Each to their own I guess, but why make a high-spec Eunos look like a base one with steel wheels? That being said, the car's all about individuality, so as long as Matt likes the look, that's all that really matters.
IMHO: I don't like those orange side lights because they look like turn signals that are permanently on. Also, I preferred the wheels it had on previously. But it's your car of course!!👍
I guess my opinion runs counter to a lot of the comments, but I love the steel wheels. They remind me of steel wheels on MGAs and MGBs. Oh, and the steelies fitted to Lotus Elans too, such as the one belonging to a certain Mrs. Peel.
Sorry mate but u should have gone standard daisy's. I am not a fan of the wheels but it's your car and u like it so good luck to ya and I hope u enjoy it
The daisies are 14x5" or 14x5.5" if I remember right? I think it is a nightmare to find sporty tyres in 14" (or indeed to find any tyres much in 14", the selection is so limited now that 14" is not common anymore), so something like a 15x6.5" with a 195/50 R15 might be the way to go? I wonder if Matt tried any Rover 400 alloys he had lying around, they should fit...
Great work on the new lights and side markers, I'm not convinced about the wheels personally, but the car is looking better and better with every new additional improvement.
The wheels look spot-on. I don't get the fascination with Alloys; cast are marginally lighter but nowhere near as strong. Would be interested to know whether any wobble is experienced without the use of spigot rings given the oversized centre-bore...
I like the steel wheels, they look so much better than those terrible aftermarket alloys. I like a chunky sidewall, so I'd be considering getting the speedo recalibrated as long as they didn't rub anywhere. Thanks for sharing!
Thought you were mad when you raved about the new headlights. I was wrong, they really do look so much better. I'll wait and see the new wheels painted before I comment on them. Side lights were a great brainwave, love them.
Strange choice of wheels. But as long as you like the look, who cares what everyone thinks about them. At least you can be sure no other MX5 will look the same as that one. So that's a positive, I guess.
I like the steel-wheels; a lot. They remind me of the Alfa 2000 wheels from the mid-seventies. Class! The headlights are a distinct step-up too. Well played.
I like the steelies 😎 Yeah, keep original taillights, them are the best looking ones. Sidemarkers look great and make huge difference, even being such a small thing 👍
A great look and good to see you're down sizing to non-sticky tyres that go on the steel rims, restoring that amazing MX5 handling. You'll feel the difference instantly and won't regret it.
It’s your car Matt, but I’m dubious about those wheels. I always thought the point of the MX-5 was that it was reminiscent of old British sports cars, but better, and incorporating improvements that came along between the demise of the Spitfire/Elan/MGB and the late ‘80s; Improvements like alloy wheels, which reduced unsprung weight over steel wheels, and improved vehicle dynamics. It’s a bit of a backward step, in my opinion, and may (I’m no expert - I could be way off with this thought) worsen the driving experience. Mazda knew what they were doing, and fitted alloys to this car when new. Even the rare base-spec mid ‘90s MX-5s came with skinnier and lighter steel wheels - something many owners binned off for alloys anyway. All that said, these steel wheels look better than the ones Mazda put on the base spec models (which looked like something off a Cortina 1.3), and I can see your thinking relative to the Dunlop sports wheels. They don’t look terrible. I’m interested to see how the driving experience pans out, once your plan comes to fruition.
I get the concept regarding the wheels but sadly I don't think anybody would relise what you are trying to achieve.I think everybody will assume you have put on some temporary rollers....
At first I thought all them new wheels are not for me , but yes after you fitted them I see what you mean , the real retro 70s feel is a comeback for me 👍👍👍
Great update Matt, and the new lights look great - always amazes me what a difference some small incremental changes (that are often overlooked) can make to the look of a car. Fair play on the wheel choice - bold move! Wouldn't be my choice but I get what you're trying to achieve, so I'm reserving judgement until they're painted up and with the right tyres.. And hey, putting our own personal stamp on the cars we love is half the point right?
I like the steelies, nice pepper pots! Suits the classic looks of the car. Also like the side markers, I also had them on my MG Midget. But got a ticket from the police... Illegal in my country. So I had to take out the bulbs. I would powder coat the wheels, lasts for years. Great upgrades Matt!
I decided not to watch you for a while I was so unimpressed by your intransigence regarding your illegal LED headlights, thank goodness you have come to your senses, well done for not being too proud. I love the wheels, very much in the spirit of the Elan.
