Thursday, November 14, 2013

Finally a Stock Steering Wheel!

As you probably know I used to have a 1974 beetle. It had a funky tiny little steering wheel with a broken horn button. And I was always on the lookout for a stock steering wheel. Took me a little time to find out that VW produced a new steering wheel in 1972, the modern style steering wheel. But in 1974 they changed steering columns small the old steering wheels no longer fit. I learned that the hard way,  a guy was advertising a steering wheel a while back as a 1973 and up, so I bought it. And it didn't fit at all. So I sent it back and kept searching. And searching. I was never able to find one that was reasonably priced and in good shape while I had my old car. I was able to find plenty 1972 to 1973 steering wheels, but for some reason 1974 and up wheels are harder to find. 

Then I get my new super beetle and it's old wheel was terrible, it was a cheap after market one that really didn't fit well. And the norm would beep whenever I took a sharp right turn. It was embarrassing, and I got a lot of crab for it from my friends. Finally thought I found a stock steering wheel online. I love it! It looks so much nicer, and I can actually see my speedometer, I don't have to look around the wheel to see my speed and fuel anymore! And I think stock usually looks better than aftermarket anyway.

3 comments:

  1. I was never a huge fan of that style steering wheel (my first ACVW, a '73 Fasty named Gretchen) had one. They do jibe with the rest of the interior better than any aftermarket wheel though.
    I like how you call it a "modern style steering wheel"--like it has an airbag in it and all the cruise, radio, and whatever else controls on it. The modernness of it comes from it being more chest/head-friendly in an accident, but that's really all there is to it.

    Alright,
    whc03grady.

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    Replies
    1. The grumpiness above is my way of saying, "nice find".

      Alright,
      whc03grady.

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    2. Thanks! I was excited about my find. You're right it isn't really a modern steering wheel, it's pretty much a cheap plastic casing around a "safe" metal frame. But the horn button works and I can see the entire speedometer. It does blend with the rest of the interior better. I'm thinking of seeing if an upholstery shop can wrap it in leather, the horn button and the wheel so that it doesn't feel so cheap, but that's a ways down the road.

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