C1 / C2 steering wheels
I was just looking on Ebay and there are lots of reproduction C1 & C2 steering wheels . Has any one compared red repro 62 & 63s to originals ?
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
I ordered a 60' "Roman Red" reproduction steering wheel from both Corvette Central and Corvette America and each case received a 58' "Signet Red" wheel. I was told by Corvette Central's Tech Dept. that the supplier had mislabeled all of their inventory. Later I was told that the supplier now only makes "Signet Red" wheels and these are sold for all 58-62 reproduction orders. -
Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
For the Solid Axle wheels the only time they look close is in photos.
The grain is not correct, the seam from manufacturing is often visible, the thickness is not correct, and the metalwork is not to the same caliber as an original.
Fine for a driver car, but that's about all. However, for a driver I'd probably get a smaller diameter leather wrapped wheel from Corvette Central rather than one of the reproduction plastic ones, but that's me.Vice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
71 "deer modified" coupe
72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
2008 coupe
Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.Comment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
Are we all absolutely positively sure that all 1958 to 1962 wheels had grain?
All of these types of wheels I've ever encountered had no traces of grain, even on the small sections that protrude at the spokes. I have a original wheel on a '56 here that has zero grain anywhere. My '59, no grain, my '62 no grain, '59 restored car with original wheel no grain. Many others recently no grain.
Only the repros have grain. Maybe I haven't seen enough originals in my 30 years of playing with C1's.
Someone please show me their purchased new '58-62 Corvette with original steering wheel with grain on it all over and I'll never ask again.
RichComment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
About 12 years ago I changed my black interior to red and replaced the worn out steering wheel with a reproduction "Roman Red". The black wheel was worn smooth and there was no way to determine the original grain however, at the time the reproduction I received had a pebble finish and I was told this was correct. Now, the current reproductions indicate that "leather grain" is correct for a 58-62.Comment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
I had a black C1 wheel that came out of a GM engineers basement that was dated (engraved) on the front 11-22-56 on 1 spoke.
It was virtually untouched and definitely was covered with a grain or texture.
The steering wheels using that my wheel for a pattern are sold by VetteMasters in Virginia Beach, VA.
They also make (or made) Roman Red, Venetian Red and Signet Red wheels along with all the other C1 colors.
The wheels are extremely close to the original GM wheels.Comment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
I agree Rich. No evidence of grain on my '59's known-original steering wheel.Are we all absolutely positively sure that all 1958 to 1962 wheels had grain?
All of these types of wheels I've ever encountered had no traces of grain, even on the small sections that protrude at the spokes. I have a original wheel on a '56 here that has zero grain anywhere. My '59, no grain, my '62 no grain, '59 restored car with original wheel no grain. Many others recently no grain.
Only the repros have grain. Maybe I haven't seen enough originals in my 30 years of playing with C1's.
Someone please show me their purchased new '58-62 Corvette with original steering wheel with grain on it all over and I'll never ask again.
Rich
BillComment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
Bruce, is it at all possible that that was never on a production car? Could it have been a engineering prototype, with grain added, but never went to production?
Yes Bill, yours is a perfect example. I know your car well by now.
I know so many people that have played with hundreds of C1's over the years. Never witnessed grain or texture in the steering wheel.
The '56 I have here is so original it's crackly from age. I scoured it with a eye loop all around the spoke extensions. Nothing. Only the age cracks. I'll get some macro shots when I get out to the shop. Also of my '59 original wheel.
These are hard plastic wheels. The repros are a softer texture and feel. They just don't feel right to me when I drive using them.
RichComment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
No grain on 62's. 63's were also mentioned in thread;they , but not the 62's have grain.Comment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
my 57 with 60K miles on it when i bought it in 1970, had no grain on those parts of the plastic that face the drive(worn off) but the surfaces facing the dash had remnants of graining. same with a lo mile 56 here in cumberland. i once opened the gm box containing a 56-7 NOS wheel. definitely had grain. i have no doubt that the c-1 wheels from 56-62 left the supplier with grain. mikeComment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
I had a 42000 mile 62 with red interior & it had lots of grain left . I have two other 56 to 62 wheels and both have grain on the dash side and next to the spokes . 63s also have or had heavy grain .Comment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
Back 40 years ago, in the 70's there were many black 62 wheels that surfaced from GM. All of those in the box wheels had grain. A friends 62 that he bought new in Nashville, TN. still had the grain on the instrument side.
No doubt about it! Grain!
JRComment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
On recheck my '62 does have a bit of grain left on the back/instrument side.Comment
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Re: C1 / C2 steering wheels
Well..........Okaaaay gents. The poll majority says GRAIN. I hereby relinquish my animate behavior about the subject.
Anyone wish to share some detailed photos of this mysterious(to me) "feature" of their wheel?
As promised, I won't ever ask this question again.......promise.
Rich
p.s. Bill W. - Thanks for letting me use your thread to bring up the subject. Sorry it got a little OT.Comment
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