Speedwell

[Gealy1183]

Morning Folks
I was lucky enough to pick up Paul Gibbard's Mk1 PI Estate a couple of weeks ago and would love to get my hands on a Speedwell Steering Wheel with the Boss etc - anybody know of one lurking anywhere ?
Simon

[TedTaylor]

Hello Simon, welcome to the world of Mk1 PI estate owners - all nine (?) of us!

The PI steering wheel is a Formula one (not Speedwell) and like hens teeth - as I know only too well as my own estate came with a nice Motolita wood rim wheel but not original and soon was on the hunt to locate one. This took me a couple of years and involved finding the correct wheel and then the boss separately (many thanks to Bert Boevee). The wheel is characterised by having five holes in each spoke, a leather rim with a round cross section covered in leather, the hub of the boss is unique in having a square centre that the wheel sits over and is held in place by three screws (the square taking the turning load), the width is 16 inches and the dish is 3 inches .

I am looking for another wheel myself as a spare because these wheels are notorious for breaking up, the rim from the spokes underneath the leather and the boss itself, so if you find one check it very carefully - they can be repaired but it is fiddly. The leather cover can be replaced with a DIY kit or I understand Motolita will do it (I am thinking of getting them to do mine because it is not as good in the photo as it looks).

There are wheels out there but there seems to be a 'thing' about using Mk1 PI wheels on non PI cars so creating a shortage for people who need one. One strange thing is that as I said previously the Mk1PI wheel is not that strong (partly deliberately in the design) yet people are using them for competition. However if used for normal driving provided they are sound in the first place they are fine to use.

If you get offered a good wheel it will invariably be well in excess of £200. While some suggest this is extortionate just remember they are rare ......... and a good Motolita wheel and boss will set you back about £250!

Apparently the wood rim version of this wheel was available as an optional extra. There are Formula ones around with a 1.5inch dish which is not correct (though some people may find it more comfortable) and diameter about 15inches.

Do watch out for GT6 wheels which look Mk1 PI but have the smaller Spitty/Herald spline and smaller domed (horn push) centre. I have what appears to be one of these with a wood rim and looks correct for the Mk1 PI but the centre bit takes the GT6 horn push and the considerable depth of dish does not allow the fitting of the Mk1 PI set up.

For your info I have attached some photos so you can see the correct wheel set up and the other options to be aware of:
- Leather rim is the correct set up.
- Wood rim with the grotty centre is the 15inch wide 1.5 inch dish which I acquired with a bodged in Escort/Mk1 Cortina hub. I have acquired a cheapo old Formula wheel with the correct square centre and the rest of the horn push and hub set up (not 100% correct but it will do).
- Woodrim wheel which I am pretty sure is for a GT6. You may be able to see that it has the small spline and centre which does not take the Mk1 PI boss arrangement.

If you want more info or better pics to see what you should be looking for please e-mail me on ted.taylor@bigfoot.com

MUT

[englishbull]

Hi Simon,

Firstly I have sent you an email re gearstick.

I still keeping my eyes open for "another" wheel for you mate


TED:- Simon knows what the MK1 PI steering wheel and boss looks like, as he as a very nice MK1 PI saloon in Valencia to. He also knows what the GT6 wheel looks like , as he got caught out with that too
I put Simon in touch with his new estate, as I knew he was after one when we where in talks when he was getting his saloon finished as the saloon wears NOS Injection scoop and nosecone badges that Simon and his mate Dave bought from me.........

Have told Simon how rare the boss are and suggest that he get a 3D one printed.......................sure others may have one too.

[TedTaylor]

Lee, the 'Speedwell' thing threw me and assumed he did not know this info which is why I took the trouble to write it all out. Still it may be useful to someone else.

MUT

[Gealy1183]

Thanks for the info Ted - I knew some of it but certainly less than half. As Lee says he's been my dealer on a number of Triumph fixes in the past and gave me the nod on this PI when he should've been celebrating New Year ! Turns out I nearly bought a different PI Estate - a dark blue one - from the same guy's brother in 2003. Small world
Cheers
Simon

[TedTaylor]

Glad to be of some help Simon. Any photos of your new estate?

MUT

[Gealy1183]

I can never get anything to upload on here from my iPad Ted - you can email me at gealy1965@gmail.com though and I'll send you some
Cheers
Simon

[TedTaylor]

I can never get anything to upload on here from my iPad Ted - you can email me at gealy1965@gmail.com though and I'll send you some
Cheers
Simon

Done

MUT

[englishbull]

There was some pics I posted of Simon's estate ( with his consent) on the 2000/2500/2.5 Fan page on FB Ted.

[Richard B]

I had my MkI PI wheel recovered by Aldridge Trimming for £150 a few years ago. Price has probably gone up now.

I had to replace the rivets before hand, as some had snapped rendering the wheel useless.

If anyone has a GT6 Formula One steering wheel for sale, I'm looking for one.