I have just located a three spoke wood steering wheel off a 68 gs. Can someone tell me or post a close-up picture of the wood portion of the wheel to show the finish. The finish on this one is dark. I presume it is dirty. Can it be lightly blasted? Thanks Frank
This may not be as close up as you need but it may give you an idea of the color. The wheel is actually plastic so I am not sure what sanding would do to it. You may be able to sand and buff it out o No: This photo is of an original un-restored wheel. :beer
Thanks Thanks Mike that is what I need. Are the center caps available and on yours did you redo the heater control faces? Thanks Frank
Frank the center cap is not available,and very hard to find often the center plastic emblem is cracked. Some wheels are darker than others the picture Mike showed looks like my GS wheel but I have one for my Sportwagon that is slightly different color.I wouldn't sand the wheel but some mild rubbing compound should clean it up.
Frank, The heater controls have not been touched, I am fortunate that they are in such good shape. The '68 center caps are very hard to find and usually sell in the $70-$100 range if you find them on e-bay. You can use a '69 and up center cap until you come across the correct '68 version. :beer
You can also use a Chevelle Wood Wheel center and install a tri-shield emblem on it until you find the correct Buick one.
There are several people that sell these on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...tem=4538549968&category=34206&sspagename=WDVW
Those are non-original style aftermarket steering wheels. Factory wheels were plastic rim (not wood) with a faux woodgrain effect, and did not have rivets. They resemble aftermarket wheels from the 60's - 70's. Pic of aftermarket and stock wheel below. You can buy correct style reproduction wheels and hubs(Corvette/Chevelle/Camaro) for $300-$500 range, but there are no reproduction Buick horn caps.
Were the wood wheels available (as an option) in 67 on the GS400's or did that just start in 68? Just curious...
I know they weren't stock. I just think they look pretty nice. I've been thinking about putting one on my car.
The standard GS steering wheel on 67 cars cracked so fast that some were replaced under warranty with wood wheels.Or thats what I've been told,couldn't be positive.
I have quite a bit of '67 documentation and I cannot find where the simulated wood wheel was available as a '67 option from the factory. As far as I know and until proven otherwise (with paperwork), the simulated wood wheel was only available in '68. I could believe that they may have been swapped out at the dealers late in the model year for '67. :beer
I would like to find one, because I think they look nice as well. :TU: Just wondering if you could get them in 67. My original is not cracked much at all and would be only for preference only. Since people seem to know which year the horn button is from for the 68's, etc.. just curious if it should be the same on a 67 wheel. o No: EDIT: Thanks for the info Mike, I was typing at the same time you were I guess. That is the answer I was looking for. Should have known you would be in the know with all that info you have. BTW, thanks again for the window sticker. Looks great.
Jarrod, The horn button shown in my first post is the one used on '68 wood wheels (and '67 if you like :grin: )... In '69 they went to the black rallye steering wheel with the more common "Buick" horn button. The wood wheel is much easier to find than the horn button because the wheel was used on Chevy's and Old's in '68. Yes, the 1968 Olds used a 3 spoke wood rallye steering wheel and not the traditional 4 spoke. :beer
I don't think there is factory documentation to prove they were available in 1967, however I have seen enough 67's with wood wheels to believe that dealers were installing them late year. As far as the warranty crack replacement goes-it's hard to find a woodgrain wheel that isn't cracked either!!
Here you go... cracked wheel (almost all are ), but it does have the horn button.... This is not my wheel and I do not know the seller :Smarty: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4541436521&category=34204
don't buy it I've been dealing in the 67 Buick stuff for 27 years, have probably most every piece of literature, service bulliton, tons of original Buick inner memo's, adjustment this and adjustment that guides and no-where does it ever mention wood wheels on the "A" bodies, or switching them out due to cracking. While some may have been added once they came out by the owners wanting the "neat" wheel or a dealer trying to get rid of a leftover, that is all speculation. I have never documented an original 67 with the wood wheel. Sure people will say they are original as to make people think it's correct, but when push comes to shove, it's totally incorrect. I would also hope at any major National, be in BCA, GS Nats, BPG, etc that it would be deducted accordingly on a "concours" judged car. That's how authenticity is lost, pass over and pass over incorrect items and soon it's accepted as correct. :blast:
