The original MGB steering wheel changed at several distinct points across the production run. The first type, fitted from 1962 to 1969, was a 16½-inch three-spoke banjo wheel with a central horn push carrying an MG badge, silver letters and octagon on a background of red wavy lines. The hub and plastic-covered rim, with finger grips on the reverse, were always black, the rim moulded from acetate until March 1969 when polypropylene was substituted to remedy a tendency to crack.
1970 to 1976 Alloy Spoke Wheel
From the 1970 model year, a new 15½-inch wheel with three natural colour alloy spokes containing five holes was introduced, with the rim and centre surround covered in simulated leather. The horn was initially operated by a stalk switch on all cars, returning to a centre horn push from the 1971 model year. For 1973 the holes in the spokes were replaced by slots, and these were in turn filled in from June 1973 leaving only a slight depression in each spoke, to address fingers and jewellery catching. The solid-spoke wheel carried over onto the rubber bumper models, and from the 1977 model year an all-new 15-inch wheel with a thicker padded rim and four spokes in a slightly bent horizontal H arrangement was fitted.
The horn push badge changed several times, all black from 1971, red background with black letters from 1972, gold for the 1975 Jubilee year, hot-foiled silver on 1978 models, and red with silver letters on 1980 Limited Edition cars.
Replacement Components
The pre-1970 Roadster wheel is available as a replacement for cars where the original has been lost, damaged, or replaced with an aftermarket wheel. The horn push is available separately, as is the horn slip ring and rotor assembly, the electrical contact that allows the horn to operate through the rotating steering column, which is a known wear point worth replacing at the same time as the wheel on any car that has developed an intermittent or non-functioning horn. Individual slip ring and pencil connector components are available for targeted repairs, and steering wheel badges in silver and red and silver are available for finishing the horn push correctly.
Aftermarket Wheels & Bosses
For owners wanting a smaller wheel, wood and leather rim aftermarket wheels are available in a range of diameters and spoke configurations, from period-correct Moto-Lita style to more contemporary designs. The boss kit must be correctly matched to the steering column, as the chrome bumper and rubber bumper columns use different splines and the Moto-Lita boss for 1968 export models differs again, with a comprehensive range available to cover all variants. Boss kits are cast aluminium, supplied with centre cap, badge, and screw fitting kit, and feature a multi-drilled PCD to suit both six-hole and nine-hole wheels.
When fitting any aftermarket wheel, indicator cancellation compatibility should be checked before ordering, and the horn contact arrangement confirmed and adapted correctly, with great care taken on collapsible columns as undue force could cause the column to collapse.