MLU FORUM - Split rim /combat wheel Champ or Land Rover

Robin, I wonder if your suspicions are the same as mine?

Land Rover a split rim wheel of this design for the Series 1 (although it may have still been available for many years after that into the SerII, IIA era) that made up into a rim that was 16 x 4.50in. It was recommended to be fitted with a 6.00-16 tyre (which was the common fitment for Series 1 SWB). It had a part number that was 217267 and was stamped with the maker's name "Dunlop", both stamped on the wheel centre.

The Austin Champ also had a split rim wheel of this design that was a rim of 16 x 5.50in and was used with a 7.50-16 tyre. It was part number FV84930. This part number was on a welded tab on the outer half.

The origin of the design is the WW2 Jeep Combat rim, which had a different centre for the Jeep hub, and was a 16 x 4.50in rim for 6.00-16 tyres. These wheels had a warning tab that was welded to the outer half. These wheels were also used on the

The outer half of the rim (which determines if the wheel is 4.50 wide or 5.50in wide) is interchangeable between all 3 types of wheel. My suspicion is that this rim is the remains of a Austin Champ wheel (with no P/N on the centre, or inner half) that has had the wide outer half swapped with a WW2 Jeep wheel (with the welded warning tab).Somewhere there is a WW2 Jeep getting around with 5.50in wide Combat Wheels!