15 replies to this topic

[THE ANORAK]

Just spotted these on e-bay and although they look like standard rover alloys the advert states they are 12x5 and calls them Mistral alloys.

 

i think i can see 12x5 on the rear and the back of the spokes look different to rover alloys so does anyone know if these are the alloys that John Cooper was offering as part of the early conversion kits and also appeared on the Mayfair Cooper prototype pictured below ??

 

if so they are as rare as unicorn milk and a bargain at the asking price !!!
 

[Black.Ghost]

My first though it they look like the Cooper RSP alloys to me, with the holes in line with the spokes. I also thought they were found to not be as strong as the normal alloys with the holes in between the spokes.

[THE ANORAK]

nope, they are not the early style "rsp" rover mini-light either, they are practically identical to the later ones apart from the hole position and are 12x4.5.

 

these ones seem to have a deeper and sharper rim profile and the centre section that holds the badge seems taller.

[THE ANORAK]

just noticed the seller has increased the price by £100

 

and also seen a listing for a single one on ebay and it is much clearer to see that it has MOD MISTRAL on the face in raised letters, looking again these white ones say that as well.

 

so they are different to the rover ones but i wonder if they are the ones used by cooper. they would certainly be worth the money for anyone wanting to put them on a cooper converted mini flame or mini racing

Edited by THE ANORAK, 08 May 2017 - 04:47 PM.

[Quincy Sparks]

just noticed the seller has increased the price by £100
 
and also seen a listing for a single one on ebay and it is much clearer to see that it has MOD MISTRAL on the face in raised letters, looking again these white ones say that as well.
 
so they are different to the rover ones but i wonder if they are the ones used by cooper. they would certainly be worth the money for anyone wanting to put them on a cooper converted mini flame or mini racing

I noticed the price increase on Sunday night - you should be in sales, hope the seller gives you a commission for the extra marketing you've done ;)

[MrBounce]

I have a set of 5 for my Midas. Really nice wheels.

[THE ANORAK]

Not trying to promote them just genuinly trying to find out what wheels coopers used. There is a brochure somewhere showing all the trim upgrades they offered. All standard stuff on the later rover coopers but this was before they were released. This is when they were dressing up the first generation mini flame and mini racing cars. As these came with steel wheels they offered the alloys.
The second generation cars came with the rover alloys (before the RSP so i dont know why people call them RSP alloys but thats a different story). Then the wheels disappeared from the brochures and no body seems to know exactly what they were.

Edited by THE ANORAK, 09 May 2017 - 09:12 AM.

[THE ANORAK]

Maybe i should try asking Mike Cooper himself.

[Quincy Sparks]

Yep, only kidding! I have a friend with a 1990 998 conversion so have done a bit of research too as I think they're great little cars! The guys here will know if the wheels are the same type : https://www.facebook...s-366843933693/

 

 

Here's the brochure with the 89/90 kit picture, unfortunately not much detail on the wheels : 

 

[THE ANORAK]

Thank you Quincy, I'll ask on the facebook page later

[THE ANORAK]

Looking through the photos on that facebook group i belive these are the alloys that were supplied by coopers.

[Jmadry]

Interesting thread. I didnt know these existed.  It's a shame no one has reproduced them as they are a nice style wheel with that extra 0.5"

[THE ANORAK]

yes they exist but like i said, once the second generation LE's came out with the rover alloys they were not really needed. although its interesting to see that cooper was offering them in white.
 
still, quite rare and nice to have as a finishing touch
 
the whole re-birth of the mini cooper is a very interesting subject that started long before the RSP was launched. there was even a Cooper Metro Prototype.


 

[MiniJosh92]

I don't think they are. I come across quite a lot of these Mistral wheels, always believed they are just aftermarket minilite copies. They are certainly not the same as the wheels on the works rsp Cooper I am currently restoring.

[THE ANORAK]

They would be from before the RSP. What is the works RSP ???