On Fri, 30 Oct 1998, Reed Mideke wrote:
>
> Malcolm,
> The FAQ is starting to fill out. Nice job.
> One small bit of information. The early spitfire disk rims were 4 inch.
> (I'm not sure about the wires)
Sorry, but the Spitfire disk rims prior to 1970 were 3.5" (same as
Herald). Wire wheels for Spitfires were 4.5" throughout, whether
knock-off style from 1962-69 or bolt-on from 1971 to about 1974. The
1970 Spitfire only had 4.5" "solid" disk wheels. From 1971 to 1976?, the
wheels were 4.5" with the oval holes. For a year or so around 1976, the
same width wheels were used, but with fewer, rather rectangular slots.
The last Spits, circa 1979 to the end, used a 5" wheel that visually
looked nearly identical to the circa 1971 wheel (oval holes).
Whatever mention Haynes manuals might make of a 4" wheel is incorrect for
the Spitfire range. And all of the above information is for normal
"as-delivered" or "factory optional" wheels, not any dealer-installed or
other aftermarket wheels. I know that there were solid disk wheels as
wide as 5.5", but I don't know if these were even "catalogued" options
for the Spitfire. Anyone?
--Andy
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* 10/Herald/Vitesse (Sports 6) Consultant *
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