I’ve always liked steelies on a BRG MX5, it does look very ‘60s. I wanted to go up from my 14 inch standard daisies to 15 inch VW steelies to allow me to get better tyres, the only downside is they’re quite heavy.
Looks like the winter wheels are on for summer. Why not stick a set of cheap daisies on it, much lighter and better looking. Headlamps look good though. They look like copies of the blue tint Raybrigs I have on mine.
I see where you are coming from with the steel wheels but personally I prefer alloys on such a pretty car. That said I, like many, had a set of steelies with winter tyres on which I used for the cold/wet winter months of the year on my 95 Civic VEi 3-dr. Then swapped to alloys for the other 3 seasons. You might want to check if those Falken tyres are winter/all season tyres? Might come in useful if so! Maybe with the right lower profile tyres on the steels it will look better - reserving judgement until then.
I had a similar issue with the fog lights on my Puma, they had been ruined by a bodyshop before i got it, they had lacquer overspray on them and they had gone white, I figured I had nothing to loose and sanded them right down, then lacquered them, I lost all the original markings but they looked pretty good after.
Love the steels on the R55, makes the car look like it’s designed to be used! I have always liked the idea of getting a ClubVan but it’s so hard to find a povo spec one
@@furiousdriving very rare version. I miss my Clubman. An excellent car oozing character. BMW hit the nail on the head with this one. I'm not keen on the other minis after the R55. A Paceman is probably my Limit. The small centre caps are £15 each (eBay), expensive but they will transform the appearance of your wheels.
What a transformation with the new headlights Matt! Looks fab! And I love the steel wheels! My first thought was also the Lotus Elan! Some kind of cars just look better with steel wheels, roadsters and the Volvo P1800 / 1800ES ! Looking forward to the end result! Brilliant! 👍🏻👍🏻🆙 for the upgrade and 👍🏻👍🏻🆙 like allways Matt!
Go for a steel grey for the wheels! It will suit the green really well. You can get it in an aerosol can and I found the Hycote Steel Wheels a good colour or the Motip Steel Wheels.
If you can get some centre caps that cover the wheel bearing nuts, and after painting and fitting the correct size tyres, them wheels will look like the absolute dog's doodahs!
Love the steel wheels the Z3 and SLK look better with simpler steel / steel styled alloys like the very simple pepper pot z3 alloys which were standard on the original 1.9 Z3 I think? Also the point about handling and ride is well made too - less width slightly less grip better feel for a car like this ? Better comfort too with slightly less low profile tyre. I’m a fan of these :-)
Sorry fella it’s a no to the wheels from me,but of course if you like them that’s all that matters. The steel wheel I would of gone for is some 60’s style Dunlops.
I think those wheels would look amazing in white. There's wheels called super rap evo, that showcase a brg mx5 with the white wheels, and I think it looks awesome. Did you have a night drive to see the difference in your headlights?
I’m sure when you’ve painted the wheels the colour you want they look so much better and you’ll get so many more positive comments me personally I would go for a dark silver or possibly bronze gold good thing about this. If you don’t like the colour easily changed these sort of cars are meant to be modified. I’ve got a mark three mr2 modified loads of stuff. Lots of people don’t like it tough I like it long as you like it. That’s what matters.
Hi Mat. The correct size for a MX5 /Eunos from factory if its running on 15's is 195/50 x 15 on a15 x 6J rim. However the standard size for this model was 185/60 x 14's ( the Daisy alloys). Presumably the rolling radius is the same for both sizes. However are your rims are wide enough for a 195 wide tyre?
I think the new wheels look OK after all the MX5/Eunos was a retro inspired car when launched. As for the paint colour I think it would be interesting for a slight gun metal look if moving away from the silver. Possibly adds a touch of understated elegance? The clear headlights do look better in daylight but it would be interesting to see how they perform v the previous ones. I'm good with the side markers as well but clear ones on the front would be the icing on the err.. Eunos. Thanks for sharing.
Once painted and with lower profile tyres, the wheels could look really good. I didn't like the aftermarket alloys - looked a bit too Halfords for me. But you may be able to sell them on to someone who likes them.
Mini R50 wheels need spigot rings, because MX5 MK1 wheels are hubcentric. Also, these wheels are monstrously heavy @ nearly 15lbs each. Original 14" wheels are 12lbs each, so you have increase unsprung weight by 25%. Low unsprung weight is key to the handling. Thats why original MX5 Daisys have 7 spokes, not 8 spokes like Minilites. The heavy wheels will quickly knacker the cheap Chinese coilovers on this car.
