Some projects are special because of the engineering involved. Others because of the history behind them. Every now and then, a project comes along that has both.
We’ve had the pleasure of working with Ian Rowlance of 6R4.com on numerous occasions over the years, supplying bespoke wheels for a variety of incredible vehicles. His latest project, however, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting yet.
This time, the wheels were destined for Patrick Tambay’s 1985/86 Haas Lola THL1B Formula One challenger.
A 26-Year Restoration Journey
Ian and his dedicated team have spent an incredible 26 years restoring this remarkable Formula One car back to its former glory.
Having not turned a wheel in over 40 years, the THL1B is now back where it belongs, running once again.
The car recently made appearances at Goodwood, and then the Classic Nostalgia Show at Shelsley Walsh. Which is where it was proudly displayed amongst some of motorsport’s greatest machinery.
A Rare Piece of Formula One History
Built by Lola Cars for the Beatrice Haas F1 Team, the THL1B contested the opening rounds of the 1986 Formula One World Championship in the hands of Grand Prix winner Patrick Tambay.
Powered by the legendary Ford Cosworth GBA 1.5-litre turbocharged V6, it remains the most powerful Formula One engine ever produced by Ford/Cosworth. Producing around 900bhp in race trim, with significantly more available in qualifying specification, the THL1B was capable of speeds approaching 200mph, making it one of the most exciting cars of Formula One’s turbo era.
Although the Haas Formula One programme lasted just two seasons, the THL1B remains one of only a handful of surviving cars from this iconic period of Grand Prix racing, making this restoration all the more significant.
Bespoke Wheels for a Bespoke Car
For a car of this calibre, only a bespoke solution would do.
We manufactured a brand-new set of 5-spoke billet centre, centrelock fitment wheels, sized:
- 11 x 13″ Front
- 16 x 13″ Rear
Designed as centrelock fitment wheels, just as the original Formula One car required, every wheel was produced entirely in-house here at Image Wheels and finished in a sleek fullyanodised black, perfectly complementing the aggressive appearance of the Haas Lola while remaining faithful to its period-correct styling.
As with all of our billet wheels, each centre was precision machined from solid billet before being anodised, assembled into its three-piece construction, and meticulously finished, ready to return this remarkable Formula One challenger to the track.
Customer Feedback
There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a completed project in action, especially when it’s on such an iconic piece of motorsport history.
A little while after the wheels had been fitted and the car had been put through its paces, Ian sent us some photographs along with this fantastic message:
“Sorry it’s taken so long but please find some photos of the wheels attached 👍 They are brilliant and handled up to 750bhp to date 😍“
It’s always brilliant to receive feedback like this, but hearing that our bespoke centrelock billet wheels are performing exactly as intended on a 750bhp turbo-era Formula One car makes us especially proud.
Projects like this are why we love what we do.
To know that our wheels are fitted to one of the few surviving Formula One cars from the turbo era and one with such incredible history is something we’re immensely proud of.
A huge thank you to Ian and everyone at 6R4.com for once again trusting Image Wheels with another fascinating project.
After more than four decades of silence, it’s fantastic to see this legendary Formula One car back where it belongs: on track, being enjoyed by motorsport fans once again.
We look forward to seeing where this incredible machine appears next. 🏁
Find Out More
If you’d like to see more of Ian Rowlance’s incredible restoration projects, historic Formula One cars and motorsport engineering, be sure to check out 6R4.com:
🌐 6R4.com
You can also follow Ian and the team for regular updates, photos and videos on Facebook:
If you’d like to take a closer look at the bespoke 13″ 5-spoke billet centrelock wheels we manufactured for this project, you can view the full gallery on our website here:
