Wooden Steering Wheel

[Martin Benade]

I am interested to hear that the springiness affects the feel so much. I never imagined that, or drove a car with an aluminum wheel.

[Craig Richter]

It's subtile, you'll have to try one.

[Steve Hatfield]

Be careful Martin, once you try one you may be hooked.

[George Hussey]

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two carrera beauties

[George Hussey]

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and one of the Classico aftermarket ones

[Bil Brown]

The wood on the wheel in the silver/red car looks WAY too thick.

[Richard Emerson]

Bil
I’m surprised to see a ‘68 with rivet holes. I’ve been led to believe they were discontinued after ‘64 or there abouts.

Agreed. I’m told late 1965 was the switch.

[Richard Emerson]

This one came from factory (kardex) on my all original C

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This one I purchased to use someday.

[Richard Emerson]

Question: when Bruce and others convert the black plastic wheels to wood, those lack the slight flaring of the originals where the wood joins the spokes. The black plastic ones have the plastic going up the spoke slightly.

Are the frames different in that area? Or joined differently requiring the loss of the flare?

That and the slightly inferior chroming of the original C2 wheels are the tells to me, assuming they are painted correctly.

[Thomas Sottile]

I had wooden wheel but I put the original back on my fears were if the wood failed in an accident and splinter in my chest,

[Jim Breazeale]

Richard

I'm pretty sure that the frames are the same. The flare is under the plastic and there is a ring welded to the end of the spokes.

[Spencer Harris]

Richard I'm pretty sure that the frames are the same. The flare is under the plastic and there is a ring welded to the end of the spokes.

Jim is correct about the ring welded to the end of the spokes. When Ted Capps converts a plastic B/C wheel to a C2 repro, he cuts the ring off the spokes and repositions the ring approximately 3/16" lower and rewelds it to the spokes. This allows the wood to be more centered on the spokes. I'm not sure if the rings on original C2 wheels were similarly modified - or if other aftermarket wheel fabricators make this alteration.

BEFORE

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AFTER REPOSITIONING SPOKES w/ BRUSHED CHROME FINISH

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[Richard Emerson]

That’s really informative. Thank you!

[RickGibson]

Here's one more option. I too wanted a wooden wheel for my T5 but didn't want to sacrifice my original plastic wheel. I purchased a reproduction from Jeff at Classico. Looks identical to the original. Fits perfect.

[Richard Emerson]

^^except you didn’t have the spokes painted back.