fiasco wrote:- the seam is probably where the dark line runs around the front of the wheel.

By "line" I expect they mean a join - the place where the loop is completed.

Looking closely at my `77s there is a very fine diagonal line at the top center of the wheel with what may be a slight change in the grain pattern. Frankly it is so fine that I cannot be sure.

BTW the book "Essential Fiat 124 Spider and Coupe`" describes the original coupe as having "a wood-rimmed steering wheel." The picture of that wheel exactly matches the one in my `77 Spider. Meanwhile the photo of the later, updated, model's interior shows what appears to be an obviously plastic wheel.

-don

DUCeditor wrote:

fiasco wrote:- the seam is probably where the dark line runs around the front of the wheel.

By "line" I expect they mean a join - the place where the loop is completed.

Nope - by "line" I mean "line.

Bernie's wheel has a decorative line running around the full circumference of the wheel. This is probably another species of wood, or possibly just a different color of stain. I suspect that part of the purpose of the line is to disguise the seam that would have been created when the circle of veneer was wrapped from the back to the front of the steering wheel.

-- se

I understood that was what you were referring too. I was relating my comment to those made earlier suggesting that if a wheel is real wood (not a veneer) than it'd have to have a place where the 'hoop' was spliced. Mine may, per my comment, but I cannot say so for sure.

"Its a steering wheel wrapped in a mystery buried in an enigma.

(Well, either that or its plastic)



-don

I always thought it would be fun to try a DIY steering wheel project. I imagined putting together an octogon or decagon from a hardwood 2x2, rather than using a plywood base like they did in Matt's link above, and then cutting the circle from that. If you matched the grain on each piece well enough, you would have a real hard time seeing the joins in the finished product, and you would end up with a round steering wheel with grain that looks like it runs all the way around the circle.

I'm guessing Ron Luxmore could pull that off about as well as anyone.

-- se

I am certain my original '78 wheel is real wood. There are seams at 12 and 6 o'clock where two planks were laminated to make a large enough sheet, as described in Matt's article.

kilrwail wrote:I am certain my original '78 wheel is real wood. There are seams at 12 and 6 o'clock where two planks were laminated to make a large enough sheet, as described in Matt's article.

Interesting. That is what I saw when I looked at mine - at 12:00. Didn't check the 6:00 position. But the change is very subtle - made so, I think, by the evenness of the grain. So subtle in fact that I can not say for sure that it is a seam. It could be just a... what?... imperfection in the surface that happens to be at exactly 12:00 and that happens to run at what appears to be a 45 degree angle.

Could you post a close up photo of your's? I will of mine when I get the car back. (She is presently away having a carbendectomy)

-don

DUCeditor wrote:(She is presently away having a carbendectomy)

kar-bon-DECK-toe-mee
1. Running the s*^+t out of the engine, to dispel deposits in the combustion chamber
2. Replacing the carburetor
3. Enjoying the view of your car while eating a plate of spaghetti with a sauce made from eggs and bacon

am I missing any

I much prefer the third, but in my case the second meaning is apt.

Ummm... Spaghetti carbonara.

-don