scannon Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 The wagon wheels will no longer be seen on my Caterham. They just didn't look right to me, partially because of their 16" diameter. She is now wearing a set of Panasports with Toyo R-888s in 205/50-15. These are Miata spec wheels with 4 x 100mm bolt circle and 38mm offset. I had to have the wheel adapters trimmed a little to fit the center hole. I like the look of these much better and fresh R-888s really sharpen up the handling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11Budlite Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Looks nice Skip! When did Caterham start using a 4 x 100 bolt circle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 26, 2010 Author Share Posted October 26, 2010 Looks nice Skip! When did Caterham start using a 4 x 100 bolt circle? The Caterham has a 4 x 4.25" bolt circle. I wanted Panasport type wheels for the car but the only way to get them in the size I wanted and the Caterham bolt pattern was to have them special made at a quoted price of $500 each. A few years ago I had some adapters made so I could use my Miata's orange Kosei race wheels on the Caterham. The hubcentric shoulder on the adapters was too large for the Panasports so bsimon turned them down to fit. Now I can use either set of Miata wheels on the Caterham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MightyMike Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 They look great Skip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMW RACER Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 That looks great!! I think the Minilite/Panasport wheel suits the Caterham. I'm thinking of some 13x7 Panasports w/888s for mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 (edited) seconded.... Edited October 26, 2010 by Ian7 tried to add photo of my Panasports, but failed again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Love the wheels. Dig the toolbox too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 26, 2010 Author Share Posted October 26, 2010 If anyone happens to have an extra Panasport in 7 x 15, 38mm offset with the 4 x 100mm bolt pattern, I'd like to buy it for a spare. I put one of the orange wheels on the spare tire carrier and although it certainly draws attention to the brake light area I'd rather have a matching wheel back there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Are these your old wheels? http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1384/5112593800_8c0a100998_b.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Ron, Yes, that is my car with the wagon wheels. They had been spoken for for quite awhile and the new owner picked them up today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted November 18, 2010 Share Posted November 18, 2010 There is nothing that says "early English road racer" quite as well as a set of Panasports. When I was younger a friend of my Dad's had a nearly new Bug Eye Sprite and he put Panasports, or their exact duplicate, on it as soon as he got it. It would be interesting to know how long that wheel, or something that was it's insperation has been around. I always thought my first set of "American Mags" was a bit of a rip off of that look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 Jim said: There is nothing that says "early English road racer" quite as well as a set of Panasports. I pretty much agree, except I always equated the Minilite look with 60s road racing, not just English road racing. Although, thinking back about it, I think that the 1st set I saw were on an early 60s Mini Cooper in Sports Car Graphic magazine. I had a set of Minilites that I bought in the mid 60s. I put that set on several different cars over the years. I thought they looked best on our '71 Datsun 1200 fastback then on my '62 Ranchero. When I was younger a friend of my Dad's had a nearly new Bug Eye Sprite and he put Panasports, or their exact duplicate, on it I definitely agree about them looking good on a Bugeye, especially with knock-on hubs. This one will be on the road in the spring:: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4207502998_80168f49a5_b.jpg I always thought my first set of "American Mags" was a bit of a rip off of that look. I remember the American Racing knock off. I think that it was called the Silverstone. I bought a set of 4-spoke Libre wheels in the late 60s. I remember looking at the American Racing catalog and choosing between the Libre and Silverstone. Both were available in your choice of aluminum or magnesium. I bought the Libres because I already had a set of Minilites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruadhd2 Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 Wow. Don't mean to change the thread but what do you have under the hood of the bugeye? I saw a similar looking one at RP Performance at Summit Point, West Virginia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 Ruadhd2 asked? what do you have under the hood of the bugeye? The engine is a 1275 A-series with an Eaton supercharger. The car's not mine. It belongs to my friend Lee Kaiser. (I didn't mean to hijack the thread.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 That yellow fan is so cute! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDingo8MyBaby Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 Skip, Great work and I've never liked the wagon's much myself. They look stellar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted November 19, 2010 Share Posted November 19, 2010 Skip: Amazing how much nicer your Panasports look on a se7en than they look on a Miata! What are the "wheel adapters" you mention? Mike M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted November 19, 2010 Author Share Posted November 19, 2010 Mike, I had a local machine shop make them from 28mm 6061 T6 aluminum. They convert the 4 x 4.25" Caterham bolt circle to 4 x 100mm Miata bolt circle and compensate for the 28mm difference in offset. With the extra studs and nuts they weigh in at just under 2 lb each. I originally had them made to be able to use the orange Kosei K1-TS wheels and R compound tires from the Miata on the Caterham. The center hole on the Panasports is a little smaller than on the Kosei wheels so bsimon turned them down a bit to fit. The Panasports are a great change for the better. I tried to find them with the correct bolt circle and offset. The only ones I could find had to be special ordered and machined and came in at around $500 each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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