I know there were many running changes made in the 65 model production and this group of questions applies to only the 15 inch wheel with slotted spokes:
1) did some original steering wheels have aluminum showing around the outside of the wheel(profile view) as opposed to the wood being wrapped around the rim?
2) did all 15" steering wheels come with chrome over steel attaching hubs?
3) do original steering wheels have any company logo or other identifying numbers/letters in the aluminum?
Thank you, Paul.
Paul, what car number to you have and do you know for sure it had a slotted wheel or a 3 hole wheel?
My understanding is that there was no maker's mark or logo on any of the original wheels. We are in the process of getting some 3 hole wheels made and they will not have any logo on them.
1 NOT on my slotted wheel and several others I've seen including the ONE owner #272 . Only "some " round hole wheels have the aluminum showing on the outside.
2 Many ( same as above info) did , "I" can't say all. Those that are chrome plated are also "die cast" and have the S1MS number on them
3 None that "I" have seen
Edited thanks to Chris NOS!
Hi Paul , i m sure you expect answer from more experimented member but :
1) 15 inchs slotted i have seen No aluminium on side .
2 ) all on chrome steel hubs
3) nothing writen on it.
if i remember good for the same conversation on old forum...
gbart14, my car #213 should have the 15" wheel with holes in the spokes. I'm trying to identify a wheel(15" slotted spoke version) that I've owned for some time. It doesn't show aluminum around the wood rim profile view, (I'm no expert but all the 15" wheel cars I have been familiar with didn't), has an aluminum hub, and has no logo on front or back. Thank you to all who responded, Paul.
Paul -
Here are a couple of pictures of my freshly restored wheel - I believe it is an original 65 wheel. No aluminum on the outside diameter of the wheel shows.
Dave
5S228 has the original wheel and has rivets as well as alum showing on outer edge.
Quote from: mygt350 on November 18, 2020, 06:05:55 PM
5S228 has the original wheel and has rivets as well as alum showing on outer edge.
Since you didn't say your description could be typical or out of the ordinary depending on which wheel. Is yours slotted or the one with holes? if slotted you may want to post a picture.
Sorry, it has the holes.
That's a beautifully restored wheel DRGT350, thanks for posting pictures. The one I still have now is like yours except (lack of better terminology)yours has what looks like "gun stock" wood with oil rubbed into it and mine looks like cabinet wood with varnish on it. I have had both types of wood on different wheels(gun stock vs cabinet) in the past and much prefer the looks of the "gun stock".
Did Mr Stevens restore your?
Thank you to all who have posted on this thread, Paul.
Guys, all of the original 3 hole wheels that I have seen both on and off cars have had the aluminum showing on the outside. They also had a varnish finish although many were warn through. The ones I have seen did not look "oiled" but varnished.
Question, does anyone know what the original wood was that was used on any of the wheels. Further, I have seen some original 3 hole wheels that were specifically laminated, not a single piece of wood. See the photo from Steve Becks' 258 original wheel. I am curious about the wood as we get closer to getting a reproduction made to our exacting detail. Thanks
hello Paul -
Yes - Jeff Stephens restored the steering wheel that I posted pictures of -
Dave
To DRGT350:
I thought so, Mr. Stevens does excellent work. He restored one for me years ago.
To gbart14:
I would think the first sentence of my initial post starting this particular thread identified the subject of discussion as only pertaining to the 15" steering wheel with slotted spokes. If I didn't work in the aviation industry, I'd call you a hijacker.
Thank you to all who have posted, Paul.
Since my understanding is that all the original wheels were made by the same manufacturer (Moto-Lita) I thought you all would be interested in seeing what the 3 holes looked like and further because I was told the only difference was the slots vs the spokes. Someone may have more information.
What has to be clear is for 15 Inch slotted original steering wheel there is NO aluminium visible on the side , we know how fast a wrong info can be relayed on internet.
Chris ,
Sorry I had my wires crossed on round and slot. I will correct my earlier post above.