The steel wheels look awesome! Can’t wait to see what they look like with a more appropriate tyre size. Been trying to convince my other half to swap to steels on his F56 Cooper. I very occasionally see early poverty spec minis with steels and they just ooze carefree fun.
Those wheels of yours look very similar to the Dunlops that were standard equipment on Triumph TR6's. When TR6 production finished, one Peter Buckles, ( of Cox & Buckles.., later to be Moss ) bought a whole load of the Dunlops from the factory. I bought 4 from him for my TR5 for £5 each.
Not convinced about those wheel matt, sorry! Mines on the daisy wheels (but they are rough). Progress update on my eunos - front top control arms are swapped, front (refurb'd) calipers and hangers with disks and pads are back on. Brake hoses are being very stubborn, once complete bleed and off for MOT (fingers massively crossed). The top control arm bolt was incredibly stubborn, heat, wd40, impact and repeat didn't shift it. I had to resort to grinder to hack them off both sides. Oh and it's developed a bit of a flat spot and i'm not sure the temp gauge is working anymore (potentially related?). The joys, could do with driving it in this nice weather.
These steelies take some getting used to. My advice would be don't go for a very narrow sidewall, 55 maybe best, even if they might be still a bit larger than the alloys. Higher sidewalls drive better and have a more classic look. Be careful with painting them too dark, that was never the case with the old British sportscars. And I think you need to source some "old skool" chrome Mazda hubcaps to cover the hole and maybe the wheelnuts. Maybe you can find some from a 70s Mazda. The lights look great, also the side markers, they make the tiny and dark car more visible from the side. Maybe punt some LEDs in the headlights? 😜😄
Matt I like a good steely I had a set of something very similar on my Sierra but a lot wider you just need a centre cap like on an MG or a Spitfire, not my choice of wheel for a MX5 but I can see where your going with the look, the headlights fantastic the side markers was a great call.👍
Amber side markers are compulsory for vehicles over 6m long, but not forbidden for vehicles under 6m. Rear side markers may be red if they are less than a metre from the rear of the vehicle. I like the steel wheels. Are there centre caps for them?
Love the new headlights! As for the wheels, I’m not sure what to think. I appreciate their resemblance to vintage steels, but to me they look rather bargain-basement. I’d have gone for a Minilite type, but of course that’s just my preference… and I have them on my Midget. 😊 Personally, I think your new steels would look great in charcoal gray, with silver rims or bright trims. But again, that’s just my opinion.
So we're are your other sidelights at the front are they in the panel next to the indicators and prefer the old wheels tbh the steelies just make the car look like a old knackered banger a set of standard mx5 wheels would of been better
WEIGH THEM ! Key thing with suspension is unsprung weight. The reason alloys became popular was, for their size and rigidity, they were light for racing. Sadly, they are now huge and heavy. This is made critical by the state of our roads - your car can't handle well if the tyres are always bouncing off the surface. I bought an R56 Cooper. Nice std alloys with low profiles. Bone jaring and way too skittish round a rounabout. I fitted Mini One steel wheels with decent tyres and hey presto - comfort & much better handling. Might lose out on a track day but loads better on real roads. Key bit - my steels are about 6kg LIGHTER per wheel than the alloys were.
Love the headlights, not sure about the market lights, have never liked the alloys and like many I assumed that you would be going standard but no you throw us a real curve ball and go steely. Off the car I thought nooooo they’re going to look cheap and nasty but once on the car I could see exactly what you were going for and I must admit to liking the effect. A nice personal touch.
Your choice of wheels is definitely unexpected and I kind of like it. Let's see how they turn out after a mild refresh, flatter tyres and maybe a small centre cap.
Love the steel wheels and with the taller tyres looks like a British sports car. I wonder if anyone does a splined hub wire wheel conversion? Definitely be the Bees knees then. Never been a fan of alloys and are not practical with all the potholes nowadays, too easily damaged or shattered. Not helped by low profile tyres.
It's your choice but I prefer the alloys. The new headlights look good.
Each to their own I guess, but why make a high-spec Eunos look like a base one with steel wheels? That being said, the car's all about individuality, so as long as Matt likes the look, that's all that really matters.
I'd prefer the original Mazda alloy wheels Matt, but it's your car and you're happy with them.
