> Panasport - seems to be the defacto standard mag wheel on LBCs in the US,
so
> everybody and their brother has them.
Mostly because they are true, well-finished, well-balanced and
commonly-available. I have several friends running them on several
different kinds of cars. I have not heard any complaints. One fellow has
had the spokes and centers painted to match his Lotus. The rims have been
highly polished. They are stunning.
Panasport also makes a peg-drive center-lock wheel to fit Elan and Plus 2
cars as well as the few Europas converted to take them. The only Triumph
connection there is that I have to believe that Spitfires could be converted
to take them.
The standard 4-bolt Panasport would be my first choice. They come in a
standard and a light weight, I believe. For your use, I wouldn't pay extra
for the lighter ones.
> I assume this is the wheel that Moss
> carries. They require a special lug nut that Moss wants $6 each for, but
is
> available elsewhere for a lot less.
The ones I have seen on Loti seem to have the standard tapered seat. This
is a boon to us, as Brand Lotus Europa alloys are notoriously approximate in
their centering. Several folks have had a lot less wheel-balancing
frustration after changing over to the Panasports.
I have seats which I think are similar to Panasport on my BWA Sportstar
wheels on my Lotus. I use ordinary off-the-shelf lug nuts from the
car-parts store. I would be astonished if a paid as much as a buck for each.
I suggest you look at a set of Panasports to see if there is any reason to
use a trick nut.
> KN - The least expensive of the lot, and I gather this is what Vicky Brit
> and other parts houses are selling as Minilite clones. The KN wheels I've
> seen in photos look a bit unrefined., but it could just be bad
photography.
It's not just bad photography. The KN Minator wheels are not as
highly-finished as the Panasport. They do offer a version to fit the Rudge
knockoffs used on wire-wheel Triumphs, but these are fairly pricey.
I just heard about the
I just heard about ROTA RB wheels which have the same look, but I don't know
anything about them.
Phil Ethier West Side Saint Paul Minnesota USA
1970 Lotus Europa 65/2597, 1992 Saturn SL2, 1993 Suburban, 1962 TR4 CT2846L
pethier@isd.net http://www.mnautox.com/ http://www.lotusowners.com
"Drifting is the synchronized swimming of auto competitions." -Gene Bennett
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