Alloy wheels-Minilite or alternatives

[alanr]

I have made a few calls today and...

Hamilton Classics say the Minilte wheels they sell are made in the UK but when I tried to discuss Lotus peg drive didn't know what I was talking about. Kept saying I needed a splined adaptor!.So I gave up with them.

Kelvedon. Says can't supply Minilite wheels at present time. Doesn't know where they are made.

SC Cars Crawley. Says all alloys are now made in China. Can't supply Minilite in Peg drive but could supply Minator wheels which look exactly the same. Awaiting price.

Spyder Cars. Awaiting email price.quote ( website prices not correct) but will only supply 14x6J for a +2. and will require 2.25'' spring conversion. Unwilling to discuss offset. Says made in UK.

John Brown Wheels. Say all alloy wheels are now made in Far East ( China) as blanks nowdays and finally machined in UK. No knowledge of Lotus Peg drive wheels or what offset needed.

Specialist Car Products, Telford. say they manufacture Minilite wheels in the UK although when i asked the girl who answered the phone she said they didn't manufacture wheels only sold them!
However, the guy I spoke to seemed very knowledgable but unwilling to discussed offset or backspace. Says this is confidential information. Says they know what the offset and backspace needs to be!
They say 13 x5.5J's to their offset may rub on the wishbone but no two cars are the same.
I then asked about 14x6J's, again unwilling to discuss offset may need a 2.25 spring conversion depending on the tyre size used.
Says can supply 14x5.5J, not a usual size, but could supply. Price is an expensive £266.40 per wheel inc vat and uk carriage. 3-4weeks to order.
So I have concluded that either Specialist Car Products or maybe Spyder Cars are the only options to go to for what are now called 'Minilite' wheels for our cars in the UK. If or not they are actually made in the UK now or brought in as blank wheels for machining as required from the Far East I have not been able to ascertain.

For me though...The price is steep,especially considering whatever size of wheel bought I will then need a relevant tyre. So, I will have to do some more thinking before coming to a decision.

Hope this info helps others looking for the same,

Alan.

[gjz30075]

Specialist Car Products, Telford. ........
However, the guy I spoke to seemed very knowledgable but unwilling to discussed offset or backspace. Says this is confidential information. Says they know what the offset and backspace needs to be!
.

That's crazy! Not a good way to sell wheels.

[alanr]

Specialist Car Products, Telford. ........
However, the guy I spoke to seemed very knowledgable but unwilling to discussed offset or backspace. Says this is confidential information. Says they know what the offset and backspace needs to be!
.

That's crazy! Not a good way to sell wheels.

Yes I agree. But he wouldn't budge on this and would not discuss if I placed an order what the offset would be. The only choice/option being the wheel size/width and paint colour.
My take on this is that they large bulk order blank alloy wheels from China or wherever in the Minilite style and only the final machining of the wheel i.e bolt hole or peg drive, plus painting is done here in the UK. Consequently they can only sell whatever offset/backspace they have in stock. So it is take it or leave it.

Alan

[vstibbard]

Alan, there are a number of reputable manufacturers of Minilight style wheels. Just make sure they are manufactured to TUV or like standard.
Vaughan

[h20hamelan]

Specialist Car Products, Telford. ........
However, the guy I spoke to seemed very knowledgable but unwilling to discussed offset or backspace. Says this is confidential information. Says they know what the offset and backspace needs to be!
.

That's crazy! Not a good way to sell wheels.

It might depend on what tyres your running?

[patrics]

Hi
These are my genuine Minilite wheels brought from Minilite in Telford – I have had two sets from them – one set 13x5” knock-on and now 13x 5 ½ bolt-on
Thinking back the second set was brought through Tony Thompson and still available today.
I’m pretty sure Tony Thompson sells these exclusively as Minilte wouldn’t have a clue or the records to know what fits what.
Last time I went to Minilite they had just been brought by the same person who owned Revolution wheels. In fact I went to complain that the stainless steel inserts for the knock-on wheels were to long and fouling on the rear – they machined them down for me but didn’t know what length they should be. If the stainless insert is too long it leaves the wheels loose, something to look out for.

[tonyabacus]

Alan
You might want to look at this first site, for Mk1 Cortinas, although now closed the site carries some original data sheets from Tech Del covering many of the original variations for different applications, including offsets/insets which may help. Also try Ian Jemison in York, he has been involved with original Minilite magnesium wheels for 40+years and did a good job of restoring some Minilite magnesiums for a race car I built a few years ago.

Tony

Tec-Del Minilite - mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk

Ian Jemison Engineering
81 Main Street
Bishopthorpe
York YO23 2RA
01904 703863

[alanr]

Hi Tony,
I have parked the idea of buying new Miniltes for the time being.
The problem is that Tech Del the original manufacturer of Minilite wheels no longer exist.
Specialist Car Products/Minilite in Telford now own the brand name and are they say they are now the 'manufacturer' of Minilites in the uk.
They cannot supply any offset options and will not discuss the offset or backspace at all of the Minlite wheels they now sell/produce. This intransigence of information of what I would actually be buying and possibility of offset options from them is my concern. They will only discuss wheel size and wheel width, sighting offset or backspace measurement as their confidential information!

Thanks for the contact of Ian Jennison in York but I just want alloy wheels and not magnesium ones. Maybe useful though if I find some secondhand hand wheels that need refurbishment.

Thanks again,

Alan.

[tonyabacus]

Hi Alan
The main reason I pointed you towards the website for the Cortina was that it shows the original wheel data as made by Tech Del when they were operational, so may have given some indication as to the offset/inset dimensions to help. This also was part of my thinking regarding Ian Jemison, that he may be worth a call regarding the information you require, as he has dealt in alloy and magnesium wheels for so long so could be a good source of information. So good luck
Tony

[alanr]

Hi Tony,
I have now looked at the link to that historical Minilite data and as you say it is very informative.
I am sure from that data and my own knowledge I could sort what I need for a set of Minilite wheels for my +2S130 if only the present manufacturer/importer or what ever they are calling themselves nowadays would provide me with the possible measurement purchase options that I could order. Presently they are saying they have no options at all to purchase just wheel size and width, nothing else!

I will give Ian Jennison a call when I get a minute and see if he has a solution.or any ideas.

Thanks again,

Alan.

[billwill]

Alan
You might want to look at this first site, for Mk1 Cortinas, although now closed the site carries some original data sheets from Tech Del covering many of the original variations for different applications, including offsets/insets which may help. Also try Ian Jemison in York, he has been involved with original Minilite magnesium wheels for 40+years and did a good job of restoring some Minilite magnesiums for a race car I built a few years ago.

Tony

Tec-Del Minilite - mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk

Ian Jemison Engineering
81 Main Street
Bishopthorpe
York YO23 2RA
01904 703863

Do you know the exact URL of the pages concerned, I keep getting Page not Found.

[alanr]

These are the pages Tony is referring to:-

https://mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk/minilite.htm

Alan.

[pharriso]

These are the pages Tony is referring to:-

https://mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk/minilite.htm

Alan.

[alanr]

Works ok for me using Google Chrome!
I can only suggest you try a different browser.

Alan

[Graham B]

You will get that message if you use http instead of https.
Try it and see.
Graham