I think $400 is out of my price range for a repo steering wheel. It would certainly be nice to have one, but I think I could only spend about $200... Mine isn't THAT bad... just a few cracks here and there. :Comp:
Ethan, If I charged $200.00 for a wheel, that wouldn't pay for the materials and time it would take to make one. Not to mention paying between $2500-$3500 for a mold that will most likely need recored after 75-100 pieces. You guys floor me. Duane
Come on Guys!!!!!!!!!!! Please take it easy:blast: . We will get no were like this:spank: . Lets just see how it goes. If I had a bunch of money I would dish out the $2,500-3,000 myself. I don't know that much about the process or cost of making wheels. Have you ever done this before Duane? What type of machine do you use to put the plastic around the wheel? Is it an injection molding machine? Maybe we can find someone on this site to help with the mold making? Let us know what you think Duane. Jerseysky66(Bob)
Take it easy I don't know about the rest of you but I have been trying to get my car done since 1996? I'm down to only a few parts left for a show quality car. Please don't talk about prices. Lets just vote and maybe we can ask some questions to Duane and maybe we will get lucky and find someone to make a mold for less. I may even have a couple of connections. My dad was in the plastic business for more than 30 years. The only thing is it is in the blow molding end of the business. How about anyone else? Jerseysky66
Maybe I'm missing something here but........ The poll just asked the condition of your original wheel, so I responded. I did not see the question asked whether or not I wanted a repro wheel or not.o No: If anyone is thinking about putting their hard earned money into a project making these wheels then I think the wording of the poll should be considerably different. Yes my wheel is badly cracked but I will probably be replacing it with an aftermarket style, probably something along the lines of a Grant #967.
Why? I don't think anyone was suggesting that the price was too much for the work and investment involved. Some of us just don't have that kind of disposable income (believe me, I wish I did). Us mid sixties buick owners are at a disadvantage when it comes to parts so I really hope you guys can make this happen. I'm just sorry that I'll have to live with the wheel that I have:ball:
Exactly... Sorry I wasn't more clear. I thought you guys were just getting an idea of who would actually buy one if they were made. I'd love to be able to afford a repo wheel. I actually think $400 is pretty cheap. Just can't afford it!! Maybe next year... we'll see!:Comp:
When I first took my '66 Skylark to a Buick show about six years ago, another owner asked me if I had tried to find an NOS steering wheel. I said that mine was OK. He laughed and said that mine must be cracked because he had spent years looking and had never seen a '66 wheel that wasn't cracked. I replied that I had my car since new and that it was not cracked. He went to my car and showed me cracks that I had never before noticed. He was right. The lesson here is that the need is there but no one has found it worthwhile to offer reproductions. If there was not sufficient demand years ago when more of these cars existed, there is little hope of doing it now.
I just want to say that I don't think 50 units is an unreasonable number... Besides us members, ebay would be a great place to sell the rest. Let me know if there is anything I can do. I would love to see this happen.
NOS Steering Wheel http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=10076&item=2443117230
NOS eh? It will be more effort to repair the chisel damage to that wheel than to fix the small cracks in my 37-year old wheel. And, it's blue!
Someone needs a wheel bad WOW:jd: Look How High This Wheel Is http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10076&item=2443117230 Jerseysky66
That is the person from the BuickClub website trying to repro these wheels... See the link I posted above... Bob- I would contact him and let him know about the interest for this steering wheel repro... Who knows, perhaps he is buying it to make a mold... Just a thought
El Cheapo Here's one that is a lot cheaper, but probably not nearly as nice looking. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2444721689
If you look close at that picture, you can see how it has lifted from around the hub, just like mine! lol. I would love to see these wheels repro'd.:Brow: I was told that it would be at least several hundred dollars to repair one of these, and who knows how long it would last?