Hate the new wheels but it's your car.
IMHO: I don't like those orange side lights because they look like turn signals that are permanently on. Also, I preferred the wheels it had on previously. But it's your car of course!!👍
I guess my opinion runs counter to a lot of the comments, but I love the steel wheels. They remind me of steel wheels on MGAs and MGBs. Oh, and the steelies fitted to Lotus Elans too, such as the one belonging to a certain Mrs. Peel.
Thats what I was going for!
I like them. Must be a generational thing.
Glad you're happy with it, Matt. That's what matters. Not a fan of those wheels, though.
Only possible negative with the side markers, in this country some numpty might pull out in front of you, thinking you are going to turn.
Many cars have side markers at the front today
They can be confused with indicators if you just catch them out the corner of your eye.
Sorry mate but u should have gone standard daisy's. I am not a fan of the wheels but it's your car and u like it so good luck to ya and I hope u enjoy it
The daisies are 14x5" or 14x5.5" if I remember right? I think it is a nightmare to find sporty tyres in 14" (or indeed to find any tyres much in 14", the selection is so limited now that 14" is not common anymore), so something like a 15x6.5" with a 195/50 R15 might be the way to go? I wonder if Matt tried any Rover 400 alloys he had lying around, they should fit...
As long as you like them that's all that matters..
I agree with you.l think they look really cool.
Those wheels look great, much nicer than those after market alloys
I actually really like those wheels. Get them painted with some new tyres and they’ll look great. Very 90s OEM style.
Great work on the new lights and side markers, I'm not convinced about the wheels personally, but the car is looking better and better with every new additional improvement.
The wheels look spot-on. I don't get the fascination with Alloys; cast are marginally lighter but nowhere near as strong. Would be interested to know whether any wobble is experienced without the use of spigot rings given the oversized centre-bore...
+1 for the steelies
Love the steelies!
I am a sucker for steelies I must say, will look good when painted.
i love the new steelies, definitely need some cleaning and perhaps a fresh lick of paint.
I like the steel wheels, they look so much better than those terrible aftermarket alloys. I like a chunky sidewall, so I'd be considering getting the speedo recalibrated as long as they didn't rub anywhere. Thanks for sharing!
Personally I much prefer the alloys, but the new headlights look fantastic!
Thought you were mad when you raved about the new headlights. I was wrong, they really do look so much better. I'll wait and see the new wheels painted before I comment on them. Side lights were a great brainwave, love them.
Did the side light trick with a TR7 years ago but made them indicators, much cooler and useful.
Strange choice of wheels. But as long as you like the look, who cares what everyone thinks about them. At least you can be sure no other MX5 will look the same as that one. So that's a positive, I guess.
I love the steel wheel look, looking good, Matt
You're like i was in my twenties, always modding my cars. Now im happy to leave them as they come 😊
I like the steel-wheels; a lot. They remind me of the Alfa 2000 wheels from the mid-seventies. Class! The headlights are a distinct step-up too. Well played.
On about the alloys ruining the handleing and then adds more unsprung weight with the steelies ?!?
Like the wheels, if they are wide enough you want 195/50 tyres on them. About to buy clear front light for mine, they look great
As someone who changed from period alloys to steels on a classic Alfa - ahhh these look worse.
Wait for the fight tyres and paint
I think the steel wheels will work when refinished. I get the Dunlop wheels vibe
Those steelies look awesome, great updates with lights too
I like the steelies 😎
Yeah, keep original taillights, them are the best looking ones.
Sidemarkers look great and make huge difference, even being such a small thing 👍
A great look and good to see you're down sizing to non-sticky tyres that go on the steel rims, restoring that amazing MX5 handling. You'll feel the difference instantly and won't regret it.
It’s your car Matt, but I’m dubious about those wheels. I always thought the point of the MX-5 was that it was reminiscent of old British sports cars, but better, and incorporating improvements that came along between the demise of the Spitfire/Elan/MGB and the late ‘80s; Improvements like alloy wheels, which reduced unsprung weight over steel wheels, and improved vehicle dynamics.
It’s a bit of a backward step, in my opinion, and may (I’m no expert - I could be way off with this thought) worsen the driving experience. Mazda knew what they were doing, and fitted alloys to this car when new. Even the rare base-spec mid ‘90s MX-5s came with skinnier and lighter steel wheels - something many owners binned off for alloys anyway.
