Lagondaforum

Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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Will Feinnes of Feinnes Restoration. It wasn't, how shall I put this, a seamless process... Excellent quality so no issues there but I must have made 8 trips from Kent to Gloucestershire - many of which were a complete waste of time. The whole process took over 18 months.

Will has the wooden former for my discs but as I had them made to fit new wheels I can't be certain that they have the same hub to rim offset as your wheels. You would need to give them a wheel to work with. If they're the same as mine then it couldn't possibly take as long as they'll have the former for spinning the discs. The machined parts will be turned by them from billets. Plating always seems to take a while. All that said, Imwould use Feinnes again because to me it's the quality that counts above anything else.

Give me a call if you're thinking of pursuing this as I have some thoughts about how I would do it next time round. I've possibly got some spare bits and pieces you could borrow.

Lmarr in the US eventually offered me a price that was very favourable but it came through after I'd placed orders with Feinnes and I wouldn't go back on a deal once agreed. Lmarr's original price was way out once you factored in import duties so it was frustrating that he didn't just give me his best price from the outset.

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Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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You will find that there is a company in this country who sells the Le Marr discs so no need to import them. From memory a garage in Yorkshire - but I could find the details if necessary.
However from my experience there are lots of second hand ones available - although you need to find discs with the correct offset.
In my opinion second hand ones -suitable refurbished- are far preferable to new ones as they look so much more "authentic". However that is just my opinion.
There always seem to be a lot of them for sale at the Beaulieu autojumble in September - and no one buys them !
I agree they are beautiful and apart from being practical they look good.
Even Frank Feeley put them on his original drawing of the LG45 Rapide - although it would not appear that any of the original Rapides were in fact produced with them - certainly none of the original Rapides seem to have them now anyway !

Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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I didn't realise that Lmarr have a UK agent and am surprised that they didn't mention it as I had several phone conversations with Mike Rabin. That could well be of interest to anyone thinking no f buying new. I agree with Bill that refurbished originals is an excellent way to go if the offset works. I'd have probably gone that way if it would have been an option.

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Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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I have checked and in 2004 I contacted Ristes Motor Company of Nottingham. They still seem to be going. They seem to be mainly Rolls and Bentley but they told me they could get wheel discs for Lagonda. I think that I came to the conclusion that they would be getting them from Le Marr - but I may be wrong.
They had made the "tooling" for discs for Rolls and Bentley - although I think that this was just a pattern in wood.
They certainly had/have all the little bits that you need to put the discs together on the wire wheels. I bought the rubber extension leads from them.
Hope this helps.

Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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Chaps, I'm being offered a (near) complete set of discs and parts. They are said to be LG6/V12.

I have two questions please:

1. Will these discs fit the standard wheels of LG45 S3 saloon?

2. Are the outer discs likely to be of the same design (in appearance) as those fitted to an LG45?

If the answer to both questions is 'yes', the way forward is obvious. However, as the 'kit' for 5 wheels is not cheap, I would like to be sure.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Tim

Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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The only way to be certain that they will fit it to offer up one of the discs to your own wheel. It is the offset (ie the aligment of the rim in relation to the hub) of your own wheel that is the most important thing and offsets can often vary from car to car without this always being obvious.
If the offset of your wheel is different to the offset of the disc they will not fit properly - either against the rim or against the centre or even both !
In my experience these original discs should be cheap (mine were) as no one seems to want them ! However I think they look wonderful - particularly if they are original ones.

Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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Thanks for your insight, Bill. I'm quite sure you're correct and I am going to approach the issue in the way you suggest, with the kind assistance of a fellow member who has much experience in this regard.

Like you, I also want to use as many original parts as i can but much will depend on condition obviously. In terms of cost/price/value of these original parts, the outer discs themselves were quite inexpensive (£35 each) but then there are all the other parts and (x5) it soon adds up. FYI, the total cost to me thus far is approaching £700 (which includes some brand new rubber valve extensions with the correct Lagonda threads etc.).

I now have circa 90% of the parts but I will (of course) need not only to find or have made the few missing parts but also refurbish each element etc. etc.. Still, given the cost of newly manufactured items, and in any event, I think the result will be well worth it. I love the look of these wonderful Lagonda saloons (in particular) when equipped with these beautiful accessories.

Subject: Re: Wheel Discs for LG45

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What bits are you missing? Wheel discs and bits often come up on ebay and rarely sell. Often for Bentleys but you may find what you want. Also Fiennes sell spokes and other parts:
http://www.fiennes.co.uk/Parts/Catalogue/O/OB