Can you identify these classic wheels?
Discussion
Having acquired a set of these wheels on a 7-type special I bought, I am wondering where they originated and what they would have been used on new?
They are 6Jx13 and Ford 108 pcd. Notice that they don't have a taper seat for the wheelnuts - unusual. They are cast Aluminium, fairly light weight, and unpainted - apart from a fetching shade of orange between the spokes.
Other marks cast into the rear of the spokes include:
Made in England
ELECO 78
6x13
Max Load Per Wheel 635KG
I've Googled all this info with nothing found and looked at photos of hundreds of 60s and 70s classics but can't see this exact wheel. All suggestions gratefully received and thanks in advance for your combined expertise.
They are 6Jx13 and Ford 108 pcd. Notice that they don't have a taper seat for the wheelnuts - unusual. They are cast Aluminium, fairly light weight, and unpainted - apart from a fetching shade of orange between the spokes.
Other marks cast into the rear of the spokes include:
Made in England
ELECO 78
6x13
Max Load Per Wheel 635KG
I've Googled all this info with nothing found and looked at photos of hundreds of 60s and 70s classics but can't see this exact wheel. All suggestions gratefully received and thanks in advance for your combined expertise.
Thanks for the quick responses. Ref. the Corsair/Cortina idea RB26DETT, I've looked and l can't see any in use on a car but being Ford pcd I suppose they could have been used as aftermarket items on these cars.
Ref. the photo of the Mini ones Joe, thatks, that's a good spot. I reckon they are the same manufacturer and style, just those are the 10 inch Mini versions.
So do we reckon they are just an aftermarket wheel or were they used as Original Equipment on something? I wondered about Ford based British small volume sports cars... maybe TVR or something? Still, I couldn't find any evidence for this.
Still open to any more ideas! Thanks to all contributors.
Ref. the photo of the Mini ones Joe, thatks, that's a good spot. I reckon they are the same manufacturer and style, just those are the 10 inch Mini versions.
So do we reckon they are just an aftermarket wheel or were they used as Original Equipment on something? I wondered about Ford based British small volume sports cars... maybe TVR or something? Still, I couldn't find any evidence for this.
Still open to any more ideas! Thanks to all contributors.
Thanks Hooli, you are right that 205 Gtis used a simlar type of non-taper nut but as these wheels are stamped 'Made in England' I can't see Les Francais fitting them as OE items, can you? 
This type of non-taper (somebody must know the proper word for this?) arrangement was used on the Capri Ghia alloy wheels.
I weighed one of these and as it's over 5Kg I don't think it's Magnesium alloy. Plus it isn't a pile of dust
This type of non-taper (somebody must know the proper word for this?) arrangement was used on the Capri Ghia alloy wheels.
I weighed one of these and as it's over 5Kg I don't think it's Magnesium alloy. Plus it isn't a pile of dust
I tried to have a look & this thread keeps coming up as the first result!>>> this thread keeps coming up as the first result!
Yeah, I noticed that An internet feedback loop!
These wheels must be pretty unusual; I really can't see a set on a car anywhere on the electric interweb. I reckon the 'Eleco 78' casting mark means they were cast in 1978? The orange colour is typically 70s - reminds me of 'Wardance' which was one of the colours you could buy an Avenger Tiger in...
Yeah, I noticed that
An internet feedback loop!These wheels must be pretty unusual; I really can't see a set on a car anywhere on the electric interweb. I reckon the 'Eleco 78' casting mark means they were cast in 1978? The orange colour is typically 70s - reminds me of 'Wardance' which was one of the colours you could buy an Avenger Tiger in...
A lot of aftermarket wheels use flat washer nuts (revolution for one) also early ford (RONAL) alloys where flat washer, Mk2 escort on are tapperd seats
And don't forget ford isn't the only manufacturer to use 4X108mm
for instance mazda, Peugeot, saab, some volvos and also some talbots as well i beleive.
And don't forget ford isn't the only manufacturer to use 4X108mm
for instance mazda, Peugeot, saab, some volvos and also some talbots as well i beleive.
