Wheel Paint Surface Finish

[apblake]

I’m restoring a set of LP883 wheels and I’ve seen tons of discussion about how creamy the white should be, but I haven’t seen anything on the surface finish. What are people going with? Should they be satin? Matt? Semi-gloss?

[Peter Laidler]

I say GLOSS

[AndyPen]

I have an original 63-64 - definitely gloss in the earlier lighter) shade of OEW

[steve1071]

Original cream wheel

[W1NG3D]

I went with a glossy tin of rattle can paint when I first "restored" my LP883s. They didn't come out mega glossy, but I think if they were too shiny, they'd look a bit overrestored so I was very happy with the finish.



This was over 6 years ago though, and I think I need to redo the paint job again soon!

[AndyPen]

Original cream wheel

That's a very creamy cream Steve, or is it just the photo?? Off a post 64 car at a guess?

[steve1071]

It’s actually more cream in real life. Not sure the dates of the car they were off but some people suggest a Land Rover cream is the correct colour.

Bernie Griffin’s stunning 1071 with similar cream wheels.

[steve1071]

More on wheel colours here on Andrew’s brilliant build thread;

viewtopic.php?t=19379&start=640

[AndyPen]

More on wheel colours here on Andrew’s brilliant build thread;

viewtopic.php?t=19379&start=640

It is indeed a great thread - one that inspires us to carry on when things get a little tough

On wheel colours, I've a set of standard ones from an early 64 car and the original unpainted ones on the 66 car. They are surprising good condition as are the wheel trims. I'm sure no one will be surprised to hear that these wheels are different colours!!! The early ones are stored 'in deep' but when it is a little warmer again I'll pull them out... and compare to the other 64 ones too.

[steve1071]

I think we can safely say from (BMC) experience there is no right or wrong answer…..

[Peter Laidler]

As to the actual COLOUR, Andy is right. The actual colour is what was in the mix on the day - or week - or month! I went around for a month or so during the late 80's,with about 30 different silver color swatch cards in my pockets trying to identify the actual silver colour. There were thousands of mini's around in Oxford at the time. And never got a definitive answer beyond '......middle ground silver.....'

I'd say same as the OE type white. My fairly new Dunlop 3.5 S rim without hub cap lugs is towards the creamier shade - and gloss

[apblake]

Ok so the consensus seems to be gloss - thanks folks

[66Traveller]

Other than that the wheels were for Mk1s never painted OEW by the factory - they were cream. As Peter says, the silver shade used varies considerably

[111Robin]

And there is also Dover Grey GR34

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=18585

[AndyPen]

Sorry to take so long to sort a pic, and for it being a poor shot taken in the corner of my store - but here is one of the lighter cream wheels from a 64 car. The 66 is away at the moment, but that is a fair bit creamier by comparison.

This is more like a Mr Whippy Ice Cream, whereas the 66's is more like the real Cornish stuff

early-cream-wheel.jpg

[AndyPen]

...and again with apologies for lateness, here's the other 64 car with the lighter cream. Under the hubcap appears lighter as you can see, and is still shiny

The car is Sept 64 and to my knowledge has had very little work - with everything from new documented - including fuel fill ups!! 33k miles only, but left sitting outside in the 70s & 80s unused.

The colour is a close match to the other wheel and nowhere near as creamy as the later car, so as my wife reminds me, age matters

early-cream-on-car.jpg

[mk1]

Other than that the wheels were for Mk1s never painted OEW by the factory - they were cream. As Peter says, the silver shade used varies considerably

I got sick of saying this some time ago.