VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
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Paul Hatfield
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VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

#1 Post by Paul Hatfield »

There are some numbers stamped into many (all?) VDM steering wheels. Photo of mine attached showing number 47. I am interested in looking at a collection of these stamps for a little study I am doing. If you have such a photo, please send it to me and let me know as close as possible the year of the steering wheel or car it came from (production or model year).

I will report the results even if I don't learn much. :?

My email is 65c356@comcast.net

Thanks in advance and Happy Thanksgiving!

Paul
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Steering Wheel Stamp.jpg
Paul Hatfield
"Miss April"
http://www.enginesinback.com

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Mike Wilson
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Re: VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

#2 Post by Mike Wilson »

Hi, Paul:

I have three VDM wheels. My original is stamped "35". Build date May 30, 1963.
The other two are ones I bought as potential donors for converting to wood. One was done by Jack Arct (r.i.p.) and is stamped "211". The other is stamped "311". I do have one done by Bruce Crawford on the car but I know it is not original to the car.

Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe

Dick Roth
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Re: VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

#3 Post by Dick Roth »

Time for Brad Ripley to weigh in...

Brad Ripley
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Re: VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

#4 Post by Brad Ripley »

Dick, Seriously, I know nothing about those numbers in the steering wheel hubs -- as in photo below. Same as I said on this forum back in 10-2-2011: As for the numbers stamped in the center, I do not know what the numbers mean. I do not think they are date codes. If anybody has a pile of plastic wheels, jot down the number and type: T-5 smooth roundy spokes or T-6/C flanged spokes, black paint on the back. Maybe by studying the numbers, some conclusion can be drawn. I'm still curious to figure out those "codes"
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VDM markings.jpg
VDM markings.jpg (59.42 KiB) Viewed 2038 times

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

#5 Post by Paul Hatfield »

I am working on a theory for this and need all the data points I can get.
Anyone having a photo and can send it with the info on the car model it belongs to, please send info to me.
65c356@comcast.net

I will report the tabulation of the information.

Thanks,
Paul
Paul Hatfield
"Miss April"
http://www.enginesinback.com

Jon Bunin
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Re: VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

#6 Post by Jon Bunin »

The numbers are VDM date codes, where the first digit represents the year, and the following digits represent the month.

Mike's number 35 is the date code for May 1963.
Paul's number 47 is the date code for July 1964, and the number 712 pictured is the date code for December 1957.

Here is the original wheel from my Roadster, built in September 1959, with the VDM number 98.
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Jon Bunin

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Paul Hatfield
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Re: VDM Steering Wheel Stamping

#7 Post by Paul Hatfield »

Jon-
I am in agreement with the date code description you provided above. I had the same "theory" and was looking for data points to confirm. So far everything lined up supporting what you have written. To my knowledge, this has not been posted or published before.

Paul
Paul Hatfield
"Miss April"
http://www.enginesinback.com

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