Took Penny for a drive tonight!

[drooartz]

Well, not really, but I did a good job of pretending!

I did get my new steering wheel in today. Made by Mike Lempert -- only took 1 year this time! I had a similar wheel on the Tunebug, but that one took over two years. He's not the quickest, but I'm fairly particular about what I wanted. Derrington style, African rosewood, with a small hub that takes the stock Bugeye horn push. Just the right thing for Penny.

No real update on the body shell, shop is still working on it. But now I have my first restored bit, time to finish the rest of the car around it. :grin:

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Drew,
that wheel is more Spridget porn. Might I ask what his prices are like?

 

[AN5Sprite]

Jim,

His prices are very fair for what you get. (I know him and respect his work) I'd suggest the "Falcon-Lemans" wheel that he makes. google him...

 

[BlueMax]

Drew, if you separate the C&C machined cover ring from wheel and hub that Mike has farm out you may find a surprise of your disliking. Mike is a good wood chuck but no machinist, I'm not the only one too! Hope Penny's progress is progressing well for you.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Alan, I can't tell from your picture, but are the counter sink hole not lined up with the through holes?

 

[BlueMax]

Trevor, the holes are oblong, here is a photo from another wheel that was purchase from Mike Lembert. My friends was worse than mine, In my view a complete butcher job. You would never see anything of this kind of quility from "Nardi". Live and learn is all I can say!!

 

[longbridgehealey]

Mike made the wheel for our BN4 a few years ago. Beautiful then, and still is!

 

[drooartz]

Drew,
that wheel is more Spridget porn. Might I ask what his prices are like?

Prices are on his website:
https://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/prices

Jim,
His prices are very fair for what you get. (I know him and respect his work) I'd suggest the "Falcon-Lemans" wheel that he makes. google him...

That Falcon-Lemans does look nice, and has a neat historical connection with the Sprite. I really wanted the riveted look though -- something about those little dots around the wheel just works for me.

Trevor, the holes are oblong, here is a photo from another wheel that was purchase from Mike Lembert. My friends was worse than mine, In my view a complete butcher job. You would never see anything of this kind of quility from "Nardi". Live and learn is all I can say!!

I'm content with the quality of the wheel, as I was with my last one from him. Neither wheel was perfect, but it is the style I really wanted for Penny. I thought about going with another Moto-Lita (had one on my last MGB, Derrrington style) but I really like being able to use the original Bugeye horn push on a smaller hub.

 

[CLEAH]

Drew,

I love your picture. It reminds me of the drawing my sister Kimberley did for the cover of Chatter back in 1980. Image attached.

As for Lempert Wheels, I love the one he did for my Sprite. I never removed the ring on mine, but the wheel was perfectly executed and just beautiful. To my eye, a Derrington is the only wheel that looks right on a Healey, and Mike is I believe one of the very few sources for one. He was very accommodating with the timing of building mine. I also enjoyed picking it up at his shop and getting a tour while we were in South Carolina last April. I'll be commissioning one for my BJ8.

 

[HealeyRick]

Hugh,

That was one of the best Chatter covers, ever. Props to your sister.

 

[Gerard]

Trevor, the holes are oblong, here is a photo from another wheel that was purchase from Mike Lembert. My friends was worse than mine, In my view a complete butcher job. You would never see anything of this kind of quility from "Nardi". Live and learn is all I can say!!

View attachment 34650

Can't tell if it's an illusion or not, but they don't appear to be concentric either. Some look closer to the inner edge on one side.

 

[AN5Sprite]

Trevor, the holes are oblong, here is a photo from another wheel that was purchase from Mike Lembert. My friends was worse than mine, In my view a complete butcher job. You would never see anything of this kind of quility from "Nardi". Live and learn is all I can say!!

View attachment 34650

Yikes. That's surprising.