On a related note, the GT350 5R002 appeared to have the slotted steering wheel with an aluminum ring showing around the rim exterior when it was auctioned this summer.
Was that unique to the '002 prototype? It looks like an AC Cobra wheel.
Quote from: Jim Herrud on November 20, 2020, 12:54:46 PM
On a related note, the GT350 5R002 appeared to have the slotted steering wheel with an aluminum ring showing around the rim exterior when it was auctioned this summer.
Was that unique to the '002 prototype? It looks like an AC Cobra wheel.
16 inch cobra wheels were used on the first 150 +/1 cars, then they switched to 15 inchers.
The discussion here is specifically about 15 inch, slotted style wheels.
Kind regards,
Vern
Vern
Thx Vern. I appreciate the education.
5R002 is the inspiration for my '65 Mustang build. In my ignorance, I bought the Moto-Lita "Shelby Mustang OEM" 15" wheel.
So now, Anyone wanna buy it? (Just kidding!)
Quote from: Jim Herrud on November 20, 2020, 04:37:47 PM
Thx Vern. I appreciate the education.
5R002 is the inspiration for my '65 Mustang build. In my ignorance, I bought the Moto-Lita "Shelby Mustang OEM" 15" wheel.
So now, Anyone wanna buy it? (Just kidding!)
Aside from the historical aspect FYI the 15 inch wheel is the prefered user friendly style.
My wheel in question. Disregard the aluminum hub, identifying/authenticating the steering wheel only is the object of the exercise. Thank you all, Paul.
Quote from: paul on November 20, 2020, 05:16:51 PM
My wheel in question. Disregard the aluminum hub, identifying/authenticating the steering wheel only is the object of the exercise. Thank you all, Paul.
The wood appears too thick compared to assemblyline wheels. I have a repro wheel that looks identical to that.It is a obvious difference when I compare it to my genuine wheel. It is the next best thing to a period correct one.
Thank you Bob. I have had several wheels over the years and do think original wheels did come in thick and thinner (wood rim) versions. Do you know who manufactured yours?
Quote from: paul on November 20, 2020, 05:52:31 PM
Thank you Bob. I have had several wheels over the years and do think original wheels did come in thick and thinner (wood rim) versions. Do you know who manufactured yours?
No mfg marking on ether wheel . It is identical in every way to the thin wood wheel I have. I like the feel of the thick wood wheel better personally but I have only found the thinner wood varieties that I could confirm as original. I hope that you can come up with some reasonable evidence to support your belief for the thicker wood rim original. It would be in my best interest to be mistaken in this instance. Genuine provenience for the thick rim wheel I have extra hanging on my wall would be nice.
Thank you Bob.
Only have two "Beliefs", My God and my country.
My opinion on the wheel Paul posted is that the thickness of the wheel does appear to be too thick. That said, can be hard to judge In a picture. The part that sticks out more to me is that the wheel doesn't (in my opinion from what I can tell in the pic) have a deep enough "dish" to it.
I do believer there were multiple runs of 65 slotted 15 inch wheels with there being some variation in rim thickness (the one posted still looks thicker than the thicker original run) but they all seem to have the same deeper dish than the wheel posted. I'd measure the dish on one but I'm out of 65 Shelby's at the shop currently :P
Vern
Vern, the dish measurement would be very helpful. Could others with only 15" slotted spoke wheels do the same? Thank you to all, Paul.
If your car is equipped with a wheel like Bob's thicker wood wheel, how many point deduction would receive in a concors show?
Quote from: ramrace on November 21, 2020, 12:55:27 PM
If your car is equipped with a wheel like Bob's thicker wood wheel, how many point deduction would receive in a concors show?
If it didn't have the metal showing on the outside rim or a mfg mark and right offset then the thicker wood may not even get noticed by some.
Do we know who manufactured steering wheels for the 65 GT350's. Were they all from Moto Lita? Or??