Minilite wheel corrosion

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I went to look at a late GT6 Mk3 in a salvage yard today mainly because the pic showed real Minilites on at least one side. The car was heavily rusted (quarters, inner and outer rockers, floors, doors and door jams) and two of the wheels had been removed. The car had been sitting outside for 20 years. I managed to remove the right front wheel lugs (actually breaking off one the lugs) and had to forcibly remove the wheel. The back of the wheel had corroded itself to hub. Price dropped to $150.00 for the set but I decided to pass. Is there any way to reasonably restore these or is it better to walk away? The car also had power brakes that I had only heard about but never seen.

Thanks - Scott

Where these alloy or magnesium wheels? I'd be very wary of the structural integrity of the latter after they've been stored like that.

I'm not sure how to tell the difference short of lighting them on fire!

Those rims appear to have heat sink style fins between the spokes. Is that typical of real minilites?

French Spitfire wheel page

Pardon my French but ......From the French Spitfire Club's wheel page

Roues et jantes d'origine ou accessoires

Minilite - Roue pour Triumph N° 37 Minilite . largeur : 5 pouces. Des "Minilite" mais avec d'inhabituels "faux rayons" entre les classiques bossages.

I've never seen Minilites with fins between the spokes before - hope they are of interest!

Philip Willcocks TSSC International Liaison Secretary, London.

I think they're aluminum knockoffs of Minilites. If they were magnesium, they'd be just about black by now. I've got a magnesium American Libre in my garage as art and no matter how well I polish it, it turns color within days.

They had "Minilite" lettering cast in them and I am pretty sure they are aluminum.

I've had old magnesium wheels and when scratched, they were kind of yellow. Even the best magnesium wheels are hose racks at this point.

Woody - That's what I'm thinking - cool hose racks!

Are you trying to get anything else from the car? The front bumper and under riders look pretty good. The GT6 brakes are a popular upgrade to Spitfire owners. The power brake bits may be of value.

Spitsix wrote: Woody - That's what I'm thinking - cool hose racks!