Thanks NHK244V, I didn't realise about Saab and Volvo but I used to run a Sunbeam Ti rally car on the Capri Ghia alloys so I knew about that one. And I know Maxda and Ford have been linked for a long while. Where there any Mazdas on the UK market in 1978?
Maybe the paint being similar to Chrysler Wardance means that these were once on an Avenger Tiger?
Maybe the paint being similar to Chrysler Wardance means that these were once on an Avenger Tiger?
I reckon Joe_T has got it with his pic of ELECO Falcon Mini wheels. The shape and number of holes, non-taper nut seats; all looks the same.
What's still interesting me though is whether the 13 inch Ford fit set I have is just an aftermarket goodie or if they were OE on something British and sporty. And I can't find a photo of a car with a set on either. Are they that rare?
I remember Chrysler 'Wardance' because it was the closest match to the frame on my 1982 420 KTM motocross bike and I used quite a few cans of it I reckon Dupliu-Colour must have made up a whole new batch just for me
What's still interesting me though is whether the 13 inch Ford fit set I have is just an aftermarket goodie or if they were OE on something British and sporty. And I can't find a photo of a car with a set on either. Are they that rare?
I remember Chrysler 'Wardance' because it was the closest match to the frame on my 1982 420 KTM motocross bike and I used quite a few cans of it
I reckon Dupliu-Colour must have made up a whole new batch just for me 
Thanks Jalopnik, that sounds like a definitve answer from someone who was 'there at the time and bought the wheels'. I'm grateful for your help - as I am for all the contributions so far; thanks PistonHeaders 
I would bet that at 6 inches wide these were intended for something quite sporty and the orange infills keep sending me back to an Avenger Tiger in Wardance. Unless anyone has any suggestions about similar 'vibrant orange' colours on other typically sporty Fords, Chrysler/Rootes, Saabs or Volvos around in 1978???
I would bet that at 6 inches wide these were intended for something quite sporty and the orange infills keep sending me back to an Avenger Tiger in Wardance. Unless anyone has any suggestions about similar 'vibrant orange' colours on other typically sporty Fords, Chrysler/Rootes, Saabs or Volvos around in 1978???
ive recently sold a saet of these wheels that where 5 x 10 mini size.
they are very rare (in 10" size) and where a very high quality wheel - i at first suspected they where magnesium as they where so light
they where a very thin wall casting, so must have been die cast rather then sand cast, so it would be expected that there should be lots more floating around - ive only ever seen two sets
the nuts where a real pain, they where fatter shanked then most mini wheels, i ended up having to use a certain sort of revolution nut thats fatter shanked than any other, and have it shortend to suit the depth of these wheels
they are very rare (in 10" size) and where a very high quality wheel - i at first suspected they where magnesium as they where so light
they where a very thin wall casting, so must have been die cast rather then sand cast, so it would be expected that there should be lots more floating around - ive only ever seen two sets
the nuts where a real pain, they where fatter shanked then most mini wheels, i ended up having to use a certain sort of revolution nut thats fatter shanked than any other, and have it shortend to suit the depth of these wheels
Ah - the Guru has spoken. I wondered why there are several tubular lugs cast on the inner edges - and you have the answer; they're die cast You're also right that the quality is very good (for the 70s), they are thin and they are pretty light, although not close to Magnesium IMHO.
Do any of the posters who used these on an Escort recall if they used standard Capri Ghia sleeve wheelnuts? Apart from Gurus Mini, no-one has said they had trouble sourcing wheel nuts.
Once again, the input is terrific and I'm very grateful for everyone's comments
You're also right that the quality is very good (for the 70s), they are thin and they are pretty light, although not close to Magnesium IMHO.Do any of the posters who used these on an Escort recall if they used standard Capri Ghia sleeve wheelnuts? Apart from Gurus Mini, no-one has said they had trouble sourcing wheel nuts.
Once again, the input is terrific and I'm very grateful for everyone's comments
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff