Supercharged Ulster

[Charles P]

thanks mike,

i didnt know that.

id still change it though...

To me, a Blumells wheel is a sure sign of a tarted-up copy rather than an original car 

Guilty as charged.
Extending the steering column to save my knuckles was the hardest part!


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[Chris.Dallas]

Agree, exactly what we have done!

[Lance Sheldrick]

Hi Chris, maybe it's the one I sold you! I found my Ulster much nicer to drive with the smaller wheel.

[Tony Betts]

it looks like there are a few of us tarts out there then

[Chris.Dallas]

Lol my comment was meant to post relating to using an original engine with new internals! The spring wheel is finding a new home on another project ?

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Lol personally I like the spring wheel but wouldn’t take an original solid wheel off of original fitment.

[Erich]

I had to take the four spoke off my Rep so I, ahem, fit a bit better and didn't bash my knuckles. As far as not driving to preserve a vintage car, I'm not sure what the point would be. Once it rolled out of the works, it was no longer "original". And if parts can be remade or repaired, it can be driven. Certainly worth preserving James' blown car, as its fairly original and a good example of the type.

Erich in Mukilteo

[Lance Sheldrick]

Nothing wrong with being a tart Tony, so long as you get what you want!!  I like the LOOK of the bluemells wheel but prefer to drive with the smaller one. I believe that Austins fitted the bluemells to the type 65 as standard. I remember in the 1970's, boy racers would fit smaller, thicker steering wheels to their Escort or Avenger or 1100 or whatever and it made the steering heavy, but they looked cool!...perhaps.

[JonE]

What is the diameter difference out of interest? And I wonder which is lighter? There must have been a good reason for the racers wanting the larger wheel, presumably. (I can't imagine Lewis Hamilton being forced to use a Bluemels equivalent today just because of a sponsorship tie up when ergonomic/driver efficiency was at stake?)

[Chris Garner]

Bluemels wheels were factory fitted to 65s, later sprung wheels to the Nippy.

Question: in one of the photos on the Brightwells' site a strengthening bracket is shown on the underside of the the bonnet top. Is this an Ulster feature? Never seen this before.

[Graham Beckett]

At Brooklands in the early 1930s if you were reasonably successful Blumells would present you with a steering wheel.  Black and red were the choices.

My original Ulster (GH23) still has its red Blumells wheel from that date.