anyone have a source for the woodgrain trim insert in these steering wheels? Thanks Doug
Been looking for the same thing for a year now. Only source I found is a steering wheel restoration shop that has the means and materials to bring them back to new for these mid-70's Cadillacs. Only problem I have is that it costs about $500.........same as an NOS one......when they do show up.......
Jeff
I had the wheel in my '70 done last year, $550.00 with shipping and insurance but it is like new.
I would also guess and hope that the materials used in the re manufacture process being more modern will outlast the originals. A lot of that 60's and 70's plastic and rubber stuff did not last even under ideal conditions.
Jagbuxx,
What was the name of the company that did your. Wheel. Do you have before and after photos? I've never seen one of these wheels restored and am very interested.
Used Gary's Steering wheel restoration in Carlisle, Pa
garyssteeringwheel.com
Had a nice black '80's wheel to use as a slave while mine was out, about 6-7 weeks.
My original wheel had most of the grain intact but was cracking and chalky. Refinished wheel is nice although grain is not an exact match to the "tamo wood" style. More of a straight grain.
thanks all - so this reminding me of what my Dad might say, "$500 for someone to paint tin and jam it in the wheel???" I know of course it's more than that, but I think I'll just stick with the leather cover I have on the wheel and continue to wait for a more practical solution. 10 years ago nobody even restored them. Doug
I also had Gary's Steering Wheel restore the wheel in my 1978 Fleetwood Brougham. While the wheel looks great (and it's nice to hold an uncracked wheel), I would caution that the method use to restore the wheel does not appear to be OEM and so the width of the "chrome" trim, and style of "woodgrain" varies a little from stock. This is not so much of an issue in my car, since I like to drive it, but I'd like to find someone who does a proper restoration using a strip of wood grain fitted to a channel in the plastic wheel and covered with plastic trim, rather than the "papers" used in these restorations and clear coated.
Just my $0.02
A.
Jagbuxx and Antoni,
Thanks for the photos and information. Although it will be some time before I redo my wheel, its nice to know where I can have it done.
I am getting a low mile 1975 Fleetwood d'Elegance. It has perfect steering wheel now. From having owned a 1976 Eldorado Convertible and a 1978 Biarritz, I know how important it is to maintain the steering wheel integrity. I always used driving gloves to drive the Eldorados to prevent body oils from damaging the inserts. Has anyone with a perfect wheel used any kind of classic looking leather cover (not those with the string around them) to preserve your correct wheel for shows or important viewings and not damage it one way or the other? Thank you
Bought an inlay from John Brankin for my 70 DeVille 2 years ago. Haven't installed mine yet ( other more pressing issues) but others had with good results. Last email address I have is bdamc@comcast.net. If you search steering wheel inlay you'll find my original post.
Rob
Quote from: brtcpa75Cadillac on May 16, 2022, 11:48:02 PM
I am getting a low mile 1975 Fleetwood d'Elegance. It has perfect steering wheel now. From having owned a 1976 Eldorado Convertible and a 1978 Biarritz, I know how important it is to maintain the steering wheel integrity. I always used driving gloves to drive the Eldorados to prevent body oils from damaging the inserts. Has anyone with a perfect wheel used any kind of classic looking leather cover (not those with the string around them) to preserve your correct wheel for shows or important viewings and not damage it one way or the other? Thank you
the steering wheels have a tendency to crack where the rim meets the horn pad section - at least on the Eldorado