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For those interested in old cars.


DDolfelin
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What is the craze with putting minilites on everything? I don't think it does anything to enhance any of the nice cars that they are put onto. I'd rather have the standard rims any day of the week.

First thing I did with any of my cars 'back in the day',if they didn't come with them, was to ditch the standard rims and fit a set of Minilites! (well, Miniite-alikes usually as I couldn't afford genuine ones!) My favourite ever wheel & they improve any car they're fitted to. In my eyes anyway!  :)

 

Each to their own, eh?! 

 

Keith

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First thing I did with any of my cars 'back in the day',if they didn't come with them, was to ditch the standard rims and fit a set of Minilites! (well, Miniite-alikes usually as I couldn't afford genuine ones!) My favourite ever wheel & they improve any car they're fitted to. In my eyes anyway!  :)

 

Each to their own, eh?! 

 

Keith

 

They improve some cars, not others. Escorts and Minis, yes, E Types and  MGB's, no.

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I think it is a real public car park!

 

Actually I'm with the owner, whats the point of having something like that and no using it as a daily driver? My mate has a 1948 Bentley Special, with a pre-war boat back body, and it looks just like a Blower Bentley (even fooling some at a Bentley Drivers Club meeting!) and he uses it daily too, just like me and my Moggys....

 

If someone is going to pinch it, its insured, and its only metal after all.

 

Andy G

 

Oh, I completely agree about driving the things, it's just the thought of leaving it somewhere like that & having some careless chav smack their Fiesta or Corsa's door into the side of it! Car park dings in our mundane Focus & Grand Vitara make my blood boil, having some idiot do it to that beautiful piece of metal would make me apopletic!

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They improve some cars, not others. Escorts and Minis, yes, E Types and  MGB's, no.

 

They do to me though, especially an MG. Can't say I've ever seen an E-Type fitted with them though, so can't say for definite!

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Thanks for the auto update, Ivan.  Interested to hear how it goes....

I've poured in another half-litre of Dexron III. No discernible improvement. I wonder if there's a leak...... But there can't be a leak because otherwise there would be a pool under the car..... If there is a leak, where the hell is it all leaking to???? *scratches head, puzzled*

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I've poured in another half-litre of Dexron III. No discernible improvement. I wonder if there's a leak...... But there can't be a leak because otherwise there would be a pool under the car..... If there is a leak, where the hell is it all leaking to???? *scratches head, puzzled*

Is there any sign of oil coming out under pressure?

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Back-in-the-day, I cannot recall seeing very many, if but the odd few, minilite-lookalike wheels being fitted to more run-of-the-mill cars.....More likely to see Revolutions, or in the '70's, Wolfies?

 

Still, I cannot talk, having a set of lookalikes on my more modern Ford.

 

My all-time favourite photo of them all, has to be the '67 [?] Spitfire.

 

Exactly as I remember them in my early sports car days [i never actually owned one, being a Sprite person]......none of this pretentious, rosy-tinted 'I remembers' stuff that polishes them to within an inch of their lives, or fitting wheels made last year [because we have the surplus cash?].....or plonking wicker picnic baskets on the boot lid  [what the heck is that all about???]......The  Spit still has its basic steel wheels with hubcaps.......I saw more of those than I did with wires [spawn-of-the-devil, are wires!!].....

 

Thanks for that one shot, made my day!

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I've poured in another half-litre of Dexron III. No discernible improvement. I wonder if there's a leak...... But there can't be a leak because otherwise there would be a pool under the car..... If there is a leak, where the hell is it all leaking to???? *scratches head, puzzled*

 

I venture to suggest........maybe just getting its air out?   After adding the half litre [not a lot, in auto gearbox terms]....was the gearbox warmed, then dipped?  What did the dipstick tell you? 

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Is there any sign of oil coming out under pressure?

None so far. It just keeps on swallowing the Dexron and the Lucas.

 

I venture to suggest........maybe just getting its air out? After adding the half litre [not a lot, in auto gearbox terms]....was the gearbox warmed, then dipped? What did the dipstick tell you?

I'll try to take a photo of the dipstick reading the next time I start and run the car.

 

There is clear (not red) fluid that reaches to just above the maximum mark when cold. After I ran the car to the petrol station and once around the block, this was enough to get to operating temperature (about 89/90 degrees Celsius). The fluid reading - still clear - was now slightly higher, but the upper part of the dipstick up to the cap was relatively dry.

Edited by Horsetan
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For those who don't like Minilites, or Minilites on E-Types, look away now! Here's my mate Jon enjoying a 'driving experience day' in a modified V12 at Bicester on Saturday, despite looking petrified he did actually enjoy himself...

 

post-7638-0-87254500-1528123156_thumb.jpg

 

post-7638-0-69778200-1528123180_thumb.jpg

 

I've always liked them but then I'm biased, seven of the fourteen Minis I've owned have had various types of 10'' Minilites fitted at one time or another.

