Series 1 Elan timber steering wheel

[mazlot]

Gentlemen,

I have an 1963 S1 that I am restoring, it is very original, though in a thousand pieces !

It came with a Lotus timber and aluminium spoke steering wheel. It has aluminium nipples, for want of a better description, on the reverse side of the wheel, between the finger grips.

I have been told that this wheel is from a Lotus Cortina, that my wheel should not have the nipples.

Can anybody confirm or deny this for me.

Many thanks

Jeff

[1964 S1]

The original S1 wheels are very thin wood rimmed, 14 and 3/4 inches across, outside diameter. There are three small screws on the back where the spokes attach. The rim is ribbed on the back, but all wood, no exposed metal. I think one would crack the rim off pretty quickly if used on a Cortina, it's almost "delicate" in it's weight and thiness.

[Dag-Henning]

- the Lotus-Cortina wheel for -63/64 had alu-nipples, and is a "very,very hard to find part " ! If you "come across it", take good care of it......
It is also very thin and delicate and easy to break.....

Dag

[twincamman]

my mk 2 26 R came with a wheel as you describe ----don't put too much stock in 'expert' opinions unless your sure of the source --I took the flimsy thing off and replaced it with a 10 inch diameter and infinitely stouter wheel ------ OPINIONS ARE LIKE A**HOLES--EVERY BODY HAS ONE ---- ed

[1964 S1]

Hello twincaman ed, what are you trying to say?

[1964 S1]

ps; now that you're not using the flimsy thing, do you want to sell it? Do you have a price in mind if yes?

[twincamman]

sure ill sell it -ill send a pic on the pic section tomorrow - ed

[twincamman]

well in the past years I have sat incognito while 'experts ' pontificated about the cars not having this or that from the factory or this colour badge as opposed to that colour badge or knock off wheels as opposed to bolt on wheels --[ the knock offs were an added cost option R.A.C-.FIA homoligation sheet PAGE 127#4 ] expressing thier misinformed or hear say opinions on cars built 40 years ago 2000 miles away----I worked in the auto industry am aware of supply problems on assembly lines---lotus must have been a nightmare to keep a constant supply of any parts to the assembly area as they were a small company with low volumes--so there must have been stop gap desperation parts used -and previous owner changes are all part of the history of the car----these ' experts can affect new owners in a negative way and give the wrong impression --or ad unnecessary cost --besides a lot of of the suspension parts were Triumph [as in my steering wheel I think ] or who ever would sell at the lowest price ---[and you are going to put the wheel on your car and not sell it --right?-]-sorry about the rant ed

[Elanintheforest]

Totally agree Ed...but it can be amusing watching folk getting all hot and bothered about the characters on a bolt or a rivet pattern.
To the steering wheel. The Lotus Cortina boys get very excited about originality, and it seems that wood rim steering wheels change hands for a small fortune...have a look at this link:

http://pub5.bravenet.com/forum/402547897/show/644360

Yes, that was ?575!

There's also a question re originality of a wheel, and the picture of the rear of a wheel on this link:

http://pub5.bravenet.com/forum/402547897/show/535746

Further perusal of this site may yield some more steering wheel goodies.

My final factoid is from an auction held in Cheltenham, UK on 21st Feb 06. A very nice Lotus Cortina was auctioned, and Ron Hickman felt compeled to contact the auctioneers with this warning (this is cut from the auctioners details):

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

The link to the auction details (lot 71 for the Lotus Cortina) is:

http://www.classic-auctions.com/

Look for 'February Car Results' then 21st Feb then Lot 71. You will also see the press Elan S3 results in there, with some good photos.

I think I'll stick to my nice thickly padded Moto-Lita!
Mark

[thor]

Or the original black spoke one of my +2S which is now on it's way back from Lotus after being re-covered in leather for an incredibly low sum of money.....

[twincamman]

ooops maybe I spoke too soon-my humblest of apologies -[ another misinformed opinion -- such a putz]:oops: mine has rivets all the way around on the bottom diameter ---and has the same spokes-and wood diameter and thickness ---the p.o. [Willy Gobles---no relation I'm sure ]-- must have had a delicate touch to race the car with such a flimsy thing ---it bent and wobbled when I tried to go fast with it -felt like a 14 inch circle of garden hose ----re the shattering ---CASC did at one time allow wood rim steering wheels on race cars --but now turn pale if one is within 40 feet of the track for that very reason --shattering on impact and leaving nasty holes in the inner organs ---my goodness I seem to have been moved up a gear-- ed

[twincamman]

pics are up ed

[thor]

ehm... what is this, a demonstration of one of the first digital cameras..? fantastic retro space invaders type- resolution.... sorry...

I'm personally a big fan of these wheels, anyway.

[thor]

My box with the +2S steering wheel came from Lotus via Bell&Colvill yesterday, a very pleasant surprise. Moto-Lita quality to the leather and seams.

pics here:

http://thorsvaboe.googlepages.com/lotusspringprojects

[twincamman]

Thor ---I strove to display the intrinsic value of the subject and used the pixel distortion of the photo to compliment the shape and texture of the wheel also expressing the complexity of the British green lotus nose cone back ground thus giving the photo an interesting and fresh artistic approach to the subject -------as opposed to a straight and unimaginative recording shot ---[and the camera battery was low] --- ed