elxr8393

Hi, could I please have some expert advise. I have read in several places, by different authors, about these so called optional wheels. I have seen pics on cars (they look great) and read that they were an option, and also that they weren't. I have copies of the finis codes and brochures which don't even mention them. I have read about the 3 peice splits and the 1 piece BBS 16's, I cannot decide who knows.
I am restoring a 500 to hopefully completely original, and would like to know please,

Where the BBS split 16's a genuine option for the cars from Ford/Tickford.


Thanks in advance, regards Paul

gaz1

There were no options on wheels at all

The single piece ones i think you are taking about are the RZ 7 x16
The split rims were 7 x16 front and 8 x 16 rear

elxr8393

Thanks Gaz1, so the true concourse cars all have the std wheels.

gaz1

yes, they will all have std wheels

chester

They were a dealer fit option and only for the 3dr and RS500 - as said above they came from Tickford with normal 3dr wheels and were then retro fitted if required.

Far nicer than the normal 15" rims though, they fill out the arch nicely without being to big.

gaz1

Never heard that one before

chester

yep they were specced by BBS purely for 3drs/ 500s and they dont have the right size offsets to fit anything else properly - the only problem with them is that the bolts holding the split rims stick out to much preventing anything over a 300 rotor being fitted inside the rim.


Heres a pic of an aussie 500 with a set fitted, they came either with gold or silver centres




Stretch has a set on his 3dr that were originally specced for Wolf in Germany to fit a saff and the offsets are very different but he has managed to get them to fit

edited to say if you look on the post by TFrallysport in the parts for sale section about the 500 being broken - the car shown has the one piece versions fitted

elxr8393

Thanks for the reply's although it's one-all.
Even though BBS spec'd them for 3 doors, where can I find that they were actually a dealer option ?
Opinion seems divided, many people have spoken in similar posts saying they were or weren't.

Are you saying only the three peice were optional or both 1 and 3 piece ?

elxr8393

Bump I guess, chasing a definitive answer from those that claim they were optional, they don't appear in finis codes or brochures - why ?
Thanks for ALL the replies, just want to know for sure,

regards Paul.

PS TF car looks great with one pice,, already snapped up I believe at a great price, were these an option too, or only (if at all) 3 piece ?

Karting

Only standard wheels were available from Tickford and Ford. The BBS wheel was an after market wheel.

gaz1

i'm fairly sute they werent an option by ford at all, but i'm sure one of the RS register guys will be able to give you a final answer on them

martinrs500labatts

100% not available from ford as an extra,

only wish they where!!!

because the sierra only came with 15" rims

i can only race with 17" wheels max,

thats the rules and if somebody could get round it by proving they could come with 16" wheels they would have done it by know! well 18 years on and still 15" rims only,


hope that 100% clears that up for you.

Nick500

I have fitted a rare 16" wheel to my car that was a ford option of the time, but not mentioned on the cosworth brochure they are of similair design to the originals but look better here is a pic of the car with the rims,




Nick

martinrs500labatts

hi,

they may be rare,

but they where never a ford option!!

show me a bill from ford with these on, or a brochure showing this option?

no, well thats because they where not 100%!

i would love to beleive you,

Nick500

Hi martin, I will have to delve into this more closely. They are the same wheels as fitted to orion 1600E's but a few sizes larger, I will try and find out more on them from my local dealer I have also seen the same wheels in 15" fitted to a moonstone RS500 that was in performance ford some years ago now. I am by no means doubting what you say but I will get to the bottom of this and let you know. But I must say just because it was not an option on the 500's does not mean it was not from Ford in there Rally sport brochures as you and I both know there were no optional extras on the 500's just a good race catalouge of after sales parts! anyway hope all is good with you and your collection! did you ever go for another motor to replace the moonstone one?

Nick

the saint

iTrader: (1)

i`ve got a set of those rims on my sapp

i dont care if they are fords or not but i do care about how nice they look

i`ll sort pics out when i get a chance.............

martinrs500labatts

hi nick,

i have bought another ex rouse sierra rs500 touirng car,

this one i am racing, in this years ford saloon championship,

lots of jos to e done to it, in a short time scale, to get it race ready and updateing it to modern safty,

like new seat/harness/fire system/

still will be worth it,

Nick500

Nice one That will be the same series as Tony is it? should be a fun, I am just a little bit jealous.


Nick

martinrs500labatts

hi mate,

no not the same series as tony does,

he likes things like 18" wheels ect,

and this series is fords only, and only 17" wheels for sierra,

i will be racing esorts cosworth and rs500 ect, and even mk2 escorts with cosse engines,

martinrs500labatts

heres the new car

Nick500

Nice one! is it going to get any work prior to racing?

martinrs500labatts

yer,

its up steve scotts as we speak,

he is changing the engine over to my old unit from my road car,

luckaly when i sold my car i kept the complete engine including ecu turo and plenuim/ air injectors,

as i know this engine is 100% and made 527 bhp on the dyno, with 420 is of torque from low down,

its going straight inn,

steve is fitting me a new engine loom,

changing the diff ratio,

as its got a 5.1 ratio in there

with the new car i got a large spares package as so have every ratio to suit for the 9" diff,

so we are fitting a 4.09 in there as a compermise for avarage track layout,

he also is fitting me power strearing as its allready got a power rack,

changing the oil in the diff/engine/gearbox

changing checking the brake fluid,

need a new rear towing eye,

need to test the bag tank,

need a new seat as the old perfectly good one is out of date

need a new set of harnesses again out of date

new fire system as the old ones out of date again!

the hole car needs going over,

when its done, we are hopeing to do some testing at brunters ect,

Nick500

Nice, will be good to see it going!

Nick

Martyn74

Are these the same as yours as i cant quite see in the picture. Bought them 25 years ago and they've been in the loft ever since. What else can you tell me about the wheels. Were they an optional extra for the 3dr and 500?