All that said, these steel wheels look better than the ones Mazda put on the base spec models (which looked like something off a Cortina 1.3), and I can see your thinking relative to the Dunlop sports wheels. They don’t look terrible.
I’m interested to see how the driving experience pans out, once your plan comes to fruition.
Ready for the grid at goodwood! Ignore the detractors, what do they know.
I get the concept regarding the wheels but sadly I don't think anybody would relise what you are trying to achieve.I think everybody will assume you have put on some temporary rollers....
But, it's not about what anyone else thinks...or perhaps it is?!
At first I thought all them new wheels are not for me , but yes after you fitted them I see what you mean , the real retro 70s feel is a comeback for me 👍👍👍
Great update Matt, and the new lights look great - always amazes me what a difference some small incremental changes (that are often overlooked) can make to the look of a car. Fair play on the wheel choice - bold move! Wouldn't be my choice but I get what you're trying to achieve, so I'm reserving judgement until they're painted up and with the right tyres.. And hey, putting our own personal stamp on the cars we love is half the point right?
I like the steelies, nice pepper pots! Suits the classic looks of the car. Also like the side markers, I also had them on my MG Midget. But got a ticket from the police... Illegal in my country. So I had to take out the bulbs. I would powder coat the wheels, lasts for years. Great upgrades Matt!
OMG what have you done Matt them wheels are awful but it's your car.
Made it better!
@@furiousdriving No you haven't
I decided not to watch you for a while I was so unimpressed by your intransigence regarding your illegal LED headlights, thank goodness you have come to your senses, well done for not being too proud. I love the wheels, very much in the spirit of the Elan.
I’ve always liked steelies on a BRG MX5, it does look very ‘60s. I wanted to go up from my 14 inch standard daisies to 15 inch VW steelies to allow me to get better tyres, the only downside is they’re quite heavy.
Looks like the winter wheels are on for summer. Why not stick a set of cheap daisies on it, much lighter and better looking. Headlamps look good though. They look like copies of the blue tint Raybrigs I have on mine.
If you want to go for that classic Dunlop look then you should also take Dunlop tyres, IMHO 👌
Matt, love your vision, but I just can't get onboard with this one . . . I bet it will be more entertaining on the skinny tyres though !!
I see where you are coming from with the steel wheels but personally I prefer alloys on such a pretty car. That said I, like many, had a set of steelies with winter tyres on which I used for the cold/wet winter months of the year on my 95 Civic VEi 3-dr. Then swapped to alloys for the other 3 seasons. You might want to check if those Falken tyres are winter/all season tyres? Might come in useful if so! Maybe with the right lower profile tyres on the steels it will look better - reserving judgement until then.
these are just normal Falkens, they'll go well on Marketplace!
I had a similar issue with the fog lights on my Puma, they had been ruined by a bodyshop before i got it, they had lacquer overspray on them and they had gone white, I figured I had nothing to loose and sanded them right down, then lacquered them, I lost all the original markings but they looked pretty good after.
Don't like those steel wheels but it's your car. I think the original MX5 5 spoke alloys were really just right ( not the ones you had).
Prefer the alloys, but as long as your happy that's what matters
I love the wheels. I had these Steels on my R55 with small centre caps.
Love the steels on the R55, makes the car look like it’s designed to be used! I have always liked the idea of getting a ClubVan but it’s so hard to find a povo spec one
Id love a Clubvan too, such cool things
@@furiousdriving very rare version. I miss my Clubman. An excellent car oozing character. BMW hit the nail on the head with this one. I'm not keen on the other minis after the R55. A Paceman is probably my Limit. The small centre caps are £15 each (eBay), expensive but they will transform the appearance of your wheels.
"You know she's my idea of beauty, that's what I drive.
She's got wheels, wheels of steel."
Saxon! 😋🤘
Always good to see the happy dance get an outing
What a transformation with the new headlights Matt! Looks fab! And I love the steel wheels! My first thought was also the Lotus Elan! Some kind of cars just look better with steel wheels, roadsters and the Volvo P1800 / 1800ES ! Looking forward to the end result! Brilliant! 👍🏻👍🏻🆙 for the upgrade and 👍🏻👍🏻🆙 like allways Matt!
Go for a steel grey for the wheels! It will suit the green really well. You can get it in an aerosol can and I found the Hycote Steel Wheels a good colour or the Motip Steel Wheels.
