Money No Object

[elans4dhc]

Is everyone following the eBay auction 160021917594 for a Lotus Cortina Mk1 Early Steering Wheel, described as unused for over 30 years and not requiring any restoration? It has reached a bid of ?778 and there's still 5 days to go!!! It's a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad world, to coin a phrase.

Andrew.

[theelanman]

something recieved from ron hickman about another car fitted with the same wheel

SALEROOM NOTICE

PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY RON HICKMAN OBE FCSD (DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF LOTUS CARS LTD 1959 - 1967) THAT JUDGING FROM THE CATALOGUE PHOTO THIS PARTICULAR LOTUS CORTINA WOULD INDEED APPEAR TO RETAIN ITS FACTORY-FITTED WOOD-RIMMED 'SPRINGRIM' STEERING WHEEL. WHILE, THIS ITEM IS FURTHER PROOF OF THE CAR'S ORIGINALITY, MR HICKMAN POINTS OUT THAT 'SPRINGRIM' WHEELS HAD A NASTY TENDENCY TO SHATTER IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION (HENCE THE REASON THAT LATER LOTUS CORTINAS SWITCHED TO A FOAM PADDED, METAL-RIMMED STEERING WHEEL). AS SUCH, HE, "STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE ORIGINAL WHEEL BE PUT ON ICE AND ANOTHER ONE FITTED - PROBABLY EVEN IF THE NEW OWNER UNFAILING WEARS SEAT BELTS". WE ARE GRATEFUL TO MR HICKMAN FOR HIS ADVICE AND CONCERN IN THIS MATTER.

[twincamman]

TOO TRUE ----casc has a fit if a wood wheel gets within 50 feet of the track -----I threw all mine away and added leather 13 inch ones in all 4 cars ---ed

[theelanman]

just had a quick scan of ebay.....
guess what.....another one!!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :B:SS:UK:1
?102 already.....theyre nuts!!!!

[theelanman]

actually...just had a quick look and compared the 2......
different!!!!!
one a 'Y' shape with the spokes the other more of a 'T'.....
trying not to appear an annorak but are the 'T' shape wheels not Les Leston variety or something similar......????
cheers
G

[Dag-Henning]

- the "T" wheel pictured is for the "Air-flow" Cortina ( -65 / 66 ) and is actually not correct for the -63/64 car in which it is fitted........
Very pricey bits, but whatever way you want to turn it ; - they are worth exactly what people are willing to pay.....

DH

[1964 S1]

I agree with DH but holey moley,,,, that was some bucks. Seeing the buyer is elan###, I have to ask, do S1 Cortinas have Spitfire steering columns? I have an Elan S1 wheel I may try and sell but they don't actually fit on a Cortina do they??????????

[geoff medley]

Interestingly the steering wheels were banned from Australian Motor racing way back in 1967. The wood rim broke in and accident and impaled the drive on the remaining spokes.

[type36lotus]

When a collector is attempting to make a car "correct" and there are only a few remaining bits on the list, the willingness to part with bucks is usually proportional to the desperation/impatience level. While I was completing my Elan resto, I was desperate for a heater. Bid on many on eBay, always gave up at well over a $100. When I finally got one all the desperate people I guess had theirs as I got a pretty decent one for $35. I had a wood steering wheel for my Elan, purchased for $100 from someone I met from another eBay purchase. At every car show I entered I always received a comment about the steering wheel. Those thin wood ones are classic. It made the car. Yes they are less than safe, but then so is driving a plastic 1,500 pound car on roads with 2 and 3 ton SUVs. But we still do it. Sky diving and rock climbing are dangerous, but may do it often. Reasonable risk varies with each individual. Had never thought about removing the wood steering wheel. I belive the current owner has kept it on as well. Wow, so much verbosity!

[1964 S1]

And I'm with you Mike, 100%. ed, did you really throw away those wheels? Eric

[twincamman]

I kept one -----but they are the same as a triumph mounting pattern--ed

[theelanman]

that doesnt look like the one that made all the money....
the spoke angle is wrong....as someone pointed out before the difference between the airflow and preairflow versions.....
thats a 'ty' shape rather than a 'y' shape (ie 120deg between each of the spokes)......

[twincamman]

ok ------but its still junk----- --just bigger junk----ed

[type36lotus]

Yes, but Classic junk.