If you won't Bob, I will!
Panasport, Minilite and their replicas are not "Modern" wheels. The
style is period and many of the cars rolled off the showroom floor with
these style wheels installed by the dealers. So for all practical
purposes the wheels should not detract from the "originality" of the
vehicle.
Now if You see a TR3 running around with 12" wide rims that stick out 2
feet from the fenders and sport foot wide 50 series tires, that might be
cause for alarm! :)
Joe
Bob Danielson wrote:
>
> I'm not going to respond, I'm not going to respond, I'm not going to
> respond, I'm not going to respond................ keep repeating it Bob.
>
> Bob Danielson
> 1975 TR6 Status at
> http://pages.cthome.net/BobD
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Philip Haldeman
> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2000 1:04 PM
> To: triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: The Philosophy of Originality
>
> Since buying my '72 TR6 many months ago, I've kept (and am planning to keep)
> it as original-looking as possible---reflector stripes (American, of course)
> on the new top, green radiator hose, original-size tires (Vredestein
> 185/80s), black-spoked slotted steering wheel to match the '72 instrument
> bezels (I'm refinishing *in black* a late-model 14.5" because I need the
> extra leg room). Why not bigger tires? Why not racing stripes (some
> dealers did put them on)? Why not a chrome valve cover? Why not Panasport
> wheels, etc?
>
> Well, my feeling is that at a certain point the car is no longer a "genuine"
> '72 TR6. Last week, I saw a '52 Plymouth. It looked quite original and
> very pleasing in its navy blue color. But it had "mag" wheels. The
> interior was almost like it came from the factory. But it had a chrome,
> drilled steering wheel. I did not look under the hood. This was a travesty
> of a '51 Plymouth that someone (a "kid" or child-like adult?) had gotten his
> hands on in order to imitate a 1950s kind of thing. Now I'm not against an
> all-out custom car, using a stock body, 50s or otherwise. But something
> "gets" me about half-way projects that don't really come off as fish nor
> fowl.
>
> When I see a Triumph TR3, let's say, with modern wheels, I say "ugh". I
> make a harsh judgment about the taste of the owner. Maybe the wheels look
> good in and of themselves, but whoever owns that car is not a designer, and
> when the factory hired a designer, they hired someone who understood pattern
> and style. Not always true, of course---and maybe there is a point when one
> ought to loosen up a bit when replacing an original part. But my feeling is
> that we should be striving for originality.
>
> It might be interesting to hear what people have to say on this topic, or
> what experiences they've encountered. (No need to write to me personally).
>
> Phil Haldeman
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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