If you can get some centre caps that cover the wheel bearing nuts, and after painting and fitting the correct size tyres, them wheels will look like the absolute dog's doodahs!
Love the steel wheels the Z3 and SLK look better with simpler steel / steel styled alloys like the very simple pepper pot z3 alloys which were standard on the original 1.9 Z3 I think? Also the point about handling and ride is well made too - less width slightly less grip better feel for a car like this ? Better comfort too with slightly less low profile tyre. I’m a fan of these :-)
I quite like the steel wheels, I thought you was joking at first but now they are on the car, they really do suit the it in all honesty 😊
Sorry fella it’s a no to the wheels from me,but of course if you like them that’s all that matters.
The steel wheel I would of gone for is some 60’s style Dunlops.
I think those wheels would look amazing in white. There's wheels called super rap evo, that showcase a brg mx5 with the white wheels, and I think it looks awesome. Did you have a night drive to see the difference in your headlights?
Just googled them, they look brilliant!
Oh my, what have you done... One step forward and four steps back in this video...
I like the idea of the side markers i have them on my Volvo S40 which are a standard feature
Love the new wheels
Another great video has always matt
Personally I would have gone for some MK2 wheels but get what you mean with the look of these also you could blast them in the barn ready for painting
Sorry Matt, but I preferred the Alloys 🤷🏻♂️
New steelies a definite improvement, I'd be painting them satin black though, especially against the green body colour!
LOVE the new wheels. Simple is the ethos. Totally get it! Great lights too!
You do what makes you happy regarding the wheels 😊👍🇮🇪
Special thanks to the lad for sending the lights etc 👍
Put the tyre's back on marketplace 🤗
Wheels look good, I wonder is there a centre wheel cap to finish even use the mini one and cover the Mini logo
I’m sure when you’ve painted the wheels the colour you want they look so much better and you’ll get so many more positive comments me personally I would go for a dark silver or possibly bronze gold good thing about this. If you don’t like the colour easily changed these sort of cars are meant to be modified. I’ve got a mark three mr2 modified loads of stuff. Lots of people don’t like it tough I like it long as you like it. That’s what matters.
I love them! Although for me, the Minilite style wheels are the most suitable for that mx5.
Absolutely agree with your choice Matt very Elan like. Have you thought of painting them bronze? Would look great with the BRG.
that could look good
Hi Mat. The correct size for a MX5 /Eunos from factory if its running on 15's is 195/50 x 15 on a15 x 6J rim. However the standard size for this model was 185/60 x 14's ( the Daisy alloys). Presumably the rolling radius is the same for both sizes. However are your rims are wide enough for a 195 wide tyre?
Ill have to check, they should be wid enough
Steel wheels look meh. Everything else looks great.
Nice headlights, I'll reserve judgement on the wheels until painted and shod in the right profile tyres.
love the new wheels!!
I think the new wheels look OK after all the MX5/Eunos was a retro inspired car when launched. As for the paint colour I think it would be interesting for a slight gun metal look if moving away from the silver. Possibly adds a touch of understated elegance? The clear headlights do look better in daylight but it would be interesting to see how they perform v the previous ones. I'm good with the side markers as well but clear ones on the front would be the icing on the err.. Eunos. Thanks for sharing.
Once painted and with lower profile tyres, the wheels could look really good. I didn't like the aftermarket alloys - looked a bit too Halfords for me. But you may be able to sell them on to someone who likes them.
Nice work on the lights but afraid I'm not a fan of those wheels.
Mini R50 wheels need spigot rings, because MX5 MK1 wheels are hubcentric. Also, these wheels are monstrously heavy @ nearly 15lbs each. Original 14" wheels are 12lbs each, so you have increase unsprung weight by 25%. Low unsprung weight is key to the handling. Thats why original MX5 Daisys have 7 spokes, not 8 spokes like Minilites. The heavy wheels will quickly knacker the cheap Chinese coilovers on this car.
Wheels look rubbish but the rest of the car is coming along nicely.
Steelies for the win 👍
The steel wheels look awesome! Can’t wait to see what they look like with a more appropriate tyre size. Been trying to convince my other half to swap to steels on his F56 Cooper. I very occasionally see early poverty spec minis with steels and they just ooze carefree fun.
We had an original new Clubman (odd doors) and had steels with winter tyres for winter, it looked like a little rally car!
