Reinventing the wheel: The most iconic alloy wheels of all time

On the hunt for the best alloy wheel ever, we’ve been delving into the archives to explore some of our favourite designs over the years. To keep things simple, we’re focusing on those offered as standard equipment, away from the world of aftermarket. Here’s ten of the most iconic alloys of all time… 

XJ220 by Speedline Corse

Credit – Jaguar Land Rover 

When building the fastest production car of 1992, Jaguar needed a state-of-the-art solution to keep the 217mph XJ220 on the straight and narrow. As well as bespoke tyres from Bridgestone, Coventry commissioned competition specialists Speedline to create an all-new alloy, complete with motorsport-derived centrelock wheel nuts, with staggered fitment and whopping 345-wide rears. The beautiful design is reminiscent of the ‘Turbofan’ wheels first seen in Group C racing but is also highly functional, aiding brake cooling and aerodynamics. 

Pirelli P-Slots

 

Credit – Volkswagen AG 

The iconic ‘P-Slot’ only emerged at the tail end of Mk1 Golf GTI production, created for the final run of 1,000 UK production examples known as the ‘Campaign’ edition. Despite arriving just in time for the curtain call, the 14’’ P Slot became inextricably linked with the identity of the original hot hatch and pays homage to the Pirelli Cinturato tyres that every Mk1 GTI wore from the factory. The design was so popular, Volkswagen also offered the ‘P Slot’ alloy as an optional extra on the second generation. 

Ronal Super Aero

 

Credit – Newspress 

Many have attempted the three-spoke alloy, but few have managed quite as successfully as Saab. The now-defunct Swedish manufacturer offered at least one three-spoke wheel on every model from the 900 to 9-5, usually intended to echo the appearance of a triple blade aeroplane propeller. The Ronal Super Aero is what many class as the high point, a simple-yet-effective deep-dish design fitted on turbocharged versions of the Saab 900 and 9000. 

Wolfrace Sonic

 

Credit – Ford Motor Company 

In the eighties, you often weren’t allowed to leave a Ford dealership unless you’d had a look through the RS accessories catalogue. The company’s Special Vehicle Engineering team always excelled at turning humble hatchbacks into objects of desire with a couple of bolt-on bits; while the optional RS 7-spoke alloy deserves recognition for services to Southend seafront, it’s the iconic Sonic ‘pepperpot’ that takes the win for us. Based on an original design by aftermarket specialists Wolfrace, Ford liked the Sonic design so much that it became standard equipment on the Capri Injection and Fiesta XR2 throughout production. 

Minilite

 

Credit - Classic Car Auctions 

If imitation is the best form of flattery, the Minilite might just be the greatest wheel ever. Many companies have copied John Ford and Derek Power’s original magnesium design since it launched in 1962, intended to replace the heavy Dunlop-style wire wheels used in British saloon car racing. Ford and Power’s alloy wasn’t as original as you might think, though – it’s widely accepted to be a copy of the 'Rose Petal' wheel fitted to John Cooper Garages’ Mini Works racers. 

Speedline Corse F40

Credit - Ferrari S.p.A 

One of the most recognisable supercars of all time deserved an equally impressive alloy, and Speedline certainly delivered with the F40. Named by evo magazine as one of the greatest wheels ever, the three-piece split items echoed the star-shaped style fitted to the 288 GTO and Testarossa. Like the XJ220 these also featured centrelock wheel nuts and staggered fitment, with enormous 13-inch-wide rears. 

Porsche ATS Teledials

 

Credit - Barrett-Jackson 

Alfa Romeo offered its own take on the ‘teledial’ in the 1990s, but Porsche and wheel specialist ATS got there first. Introduced during Porsche’s celebrated ‘transaxle era’, the Teledial made its debut on the 928 in 1977, later being fitted to the 924 and 944. As values of transaxle Porsches reached rock bottom in the mid-noughties, many sets found their way onto modified Golfs and Polos as part of Volkswagen’s vibrant tuning scene. As you might have guessed, the distinctive design takes its name from the rotary-style dialer on an old-fashioned telephone. 

BMW M1 TRX Campagnolo

 

Credit – BMW AG 

As well as being considered the first true BMW M car, the mid-engined M1 has been unlike any that have followed since. Such a unique car demanded an equally distinctive alloy wheel, so BMW called on Campagnolo to supply a new design for all 399 road going examples of the M1, complete with exclusive BMW Motorsport centre caps. These alloys are now incredibly difficult to track down – the last known set on the market were advertised in the USA at over $18k… 

Wolfrace Slot Mag

 

Credit – Adam Gompertz 

Enthusiasts of the 1970s custom car scene can breathe a collective sigh of relief… we haven’t forgotten the Slot Mag. Five decades ago, if you were turning your Austin, Ford or Rover into a modified street machine, there was only one way to do it: side exit exhaust, rear lift kit and a set of Wolfrace’s finest slotted magnesium wheels. The trends of the 1970s custom car scene are long since out of fashion and, today, the Slot Mag is also remembered as being standard equipment on the original Lotus Esprit. 

Mercedes-Benz Fuchs Baroque

 

Credit - Mercedes-Benz Group AG 

Until the edge of the 1970s, Mercedes had made do with traditional steel wheels on even its most exclusive models. That was until the Baroque arrived – the first alloy wheel ever offered by the company. Manufactured by Fuchs, Mercedes was so pleased with its new design it became the de rigueur wheel for the three-pointed star – offered as an option across the E-Class, S-Class and SL model ranges right through to the mid-1980s. Nicknamed the ‘Mexican hat’ by aficionados, the Baroque remains the only wheel choice for many seventies Merc fans. 

Have we excluded your favourite? Cast your vote for the best alloy wheel of all time, below…