I've been trying to sell a set of vintage Appliance 4-lug bolt-on wire wheels for over 2 years I picked up at a local swap meet. Came off of a Datsun 510 and did not fit either my Datsun or MGBs the way I like. They also use a strange 2-piece lug-nut set specific to these wheels, an early version of Unilugs I remember people talking about way back in the 70's.
The inner parts are adapters that screw on to each stud and adjust the lug spacing depending on what pattern you have. Arrows pointed "in" for small, arrows pointed "out" for big. The 2nd outer pieces actually hold the wheel on, and give the appearance of normal lug nuts. (Bizarre)
Because of this, they are rarer than hen's teeth and these will only fit cars with 7/16th studs. Which means I gotta find just the right buyer and it is like the needle in a haystack.
The LEAST stupid response I've gotten was from some guy wanting to know if they fit a 50's Chevy Bel Air.
"4-lugs dude." "Oh".
It went down hill from there.
I got a bunch of Triumph folks wanting to know if they fit a Spitfire. Not a clue I say, bring your car over and we'll try it. No response. Over and over for months every time I posted the ad I got the same questions from the same damn email addresses.
Finally one guy shows up, we test fit them and low & behold not even close. I ask if he knew why I was getting so many Spitfire responders every time I post MGB stuff for sale, and he says "we search for MGBs because they all use the same parts".
WHAT? NOT! EVEN! CLOSE! (facepalm) (FYI, some late Midgets & Spits share a few things, but a "B" is an entirely different species)
So I repost it saying "Will NOT fit a Spitfire. NOT. NO WAY. DON'T ASK". And of course I get flooded with excited Spitfire guys.
After automatically deleting the ones that say "for my Spitfire" I've had half a dozen guys slip through the weeding process and show up to look at them, and after wasting my time talking about Hondas, MGs, Datsuns and Toyotas they inevitably ask "So, do they fit a Spitfire?"
You know, I've never really bought into the whole car A -vs- car B thing, especially the odd MG -vs- Triumph hatred (I like all horrible crap), but in this case I can kinda see it.
Also, every ad I've ever posted, someone ALWAYS reponds "any pics" even though I always include them on the ad. Not one person who has asked for pics has EVER bought anything. As a test I've offered them better pics of anything they want, or tried to engage them and not one has responded back.
Verdict: Picture collectors and anything Spitfire are automatic red-flags and the work of the devil: immediate delete.
"Real ZomBees prefer Bacon"
IOE(x2) MGB/SAAB 96, Judge's Choice, Class C Win, & 2011 Hooniverse Car of the Year!
MRolla, Stick Figure/Animal House, Free Range MR2, SAAB Sonett, "The Death Flip"
2008 Exoskeleton Jag Fiasco, Concours d Lemons - Rue Britannia, worse British car.