Selecting the best aftermarket steering wheel for your car’s interior design.
Story: Jim McGowan, Photos Courtesy GT Performance
The two most “in your face” parts of your classic vehicle are the instrument cluster and even closer to you, your steering wheel. Let’s face it (pun intended), as much as you love your vehicle, the factory steering wheels from the 60’s and 70’s are not the most stylish or attractive, and many times are shared by several models within the same manufacturer. When the car or truck was new, that wasn’t much of a consideration, but as street rods, muscle cars, sport trucks, hot rods, street machines, etc. were being customized, one of the first items to go was the original steering wheel.
Many times an enthusiast, without doing any research, would go to the local speed shop or a large auto parts vendor, select a wheel, listen to the sales person tell them how great it will look in their car, and happily take it home. Now the problems start. In the store that plastic wood rimmed steering wheel looked great, but holding it in the car, not so much. The wood really doesn’t go with the black dash pad and instrument cluster, and the dish is too deep for comfortable driving. Plus it’s an inch less in diameter than the factory wheel. All things that weren’t thought about on the way to the store, but are bothersome now on the way back to return it.
Selecting the right style, color, diameter and dish (depth from rim to horn button) can be a problem without having the wheel in your car or truck to check out before installation. Plus quality aftermarket steering wheels are designed for specific kinds of vehicles. Example, a beautiful Banjo style wheel definitely doesn’t belong in a ’69 Camaro, but it’s perfect for a ‘30’s street rod or custom. The wheel must fit the interior design AND the age and style group the vehicle fits into. Also, you want a wheel design that won’t interfere with clearly seeing your gauges. You wouldn’t put an early model Mustang wheel into an 80’s Fox body. It simply doesn’t work. It wouldn’t look or feel right. So selecting the RIGHT wheel for the look, feel, year and style of your car or truck is vitally important for the whole package. We couldn’t tell you how many vehicles we’ve looked into at shows and instantly thought “that steering wheel definitely doesn’t belong there!” Another thing to consider is if your original factory wheel is still in good shape, take it off and put it away for safe keeping when you eventually sell the car. Good original 60’s and 70’s factory wheels command premium prices.
The dish of the wheel also comes into play. If the dish is too deep or too shallow you might not like it. Some vehicles have limited driver’s seat adjustments, so you might wind up too close or too far for driving comfort. Consider the dish and wheel diameter carefully when making your selection.
Obviously, you can be more prepared to make a decision on the right steering wheel for your car or truck by doing the following research first. Measure your existing wheel diameter and dish so you know the new wheel will be comfortable when installed. For non-power steering vehicles a 15-inch diameter is recommended. Check to insure your gauges will be easily readable through the spokes. Be sure the style, color and wheel finish goes with your existing interior, and will fit your stock or aftermarket column.
We recently stopped by GT Performance Products in Burbank, CA to check out their new line of steering wheels. We found them at the 2012 SEMA Show and were impressed with their products. They are concentrating their design efforts on cars and trucks from the 60’s into the early 80’s. Currently they have a great selection of freshly designed steering wheels, innovative new style mounting hubs and horn buttons that are secured using a unique O-ring concept. This results in “no more horn buttons popping off in the middle of the night”! They have a 21st century approach to steering wheel design for classic cars and trucks. They even have several models, designed specifically for racing, with quick release mounting hubs. Lets take a look at a few wheels designed for specific vehicle styles. Mounting hubs are available for most factory and aftermarket steering columns. For more information visit www.GTPerformanceProducts.com or call them at 818-847-9611.
For GM Pony and Muscle Cars:
This design, part of the GT Retro family of wheels, is reminiscent of the GM A and F-body cars of the 60’s and early 70’s. The elegant real wood grip, three spoke design with custom Bow-Tie emblem horn button and billet mounting hub, is right at home in a Camaro, 4-4-2, Buick GS or iconic big-block Chevelle. Many of these muscle cars had a woodgrain fascia in the instrument cluster, so the woodgrain grip works well. For the all-black dash trim, the black foam grip with high-rise chrome horn button could be your correct selection.
For the early Mustangs:
The 1964 Mustang stampeded onto the market and hasn’t slowed down yet. This Mustang GT inspired design is patterned after the original, including four lightening holes in each spoke and the correct appearing horn button accents. It could be the right selection for a restoration or resto-mod early Mustang. A beautifully designed billet-mounting hub and functional logo horn button finish off the classic look. This wheel also features the correct 18 rivets around the real wood handgrip. The spokes are brushed stainless steel and this style is available in wood or black foam. These seem to be the most accurate recreations of the original Mustang steering wheels available today.
For Classic Chevys, Street Rods and Street Machine trucks:
This design was extremely popular with customizers during the late 50’s and ‘60’s. Called the “GT Classic” it features a thick foam grip, four lightening holes in each spoke, and a great looking custom horn button. The spokes are precision-machined chrome-plated CR steel. Mounting hubs are available for almost every popular steering column application. This style would work on almost any kind of street vehicle, probably best with a black interior and black dash.
For almost any car or truck, kit car Cobra or Street Rod:
If you’re building a kit car Cobra this “Cobra Style” GT Retro wheel will work perfectly. Designed after the original wheel in the famous Cobra cars, this wheel would be perfect in any classic or contemporary street machine, hot rod or street rod. Its design transcends brand or model and the style is universal. It would work nicely with almost any interior color or dash style. The large center horn button is unique to this wheel design and could be engraved with a design or brand logo.
For Street Rods or Classic Chevys:
Several early car manufacturers first introduced banjo style steering wheels in the 30’s and 40’s. They capitalized on the then popular “deco” style design to brighten up an otherwise drab car interior. This wheel fits with any early street rod and also works well with Tri-Five Chevy’s that feature a custom interior. The half grip black leather could be removed and dyed to match almost any interior color, should the owner choose to go that direction.
For Race car themed vehicles:
Inspired by oval track racing steering wheels during the 50’s and 60’s the flat styling of these two wheels reflects those early designs. These wheels cross over from street rods to street machines, and are fine for street use. Considering some of the crazy custom race/street vehicles being built today, these wheels offer an attractive alternative with a racing flair.