1970 Steering Wheel ?

[Kevin Bielinski #13320]

Does anyone out there restore  the wood laminate on these wheels?

[Guidematic]

I'd like to know that too. I've been brainstorming on how to do it myself.

Mike

[Roger Zimmermann]

See the answer I got some time ago:

We can restore the steering wheel, however, if the horn is not functional we can not make it work.  I would estimate the cost to restore would be $500-600.  If you have any pictures that would help.
Thanks
Gary
Gary's Steering Wheel Restoration www.dealsonwheels.com

[Vince Taliano #13852]

http://www.garyssteeringwheel.com/

[Nick Liarakos]

I have investigated restoration of these wheel extensively and have reached the conclusion that there is no vendor that can fully restore the wheels to perfect original condition, including the 69-only rimblow feature.

[Kevin Bielinski #13320]

I had mine done by F.E.N. back in 1998. I was wondering if anyone else was doing it now.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

I have several 1970 & 1971 to 1976 steering wheels in various colors with good plastic but bad wood. I contacted Gary last year. He told me he would not do wood only, but only the complete wheel. He said the wood was part of the total "process". Maybe if enough people contacted him he might consider doing it. I have never seen one of his wheels so I'm not sure how his wood even looks. Bob

[Scot Minesinger]

Does anyone out there restore  the wood laminate on these wheels?

I have a 1970 Cadillac and Gary's restored it about a year ago.  It still looks new.  The restoration resembles the original look only it is improved because the wood grain more closely resembles the dash wood grain.  You can tell that it is not orignal if you are familar with the it, but it looks great.  I had 3 steering wheels, none of which were presentable, and I gave Gary the worst one to do, cost was $550.00.  A # 2, 1970 steering wheel on e-bay sold for $600, so there is not much of an alternative except wrap it in leather, like I did until it was restored.  I can e-mail you a picture of it-send me an e-mail request.

Thanks,

Scot

[Guidematic]

Man, these wheels are getting pricey, eh?

Mine is in good shape, save for all the woodgrain coming off.

Mike

[RobW]

There's a great potential business there for someone! If someone had a kit of just the woodgrain to glue into a good steering wheel, what would you pay? Maybe $100, $150, $200? Still cheaper than sending it out. How many could you sell? I would think a few thousand. Gary is getting them from somewhere or else he has equipment to make them. So, where did he get the equipment? I doubt he invented it.
The steering wheel cracks aren't that hard to fix. There are plenty of kits on the market for that. A little time and patience and most anybody could do it.

[J]

'We can restore the steering wheel, however, if the horn is not functional we can not make it work."

i am curious what the horn has to do with it? wouldn't that be a horn pad issue and i have fixed those many times?

[35-709]

The '69's had "rim blow" horns.  You pushed on the rubber part of the inside of the steering wheel itself with your thumb to blow the horn, not a horn pad.  Clever idea, but not a particularly good one. 

[35-709]

Rim Blow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rim Blow was a type of Steering wheel featured on several American automobiles in the period 1969-1973.

The Rim blow wheel replaced the traditional horn button-style switch with a rubber pad that ran around the entire inner surface of the steering wheel rim. By applying pressure to the soft rubber inner rim of the wheel, the driver could activate the car horn without moving his hands from the wheel rim. Technical issues and a lack of customer acceptance lead to the discontinuation of the Rim blow steering wheel after only a few short years.

Dates of Rim Blow Installation


General Motors

    * Cadillac - 1969
    * Buick - 1969-1971
    * Oldsmobile - 1969-1971


Ford

    * Ford - 1969-1973
    * Mercury - 1969-1973
    * Lincoln - 1970-1973


Chrysler

    * Chrysler - 1970-1973
    * Dodge - 1970-1973
    * Plymouth - 1970-1973


American Motors

    * AMC - 1970-1971

[anthony20485]

I had a 1974 Thunderbird with that feature

Rim Blow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rim Blow was a type of Steering wheel featured on several American automobiles in the period 1969-1973.

The Rim blow wheel replaced the traditional horn button-style switch with a rubber pad that ran around the entire inner surface of the steering wheel rim. By applying pressure to the soft rubber inner rim of the wheel, the driver could activate the car horn without moving his hands from the wheel rim. Technical issues and a lack of customer acceptance lead to the discontinuation of the Rim blow steering wheel after only a few short years.

Dates of Rim Blow Installation


General Motors

    * Cadillac - 1969
    * Buick - 1969-1971
    * Oldsmobile - 1969-1971


Ford

    * Ford - 1969-1973
    * Mercury - 1969-1973
    * Lincoln - 1970-1973


Chrysler

    * Chrysler - 1970-1973
    * Dodge - 1970-1973
    * Plymouth - 1970-1973


American Motors

    * AMC - 1970-1971

[collector]

Actually Lincoln had the rim blow until 74 as we had one brand new and I just to honk it all the time. My father would go ballistic