Be good to swap one of the reverse lights for a fog light, easy to do and cleans the rear up
Like I did on the Crown Vic- but the bumper has been cut to fit the fog lamp
Love the wheels. i see what you're doing. They may look good yellow with the green 🤔
Now thats one Id not thought of!
Those wheels of yours look very similar to the Dunlops that were standard equipment on Triumph TR6's. When TR6 production finished, one Peter Buckles, ( of Cox & Buckles.., later to be Moss ) bought a whole load of the Dunlops from the factory. I bought 4 from him for my TR5 for £5 each.
Thats what I thought when I saw the R50 wheels!
Not convinced about those wheel matt, sorry! Mines on the daisy wheels (but they are rough). Progress update on my eunos - front top control arms are swapped, front (refurb'd) calipers and hangers with disks and pads are back on. Brake hoses are being very stubborn, once complete bleed and off for MOT (fingers massively crossed). The top control arm bolt was incredibly stubborn, heat, wd40, impact and repeat didn't shift it. I had to resort to grinder to hack them off both sides. Oh and it's developed a bit of a flat spot and i'm not sure the temp gauge is working anymore (potentially related?). The joys, could do with driving it in this nice weather.
Wheels look appropriate for a BRG car, 175 or 185 tyres will give a nice sensible sporty drive. I’d say paint in a classic 60s Dunlop silver…
These steelies take some getting used to. My advice would be don't go for a very narrow sidewall, 55 maybe best, even if they might be still a bit larger than the alloys. Higher sidewalls drive better and have a more classic look. Be careful with painting them too dark, that was never the case with the old British sportscars. And I think you need to source some "old skool" chrome Mazda hubcaps to cover the hole and maybe the wheelnuts. Maybe you can find some from a 70s Mazda.
The lights look great, also the side markers, they make the tiny and dark car more visible from the side.
Maybe punt some LEDs in the headlights? 😜😄
Matt I like a good steely I had a set of something very similar on my Sierra but a lot wider you just need a centre cap like on an MG or a Spitfire, not my choice of wheel for a MX5 but I can see where your going with the look, the headlights fantastic the side markers was a great call.👍
Gold wheels and some centre spinners 👍🏻, Lotus Elan style 👍🏻
Amber side markers are compulsory for vehicles over 6m long, but not forbidden for vehicles under 6m.
Rear side markers may be red if they are less than a metre from the rear of the vehicle.
I like the steel wheels. Are there centre caps for them?
not found any yet but do need some
The oversized tyres actually look good.
Love the new headlights! As for the wheels, I’m not sure what to think. I appreciate their resemblance to vintage steels, but to me they look rather bargain-basement. I’d have gone for a Minilite type, but of course that’s just my preference… and I have them on my Midget. 😊 Personally, I think your new steels would look great in charcoal gray, with silver rims or bright trims. But again, that’s just my opinion.
So we're are your other sidelights at the front are they in the panel next to the indicators and prefer the old wheels tbh the steelies just make the car look like a old knackered banger a set of standard mx5 wheels would of been better
WEIGH THEM !
Key thing with suspension is unsprung weight. The reason alloys became popular was, for their size and rigidity, they were light for racing. Sadly, they are now huge and heavy. This is made critical by the state of our roads - your car can't handle well if the tyres are always bouncing off the surface.
I bought an R56 Cooper. Nice std alloys with low profiles. Bone jaring and way too skittish round a rounabout.
I fitted Mini One steel wheels with decent tyres and hey presto - comfort & much better handling. Might lose out on a track day but loads better on real roads.
Key bit - my steels are about 6kg LIGHTER per wheel than the alloys were.
Love the headlights, not sure about the market lights, have never liked the alloys and like many I assumed that you would be going standard but no you throw us a real curve ball and go steely. Off the car I thought nooooo they’re going to look cheap and nasty but once on the car I could see exactly what you were going for and I must admit to liking the effect. A nice personal touch.
chrome nuts and possibly centre caps?
like everything EXCEPT the wheels, they just don't have the appeal. IDK, may some new paint and lug nuts and possibly trim rings will change that .
Your choice of wheels is definitely unexpected and I kind of like it. Let's see how they turn out after a mild refresh, flatter tyres and maybe a small centre cap.
Love the steel wheels and with the taller tyres looks like a British sports car. I wonder if anyone does a splined hub wire wheel conversion? Definitely be the Bees knees then.
Never been a fan of alloys and are not practical with all the potholes nowadays, too easily damaged or shattered. Not helped by low profile tyres.