15x7 Magnesium Minilites w/ lugs and washers

[nvr2mny]

Bought these here years ago for a project that never happened. These are the real deal. Vintage Minilites from the ‘60’s. Sent them off to Rick at Fuch’s Restoration when purchased for checking out and refinishing. Unfortunately the wheels rubbed in shipment and some paint, NOT the rim itself, along the outer rims was chipped off. They are very nice and very light. 2 @ 14.4lbs ea and 2 @ 14.6lbs ea. Comes with plenty of open ended lug nuts and washers. Perfect for a very nice driver. I’ve added a comment from the original thread from S member john rice (also his user name) below.

“School time, kiddies. I have been here before so flame away. Back in the day when these were made the SCCA was the primary racing resource here. Their GCRs allowed for a 1" increase in width on the wheels. At the time the factory wheel was 5.5x15, thus the allowed width was 6.5 inches. Now look again at the wheel with the ruler held against it. The 7" width is the extreme outer portion of the inside of this wheel, however the tire surface mounting is 6.5. Thus it really IS a genuine period magnesium Minilite. Nice wheels. GLWS”

Asking 3800.00 + fees, shipped conus.


PRICE DROP - 04/10/20 - 3200 SHIPPED CONUS + FEES


416C931A-2FB7-4A45-BBB9-7D6857E753F2.jpgA6CA560B-E3EA-457C-BE33-C1E929712067.jpeg65F85824-35BE-424E-907F-E75394758F27.jpeg1E4E4DC5-1F0B-4B87-80A5-F31C65078347.jpgF0AD6ABF-64B2-477B-A452-E2948A3F2F6D.jpgF19757F0-DC68-496A-8A46-E96D30C58AAF.jpg895C2708-ECEB-45B7-B894-A327F196E7D9.jpg

[nvr2mny]

5079989B-23BD-4299-9A35-FF0871082F61.jpg1248C8A6-C79F-4020-A872-E9D2BB74044D.jpg5447944B-86BB-4697-B745-E0A34BCEB4A7.jpg6B5FB234-6FA7-4B06-BD5C-11E4F96B6155.jpg0FE17125-C82C-4F45-B0A8-D870D378C0CF.jpgE7E237D8-3F0C-4481-BB09-23B49545A352.jpg232E853F-4BBE-4505-80DA-A1A6A48849C3.jpgMore pics....

[nvr2mny]

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Last set....

[Dg567]

What is the backspacing on these?

[nvr2mny]

What is the backspacing on these?

Here you go.....

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[John Straub]

Love these wheels! I have the same wheels on my '67. That's a great deal! Good luck with the sale.

John

[911MRP]

The so called Minilite wheel was designed by John Ford and Derek Power in 1962 as an alternative to often seen wire wheels and marketed by Tech-Del Ltd of Acton West London.Later assigned to Minilite Ltd and later on after they went out of business others fought over brand name etc .

This is from circa 1967....
CB417A38-16A9-4045-87C6-F2F7E339198F.jpg
A6467CC9-79EA-4AA4-B734-79B33E1F9F92.jpg
AC4571F1-C99D-48E6-AE0B-07F833E51181.jpg
Around 67 these were some of the applications

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7B4BD064-C400-4023-9009-16A0FF0DFFE9.jpg

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By early 70s...Courtesy of German distributor’s publication undated but estimated to be from early 70s..
5DDD2B83-6C10-43EB-9809-3DA96C4544D6.jpg

Quite how much focus an innovative British West London wheel manufacturer covering many other marques on the list would have put specifically on USA SCCA racing when designing application for one West German sports car wet rl S and regulations covering all other countries and national international motorsport series and things they might be used for ...probably look to FIA via their local ASN the RAC. As context on how the rules and regulations were promulgated comments in this blue book from the President of FIA 1965-71 who knew about the practicalities of such things as explained particularly in the last paragraph:
FAA2B9DE-1C8E-4B83-A976-34F1941FB1C5.jpg
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Hope this old information is of historical interest to old car hobbyist Obviously being so old it should not be relied upon to be current information.

Minilite design around the spokes to centre changed and composition of material used also changed which I understand might affect weight, strength, durability, longevity of the alloy after decades and so forth so suitably qualified specialist experts should be consulted on all safety critical aspects of vintage road wheels and their applications .

Steve

[Nordschleife]

Steve, thank you for sharing the Minilite sales/data sheets. Very interesting stuff. In the earlier (English) sheet it’s intriguing that the very widest rim width at that time (late 1960s?) was 7” max, but Minilite’s offerings for Porsches only went as wide as 6” on rim width. That may have something to do with FIA/ONS max-allowed wheel width in the racing homologation papers for Group 3 race cars? Perhaps some of our Registry members from Europe will know.

The later (German language) advertisement also surprised me because it clearly implies that a customer buying the later 8” or 9” wide Minilites could use their original Porsche lug nuts to mount the wheels (because it says “Radmuttern sind nicht benötigt... “lug nuts not required”). I thought Minilites needed special Minilite lug nuts, but apparently not.

Great stuff, thank you for sharing!

Best,
Andy

[911MRP]

Hi Andy

Here is another page from the German distributors Book presumed early 70s: A538FBA5-765B-43CF-87E8-8FCE201BE2A7.jpg

I see a comment about the Royal Automobile Club 1971. Although this was long before my time having led the strategic review of all UK motorsport for the Royal Automobile Club Motorsports Association (RACMSA) and more recently been an advisor to the FIA global leaders do I know the RACMSA ( recently rebranded Motorsport UK) was the the sole ASN for UK (Autorité Sportive Nationale – National Sporting Authority). It would seem logical an Acton west London based specialist wheel manufacturer would look to their local ASN as official FIA governing body of motorsport RAC MSA for guidance on relevant sporting rules as it pertained to their product. Also seems to list teams and or events as credentials?

Possibly if translated by someone with better German than me these little comments from circa 1967 are relevant? Seems to be about the approval of wheels by RAC MSA presumably as the official national sporting authority of FIA For groups mentioned? There are hundreds of ASNs not just RACMSA of course but FIA overarch — I know this first hand because a few years ago was invited to do a keynote speech to all the several hundred FIA Presidents following Jean Todt’s opening speech to the FIA Grand Gala held in Vienna...it was quite an honour to be invited to do so but also daunting making a speech to the several hundred people who collectively govern world motorsport even though I’d worked and advised some directly in FIA international regional sporting leadership meetings hence the invitation...

Regarding wheelnuts that maybe an example of something that changed. In 1967 there was this comment and this range in their catalogue but maybe out of date:

479D1744-366F-4148-A5D4-1C521C7486AE.jpg

Also a nice early shot of a wheel in factory; interesting how end of spokes meet the hub ( or should that be nave) in one flat on the bench. Did that design change as have seen versions more pointed not squared off in that area?

67FB4ED2-F6DF-403C-B12E-912F2FE6F3A2.jpeg

I’m certainly not an expert on Minilite of sixties as before my time and wheels are certainly not the area of expertise that the FIA called upon me for — always keen to learn from experts. There is a lot of knowledge about Minilite among the Mini mk1 community and other places.

Steve

[jashford]

Special lug nuts not required.