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MG MGA - Original wood Steering wheel

A recent Walnut wood steering wheel just went for a substantial amount of money on e-bay. It was stated as an Original factory which was an upgraded accessory at the time. Does anybody have any info on this? Was this an option that was offered 40 years ago?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MGA-Factory-Original-Walnut-Steering-Wheel_W0QQitemZ4606424617QQcategoryZ42606QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Bill

I too viewed this wheel but after researching what the "factory" offered at the time, determined that while this wheel might have been a original "period accessory" it was not a true factory offered steering wheel. I'm amazed it went for so much! It may have indeed been as described but I couldn't find anything to support the claim. The "original factory" wheel didn't have holes in the spoke but was slotted.
robert maupin

Me again,

Moss catalog shows a steering that looks to be spot on for the original style wheel but if I recall correcftly, they are asking over $900.00 for it.
robert maupin

Its not factory,I have 1 just like it. Its period aftermarket. It was offered as "factory original" for TR4s also,with dif center piece. I have the name of the manufacturer some where in my stuff.I will look to find it. Another "honest Ebayer" where ignorance is bliss.
wc wolcott

Barney Gaylord and I traded a few emails over this eBay listing. The thing that confused everyone was the size of the wheel, 16". The original factory wheel was 16 1/2" and ALL the Moto-Lita wheels that Moss (and others) sell max out at 15." So was this a "period" aftermarket wheel?

Yes and no. Turns out Moto-Lita ALSO sells a 16" reproduction of the Jaguar wheel (not in Moss catalogs) available with different boss for MGA (at one time) which has the same five-hole dish spoke pattern and non-laminated rim. They sell for $324, so yes the eBay winner was taken for a ride! They could have gotten the identical wheel, brand new, for over $200 less.

Caveat emptor. Those of us with plastic wheels can only dream ($1000 for a reproduction of the original wooden wheel? I don't think so!)
Jim P

Jim, I searched Moto Lita site but found nothing similar. Do you have any knoledge were to get these? Also did you note that the boss was a bakelite and not metal?
Bill

Yeah it is not easy to find. Go to motolitas site and click on "classic replacement wheels," it is the Jaguar XKE OEM version without rivets/lamination, midway down the page.

http://www.motolita.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=50

Years ago these were also available with other bosses including MG and Triumph and probably others. It is actually a fine replacement for the MGA factory wood wheel IMO - the only other wooden wheel available over 16" is made by Momo but much more expensive.
Jim P

Personal made 16" solid walnut wheels as well at the time. They had three chrome sections.
carl w french 1

Well guys,sorry but I believe you are incorrect. I am sure the wheel is of Brit manufacture,I know the name, but it escapes me now.I will look it up. If you look at the hub it is square drive at the wheel,and the top hub is plastic not bakelite.As I said before I have one.I have some nardi,motolita,personal,les leston,etc,believe me those are better made.If I am wrong,...well,but I dont think so.
wc wolcott

I have one of the Moss repo's that I bought a long time ago,I think I paid 400 for it and it nearly killed me to do so. It's a nice wheel but $1000? it's not that nice but when you have $100,000 car with a $300 key whats another $1000 LOL Gary
gary starr

Hmmm if you go to both links on this page: the eBay listing in the first post, and the link to Moto-Lita that I posted. Compare the pictures side-by-side. Except for the boss logo-badge, the wheels appear identical, no? Or maybe my old eyes are getting even worse...

Also I thought Moto-Lita *was* British?
Jim P

W.C.,

I sent you an email asking about what you might be asking for the chrome trim, windscreen and you didn't get back to me. Are you no longer interested in selling the "package"?
robert maupin

I have one of the Moss reproduction wheels and it is same diameter (have not measured but certainly feels the same) as the standard wheel. Got lucky and my sons bought it for me back when it was around $500 about 3 years ago, great Christmas present! I recall looking at the Moto Lita web site at the time and it was illustrated on the site for the same price. It does not seem to be on the site now and the site design has significantly changed as well. Perhaps they are out of production and Moss has the remainder, thus the premium price?

Ted
Ted

seems the web is playing tricks on me. www.motolita.com seems to be directing to a site owned by a firm named Finish Line. The fatory site, www.moto-lita.com seems to be down....... I know I was on the factory site when I saw the MGA wheel, and it was definitly of the right diameter. Keep searching.

Ted
Ted

Robert,sorry I dont remember getting your email. Mine is wsw245@cs.com
wc wolcott

look at this site, and then type in steering wheel. I hope it helps.
www.holden.co.uk
Nigel Munford

OK found it. the wheel was made by a company in Englang called formula,they made the factory wheel for series 1 GT6's wraped in leather,the wood ones were made of mahogany.
wc wolcott

No WC this one is clearly a vintage Walnut wheel!
Bill

But what is wrong with a good original plastic one? I know they are much better than the repro plastoc wheels (which are horrible in the hand because of the back side bumps).
dominic clancy

I missed seeing this item on e-bay but this might help.
In Clausager's book 'Original MGA' ( ISBN 1 870979 31 1 Pub 1993 by Bay View Books Ltd )it gives the following details: Wood rim light alloy steering wheel supplied as an optional extra from Dec. 1957. Described as 'Italian Style', supplied by Bluemels (type SW/544 BMC part no. AHH5800-Y. It is pictured on page 71. Three spoke in a T (not Y) formation with long slots in each spoke. Also illustrated in Robert Vitrikas's book 'MGA A History & Restoration Guide, page 213. (AZTEX Corporation PO Box 50046, Tuscon AZ 85703 Pub. 1980 ISBN 0 89404 036 6)
Mike Hall

This thread was discussed between 30/01/2006 and 08/02/2006

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