The 'E' Type Forum

Hi Gents,

I'm hoping someone out there will be able to help me regarding wire wheels for my S1 4.2 OTS.

When I bought my car in 1982 I was living in the Far East. Albeit the car was in dreadful condition it still had its wheels! Although painted silver, when I scraped around the hub I saw chrome so I presumed they were chrome as standard when supplied. The point I am trying to clarify is when exactly did Jaguar change from the curly hub to the flat hub. The hubs I have are flat hubs and the car is a late S1 4.2 - Car No. 1E1822.

I have searched various books but cannot find any reference as to from which car number forward the wire wheels were changed from the curly hub to flat hub. I thought the change was from S2 onwards but obviously not so. What I need to know is from what Car Number for a S1, 4.2, RHD OTS did the change take place.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help with this problem.

Many thanks and kind regards,

George

Hi George

That changes were outlined in Service Bulletin M20 (January 1968). Copy below which sets out the various chassis numbers where the change applied from. From this, it looks like you car was eight past the introduction at 1E1814 for chrome wheels. It is, however, 1E1853 for painted wheels so determining whether your car came with chrome wheels is key.

Hope that assists.

Hi Phil,

Absolutely brilliant - exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks very much indeed.

Yours aye,

George

Thanks for posting the service bulletin I thought flat hubs were introduced much later. I am thinking of replacing the current curly hub chrome wire wheels as now over 20 years old. My carmen red OTS is very close to the original posters car, as built on May 1st 1967 chassis 1E1817. However the heritage certificate does not detail if it was fitted with chrome or painted wheels from the factory and although I have previously contacted the widow of the first owner and subsequent owners but nobody has a photo of the car in the 60's or 70's so I will never know.
So it looks like I should now be looking for chrome flat hub wheels in the standard 5" x 15" size.

Hi Guys....just to throw a spanner in the works....are we sure this Bulletin refers to curley/flat.....it dosent mention it and just refers to a new forged hub.....also the start chassis numbers are i think 67 cars would this not be too early for flat hubs.........also a quote from another forum post...."People forget that chrome wire wheels were a special order cost option in the UK at an extra £51/7/1 (in 1963) and £57/8/11 (in 1969) - only standard fitment in the USA........Steve

Forged = flat hub. Curly hubs were pressed.

In case this assists further, here's a copy of the relevant Spares Bulletin (published six months after the Service Bulletin). I have not yet been able to locate any other bulletin relating to this topic.

Hi Andy,

My problem exactly but with the help of the Bulletin the problem has been resolved in my case. I have scraped away some of the paint on both the hub area and also the wheel rim - the base was clearly chrome. So, although my wires had been sprayed silver to "beautify" them, my car was originally supplied with chrome wire wheels and my car is 1E1822. My car was shipped from the factory to the Far East in 1967 and was first registered there. There is absolutely no chance that the wheels were changed as the cost of shipping five new rims to Hong Kong to fit to a new car would be out of the question! I am totally satisfied that the wheels I have are the original as supplied from the factory.

That having been said, as per the Jaguar Bulletin M20 of January 1968, the change from the curly hub to the flat hub took place w.e.f car number 1E1814. My car is 1E1822 and therefore, the wheels I have being flat hub are correct.

Once again Phil, thanks for your help with this - such valuable information.