had a friend over at heritage check for me though.

 

Here's a sneaky peak of what I managed to get. I much prefer the silverstones, but have always been curious as to the differences.

The offset is all wrong to begin with, might have to have a play with spacers...

 

IMG-20140502-WA0001_zpsplb5pf73.jpg


5-20-2014

Hi there Olly.

Ahh the GKN's, they really are the best wheels for clubmans. I've never seen a set on an estate though, I would love to see that.

Good luck searching, it certainly took long enough for me to find a set, although I've managed to build a modest collection. :)

You'd be very lucky to find a set let alone a cheap set, unless you strike gold and find some badly advertised like I did! 

If you do please don't paint them black! You lose all the detail of the wheel, gun metal maybe. ;)

 

Jonathan Lewis did a Challenge GT replica with the wheels black and I'm not a fan. It's all personal preference though.

 

SAM_3909_zpsf866d200.jpg

 

Photo nicked from mab01uk's photobucket, I hope he doesn't mind!

 

Here's my collection.

 

DSC_3717_zpszdsaunpf.jpg

 

Each wheel has a respective set :) I couldn't be arsed to drag all of them out! 

 

If anyone was interested in the difference between the Silverstone and the Unipart GAW122 ( the uniparts are on unprofiled firestone 145, compared to the 165 yokos on the Silverstones)

 

IMG-20140503-WA0000_zpsqqptewtb.jpg

 

Aahhh I'm still heartbroken, DWE is tucked away in the garage at home until I can find the time and motivation to pull it apart.

Sadly it might be a while due to work commitments. 

I did come home a few weekends ago to find this though! 

 

IMG-20140503-WA0004_zpsnwsipvwn.jpg

 

Certainly didn't help the poor stricken GT. 

They're my least favourite wheel, especially on a 70's car.

Had a lovely comment from my dad when it got put into the garage.

"It actually looked quite good before, now the whole thing just looks ****."

 

I have to agree artificial light is not kind! it's gonna need a lot of work to get it to where I want it! 

 

Ahh I found a link on the forum to this site

 

http://www.oildrippers.de/

 

You can try to recreate your car! Shame they don't offer GKN's! 


Hi Keith, 

Sorry I forgot to reply to this! 

I also love minilites, I think the GKN's suit the clubman better though. 

 

When I was deciding the spec on my first project (early 10" clubman in my little pic)  I was adamant that it was to have 10" minilites. 

 

I got these in january 2010! The nuts where a perfect fit for the Unipart GAW122's I just picked up! 

 

DSC03067_zpsc23e06ef.jpg

 

They're still in the box unused! 

 

While I'm on the subject of that car I wanted the option of putting it back to standard so managed to pick these up as well.

 

10171460_10152723941863272_24568556_o_zp

 

Apart from real Denovos ( I use regular steels and jam in the trims) I now have every wheel type offered through the factory or special tuning for the Mini 1275 GT. Well I think I do, am I missing any!?

  

What can I say I have a little thing for wheels...



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