 

 

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My definition of an old car is pre war! (39-45) but every so often "Rule One" comes into play, particularly cars from my teens, saw this in the car park next to the Legion when I went for my pre lunch pint yesterday.

 

post-13586-0-41929200-1528126768_thumb.jpg

 

1960 Buick Invicta 7 litres worth! I'm not really a "Yank tank" fan but this was in such beautiful condition.

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...1960 Buick Invicta 7 litres worth! I'm not really a "Yank tank" fan but this was in such beautiful condition.

The paintwork looks flawless. Also, where can you find such an uninterrupted glass area like that now?

 

The original '66-'70 Oldsmobile Toronado was about the same capacity. Dread to think what the fuel consumption figures were!

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The paintwork looks flawless. Also, where can you find such an uninterrupted glass area like that now?

 

The original '66-'70 Oldsmobile Toronado was about the same capacity. Dread to think what the fuel consumption figures were!

More than your gearbox, I reckon.......................?   :)

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For those who don't like Minilites, or Minilites on E-Types, look away now! Here's my mate Jon enjoying a 'driving experience day' in a modified V12 at Bicester on Saturday, despite looking petrified he did actually enjoy himself...

 

attachicon.gifJAG V12.jpg

 

attachicon.gifJAG V12a.jpg

 

I've always liked them but then I'm biased, seven of the fourteen Minis I've owned have had various types of 10'' Minilites fitted at one time or another.

 

 

Now then......I've always liked the minilite [lookalikes...could never afford the Magnesium version]......my objection is towards what I see as inappropriate fitment.               The 10 inch version of the mini wheel looks a lot better to my eyes, than the 12 or whatever....I also prefer the look of proper, thick, tyres, not today's laggy-band-on-a-bicycle-wheel look....

[i once had a Mayfair in the family...gave it to my eldest son....and previously, owned a mustard coloured 850...and after that, a Hornet.....but before that, briefly [for health reasons] a 1071 S.....]

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For those who don't like Minilites, or Minilites on E-Types, look away now! Here's my mate Jon enjoying a 'driving experience day' in a modified V12 at Bicester on Saturday, despite looking petrified he did actually enjoy himself...

 

attachicon.gifJAG V12.jpg

 

attachicon.gifJAG V12a.jpg

 

I've always liked them but then I'm biased, seven of the fourteen Minis I've owned have had various types of 10'' Minilites fitted at one time or another.

 

I don't dislike Minilites, but they look better on some cars than others. It is also [partly to do with what the "standard" wheels are. On a Mini a 10" steel wheel with chrome hub cap is rather bland, on a MGB 14" wire wheels or Rostyles look good. Likewise Escorts or Cortinas benefit from Rostyles or at least 5 1/2" rims and Minilites look good on them. TRs don't need them either, wire wheels looking much better.

 

Min, Escorts and Cortinas weren't conceived a sports cars, so original Miniltes were one of the upgrades for the relatively well healed sporting owner. I could only afford wide steel rims on my Cortina GT Mk2.

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I don't mind them on sporty cars, but why do Moggy minors need to where them? A pair of Wolfrace slot mags on a modified one yes, but minilites on a standard saloon? Why?

 

Its this inappropriate use I object to. They just look silly....

 

Andy G

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Right , here comes the second batch .

 

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According to the notice in the screen this is very much a one and only car .

Pic will enlarge with a click .

 

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There is a Mini in the way of that Sunbeam. :nono:

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When I see a classic or supercar being driven I am not at all resentful, what I think is.

 

It is lovely to see them being driven so everyone can enjoy them.

 

Owners of classic Land Rovers are ALWAYS happy to chat to owners of newer ones.

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For those who don't like Minilites, or Minilites on E-Types, look away now! Here's my mate Jon enjoying a 'driving experience day' in a modified V12 at Bicester on Saturday, despite looking petrified he did actually enjoy himself...

 

attachicon.gifJAG V12.jpg

 

attachicon.gifJAG V12a.jpg

 

 

 

That is just stunning! Vast improvement on the usual horrible wire things that disappear into the arches & make the e-type look like it has the track of a 2CV...!!

 

Keith

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They just look silly....

We'll just have to agree to disagree Andy - I think a standard Moggy saloon looks way better with just a set of Minilites on it. If I had one & could just do one modification, that would be it.

 

Keith

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The 10 inch version of the mini wheel looks a lot better to my eyes, than the 12 or whatever...

I agree, however ours has to wear 12 or 13 inch wheels as we have 8.4 inch brake discs on the front. Probably overbraked for the hillclimbs we used in on, but pretty useful for tarmac stage rallies which was ultimately what my son wanted to compete in.

 

Keith

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