A Page from the Journal of Irreproducible Results

[Richard Fritz]

Date: April 5, 2025
Location: Columbia Speedway, Cayce, SC
Event: 17th Annual Carolina British Classics Car Show
Sponsored by: British Car Club Midlands Centre
Topic: Sunbeam Steering Wheel Modifications

This is a survey of the changes made to Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger steering wheels six decades post-production conducted by WizzzBANG Motors for Lucas of Loxley. The results reveal some trends of Alpine owners while Tiger owners tend to be docile and content with the factory configuration. Also, the survey brought about an unexpected observation about early series 'finned' Alpines.

 

[jdoclogan]

As a Professor Emeritus that did research I appreciate the article and the opinions stated. Well done Fritz!

 

[bulldurham]

Really good pic of steering wheels? Going to have some posters printed ?

 

[DAVID LAWLER]

Richard,
Fine survey! Not that I ever really thought about it, all three of our cars still have the original steering wheels as well as the original engines except for the Series IV which has a 70's era 1725. That poses a question, as one who never gave a hang about keeping all that stuff original, how could that happen?
Sorry we missed it this year, but we had to attend a work event in Toccoa GA a week earlier and another seven day weekend road trip would have been too much.
Dave Lawler

 

[Richard Fritz]

Frankly, Dave, it never occurred to me either until I heard it being discussed at the show.
Wait till you read the article prepared for the Rootes Review. I hope Kerch finds it in her heart, and budget to print it as written. It has a lot of good Sunbeam stuff in it.
Rich

 

[alpine_64]

@Richard Fritz , interesting survey of the cars present.

I would make a few observations and offer some hypothesis.

1. While it is very common for Tigers to have their wheels swapped ( usually for a smaller diameter wheel, often one with a thicker rim) I would suggest the reason more Tigers have retained the stock wheel of they have the more desirable wooden GT wheel as standard, a wheel many Sunbeam owners aspire to.

2. One of the most popular replacement wheels for the Sunbeams are the moto-lita wheels... Either in the smaller thick rim leather variety of the larger timber styles..
There are several reasons for this being popular.. they are a period option and popular in period.
They are well made and reasonably priced, and importantly they offer a boss kit which solves the fitting problem.
Unlike many of the other period options: Les Leston, Springalex, Carlotti etc they have stayed an active manufacturer.. the other exception being Nardi who do offer a boss kit and a very nice timber wheel that suits the Tiger.. but the kit is generally more expensive.

3. The stock wheels hub and rim tended to crack being bakerlite, and lack of availability of the factory wheels meant people often swapped them

It's an interesting survey.. similar to the road wheels survey at the United a few years back which produced some interesting results.

Also, good that you actually showed what you found rather than just made up some fictitious story to explain something.

 

[Richard Fritz]

Hello Michael...
It was nice to get your input on this ad hoc 'field' survey. As you mentioned, the facts of this study are real, although it was written to poke a stick in the Prince of Darkness's eye. I didn't know what to expect when I started photographing each car, but the results on this particular day with 28 cars present made me think Tiger people liked their originality.
I agree with your comments on the steering wheel's composition and size. I also found the original bakelite plastic steering wheels on all my Alpines too flimsy and thin. Similarly, the Tiger wheel felt the same way. I swapped my Alpine GT's steering wheel for a Mota-Lita Mk9 wheel. It was, IMO, an improvement in looks, feel, and size. Photos attached.
Although most Tigers on the road today have upgraded wheels, tires, and engine modifications, they remain true to their roots as a value-based proposition. Alpine owners do similar upgrades to personalize their cars for safety and performance with the most radicle modification... the V8, and the ever-popular V6 conversion.
These deviations from the original notion of the Sunbeam Series Cars are a tribute to the aspirations of their owners to preserve and maintain drivable examples of a long-gone British Marque without having to visit an automotive museum to see one.

 

[alpine_64]

I swapped my Alpine GT's steering wheel for a Mota-Lita Mk9 wheel. It was, IMO, an improvement in looks, feel, and size. Photos attached

Front the washer pump knob and the faceted lights and indicator icon assume it's a series 3 GT?

I also fitted Mota Lita wheels to my cars, for the alojen I have the 3 drilled holes and shallow dish wheel with leather, the tiger I have the slotted wheel with shallow dish also leather fitted by the previous owner.

My father's SIVGT has a mota-lita leather rim with drilled holes and a deep dish, but for his the centre boss has a series 3 bonnet badge . Which looks great.. but probably not so safe ..