Page 1 of 3

Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Fri May 09, 2008 3:09 am
by gordont
Looking at buying one, does anyone have a photo of these they can post?

Has anyone fitted one and if so any issues I should know of (horn?) much appreciated.

Available in red or black, unsure which I will go for but from what I have heard they are the business.

cheers

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:51 am
by mikealdren
Gordon,
My wife bought me one for my +2 conversion, it's a lovely item, however, that car's a long way off complete so I have yet to fit it. It looks as though there should be no problem.

Mike.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:23 am
by ElanSeries2
I have a photo, but it was sent to me by Stuart at TTR. I'll try to attach it, but if I fail, I'll try to PM you. They look great in the flesh (I've seen them at the shows), and I was sorely tempted when I couldn't find an original wheel for mine... Not sure whether they take a regular horn push, though, but I assume so.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:45 am
by elancoupe
I have the black one-- no issues. Mine came with a Team Lotus push, but it was bought about 10 years ago, things may be different now.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:09 am
by RotoFlexible
Also sold by RD Enterprises in the US - there is a photo at the website rdent.com, under "Elan Parts." (Might be the same photo.) It does take the standard horn push (also available from Ray). I want one!

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 8:15 am
by Old English White
On my car ...
Image
The nicest thing is , when you first touch it , you don't want to give it back!
Christian.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 12:08 pm
by prloz
Hi Christian,
Do you wish to sell your original S3 wheel ? :wink:
Thanks.
Regards,
Peter.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 2:25 pm
by Old English White
Sorry Peter , No .
I am actually searching for another center cap for it , and then have it on the wall . It will stay with KDH 2D alias "Old English White" as many other memories.
Hope you understand,
Regards,
Christian.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 3:31 pm
by billwill
Not talking of that wheel, but the orginal that came with my car.

I found that I could not drive with the sun behind me with the original polished aluminium centre & spokes because they reflected back into my eyes, so I had to paint them with black crackle paint.

So I advise getting a black one unless your car is just for show. :lol: 8)

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:51 pm
by RotoFlexible
So I advise getting a black one unless your car is just for show.

"Black" refers to the leather, not the spokes. Both the red and black rim models have polished spokes, I believe. Good point about the sun.

The original wheel on my S3 is 14-3/4" outside diameter. The racing-style, fat-rim wheel I used autocrossing is 12" OD. I found it very touchy for everyday use (esp. on the highway) and went back to the original.

The TTR wheel is 13" OD (I asked Ray to measure it) so it is slightly closer in size to my touchy racing-style wheel than to the original.

Tony Thompson 26R steering wheel

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:55 pm
by ema7elan
SOOOO Want one!
Just checked the Tony Thompson parts list on the website but could not see it. I trust they still sell them -does anyone know?

ema7elan

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:34 pm
by Old English White
2check that list (page #8 ) , or before buy new eyes...!
Christian.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:14 pm
by elancoupe
RotoFlexible wrote:
So I advise getting a black one unless your car is just for show.

"Black" refers to the leather, not the spokes. Both the red and black rim models have polished spokes, I believe. Good point about the sun.

The original wheel on my S3 is 14-3/4" outside diameter. The racing-style, fat-rim wheel I used autocrossing is 12" OD. I found it very touchy for everyday use (esp. on the highway) and went back to the original.

The TTR wheel is 13" OD (I asked Ray to measure it) so it is slightly closer in size to my touchy racing-style wheel than to the original.



Maybe because mine is few years old, it has matte finish aluminum spokes.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Mon May 19, 2008 10:00 pm
by elansprint71
What diameter are these things? Looks a bit larger than my wooden Motolita. My last Elan (68 S4SE, sold about '76) had one of those crappy plastic Colin Chapman wheels; I threw it in a skip and fitted a little Lotus F3 red leather job, superb (apart from parking). :?
Wish I had a wheel signed by the Elan's designer, instead of just a plaque on my dashboard. Thanks Ron, btw.

Re: Tony Thompson 26R steering wheels

PostPosted: Tue May 20, 2008 9:40 am
by RotoFlexible
elansprint71 wrote:What diameter are these things? Looks a bit larger than my wooden Motolita.


Look up the thread just a bit...