Post for Cliff.

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Good Morning,

We have a member of our local car club, here in France, who owns a LHD Sunbeam Alpine 1725cc and he is looking for new wire wheels for the car. Unfortunately his English is non-existant, so he has asked me to make some enquires on his behalf.

For my sins, I am an MG man, so am not too familiar with Sunbeams. The wheels appear to be the same size as my MG Midget wire wheels ie 13". Are the Sunbeam wheels the same as the MG 13" x 4" and are the splines the same or compatible?

If not, could you please advise where we might locate a wheel supplier, either UK or EU based and any website address they may have.

Thank you in anticipation
Cliff Hatcher
MGCC Member 50483
ps - I do not believe my friend is a SAOC club member

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We won't mind if he joins!!

dibs.

Yes - According to my parts list, Alpines used the same 4J x 13 wire wheels right through from Series I to Series V, even though Series V steel wheels increased to 4½J. Motor Wheel Services (www.mwsint.com) list the following information for the Alpine I-V:

Original XW458
Hub 42 mm
Lacing Inner & Outer
Rim Size 4 x 13"
Rim Inset 17.50 mm
Rim Backspace 80.00 mm
No of Spokes 60
Tyre 5.60-13 Crossply or 155HR13 Radial
Tube 155/165R13
Notes This wheel is available in chrome or silver-painted finish

They also sell the hubs, both bolt on and integral, and the spinners.

The corresponding information for the MG Midget 1961-79 is:

Original XW458
Hub 42mm Curly
Lacing Inner & Outer
Rim Size 4" x 13"
Rim Inset 17.5 mm
Rim Backspace 80.00 mm
No of Spokes 60
Tyre 5.20x13 (Dunlop C41 crossply, original fitment) 145SR13 (standard from August 1965)
Tube 135/145 x 13
Notes This wheel is available in chrome or silver-painted finish.

Original factory option was 3.5" x 13" disc wheels.

Silver-painted wire wheels were offered as an option

Therefore, even though Midgets have smaller tyres, the wheels seem pretty similar, except the hub for the Midget is described as "curly" whereas this is not mentioned on the Alpine spec. However, the reference XW458 is the same, so I wouldn't like to say. Presumably an email to MWS would clarify the issue.

One difference is that the Alpine hubs/spinners have 12 turns per inch (TPI) threads, whereas the standard Midget hubs are 8 TPI, with a note that a few cars had 12 TPI spinners and these are a special order. Therefore, even if the wheels are the same, standard Midget spinners will not fit.

Steve (3234)