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MG MGA - Steering Wheel Identification

I've attached a photo of the steering wheel on my "A" and hope that members may be able to shed a little light on its history. It has the following marking on it: "Walsalls Wheels Ltd England". Is there any way to identify when this may have been manufactured or whether it is real or a knckoff? Comments would be appreciated.//nk


N Kopernik

It looks like a Les Leston wheel which I think were made by Walsall Wheels. This one looks nigh on identical http://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/image/70883347

It seems to be worth quite a lot of money http://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/image/70883347

A Les Leston advert in a 1967 MotorSport magazine has a similar wheel for just under 8 pounds.
Geoff Everitt

You may want to look at the reverse of the 6 o'clock spoke for the initials LL. If you find them, then you have a Les Leston wheel, manufactured on contract by Walsall Wheels in the 1960's and 70's. They were made to fit a wide variety of cars and are well regarded. They turn up rather regularly on the UK ebay auctions (e.g., http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wood-steering-wheel-Lotus-Elan-S1-S2-Cortina-Les-Leston_W0QQitemZ160417348349QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item25599e7afd#ht_500wt_981 ). Its authenticity can probably be assumed, since they're not yet so rare to attract counterfeiters.
Ken
Ken Korey

Thanks. I cannot find the LL on the reverse side; even pulled the hub off but nothing was etched into the spoke. At least it does appear to be original, but without the LL designation. Quite honestly, with/without the LL, it is a nice looking wheel!//nk
N Kopernik

For one reason or another, all Les Leston wheels aren't marked LL. I was wrong in my suggestion that these weren't likely to be counterfeited; you can purchase a fine reproduction of one from Mike Lempert, or one of his stock of originals (restored or unrestored). Geoff gives the link to his site, above. Yours IS a nice one!
Ken
Ken Korey

This thread was discussed between 29/03/2010 and 30/03/2010

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