[Mgs] Steering wheel for 62-67 B

[Max Heim]

I loaned my MGB out for a week, and, of course, the person broke my steering
wheel by using it to lever himself out of the car. But it had been showing
stress cracks for some time, so I wasn't really surprised. Now the question
is what to do about it.

This is not a factory "banjo" wheel. This is a vintage 3-spoke, aluminum,
wood rim aftermarket wheel, of a style I have never seen anywhere else. It
is the same diameter as a factory wheel (16-inch?), the rim is very thin,
and the 3 spokes are equidistant, which is clearly a specific adaptation for
the MGB.

Most aftermarket wheel have three spokes at about 2:30, 6, and 9:30, but
this is a crummy layout for an early B, since the side spokes cover the
lower portions of the tach and speedo. The factory's solution for not
blocking the instruments was to put the spokes at 3:30, 6 and 8:30, which
worked for that purpose, but was very flexible and prone to cracking due to
the unsupported 190 degree arc at the top, where all the manhandling was
going on.

My wheel has the spokes at 12, 4 and 8, which leaves the instruments
completely visible, while supporting the rim equally all around. Otherwise,
it resembles several of the TT or Moto-Lita wheels in the Moss catalog, with
rivets in the wood part of the rim, tapered slots in the spokes, and a
circle of screw heads around the hub.

Anyway, if anyone knows where I could procure a wheel of this style, I would
be glad to replace it. Otherwise, I would be interested in acquiring an
inexpensive used wheel of any style to fit a 1962-67 B, to use while I
disassemble and restore this one. The aluminum portion is essentially a flat
disk with various cut-outs and holes, which nowadays could be waterjet cut
from a CAD template very easily. But I'd like to drive the car in the
meantime.

TIA

--

Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires