Wooden Steering wheels

[Tom Kaiser]

Could not find any information on wooden steering wheels at the registry pre A forum :

Any documentation or vintage pictures available to learn if wooden steering wheels were used in Pre A cars.
If yes which type , size and make were available until 55 ?

To my understanding no factory offer , may be aftermarket ?

[Joris Koning]

Tom,

I believe, but have no clear documentation to back up my believe, that the factory offered Nardi wood wheels before switching to the VDM's somewhere in '56. Would be interesting to hear from Jules and James on this.

[Jules Dielen]

I am pretty confident you could order the wood 550 wheel for a 356 back then as well.

[Donald Zingg]

Here's a '55 Speedster in Germany photographed in April 1955.
Besides the wooden steering wheel, this car was adorned with other aftermarket accessories.
----

[Joris Koning]

Don,

That's the early flat Nardi I have also seen on some other early cars. It has a distinct thin hub of which the beauty ring is actually steel and chromed. Thanks for sharing.

[Jules Dielen]

also an interesting position of the steering wheel vs the horn button...

[Donald Zingg]

When the oil temp gauge needle becomes visible in the slot of the upper spoke, the driver will know the engine is on fire.

[Jules Dielen]

lol, that was great Don, thank you. The first multi function steering wheel

[Jim Hardie]

Morning all.
The door panel screws appear to be Phillips...?? Correct? Great picture!
Jim

[Donald Zingg]

Yes. Philips screws on garnish rail and door panel - - also on the windshield posts and top hooks.
Slotted screws at each end of the map pocket. And the early version PORSCHE emblem on the dash board.
The car was manufactured in March 1955.
For some reason the owner preferred the tachometer on the left side of the panel - - - - -

[Bil Brown]

Looks like Acella Bast interior

[Norm Miller]

In the picture isn't the wheel auf seite unten but the horn button isn't?

l or \ /
/ \ I

[Joris Koning]

Looks like Acella Bast interior

Yes, and if only somebody could find a source for it today. All the samples I have seen do not have the brown "stripes" as seen in the picture posted by Don. Love how you can see that the direction changes between the door tops, versus door panel etc. One of these details which would be a lot of fun to reproduce if only we could get some original material

[Bil Brown]

Blue is original Acella Bast from 80516 Blue Speedster.....other two are repro, one from Warren Eads when we were doing the 550.

[Dan Macdonald]

How about the position of the door handle...8 o'clock. Is that correct?
Doesn't seem right...