I dont like Wood steering wheels

Modern wheels are much more plastic than wood. The older wheels where more like fine furniture. Today, it's more like urethane.

 

If you don't like wood steering wheels you don't like vintage sports cars.

 

LOL! I was kinda thinking the same thing. If you complain about a wood wheel feel you don't get the entire idea of owning a vintage car.

But, I think the question was if the vintage wheels were different to today. That's a no brainer -- today's wood wheels are all show and no go.

I think a good analog is feeling real wood hand finished furniture of the 50 and 60's versus the high polished plastic "Ikea" urethane coated stuff of today. There's no comparison.

There was no urethane in the 60's.

BTW: you don't need to get into a classic Ferrari to experience a real wood wheel. My 1973 Alfa spider had one and its was standard.

 

In comparison to modern wood-effect wheels, the wooden wheels on classic cars I've sat in had a rougher texture and grippy finger-hold sculpting on the back and they did seem to let you grip the wheel. As Bob says, modern wheels are slippery plastic affairs. I much prefer a thick coarse-textured leather wheel in a modern car.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

I have driven 4 old cars with Nardi steering wheels and find them to be a tactile part of the ownership.

They are beautifully crafted and are finished with a fine coating of varnish or shellac I think which from that era gave them a nice feel , no leather inserts for hand positioning and due to their size had good control over the car's direction.

I have a spare Enrico Nardi wheel I am in the process of restoring and will use it as a nice mounted piece of automobilia

 

The cars that came with wood steering wheels had huge wheels that were fairly thin. It was original equipment and part of the experience. Usually made of teak. Newer wood wheels are thicker and trying to be more of a throw back. Not really the ideal option considering what other leather wrapped wheels are available.

 

from our 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial; thin wheel, but with shaped wooden dowels on the back side.
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Wood wheels are great to look at and use. They give great feel.

However back in the day racers did not want to use wood wheels because they could snap and splinter in an accident

My dads Porsche 356has a les leston wheel but he has the Bakelite one on the car

I believe Ferrari moved away from wooden wheels after the 330 series and I think you could get them on a Daytona as well
They used Nardi wheels

 

I just had an original wood wheel redone by a specialist for a project that I am working on...
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Pretty difficult to attached F1 paddles on a wood wheel.
Horse's for courses really. Wooden wheels suited cars in the begone era but now carbon or whatever is the new wood.

 

Bryan, did you get the heel refurbish somewhere. If in Europe please advise as I would like to get mine done.
Thanks, Warren.

 

Just a light sand and tung oil; it has been in the family for nearly 53 years, so it has been taken care of.

 

my 1984 400i did not have the wood stering wheel. Im thinking they come on cars in the 60's? Could be wrong.
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It is very simple: Ferraris have always had wood steering wheels.

Shortly after Fiat bought Ferrari, the cars stopped having wood steering wheels.

 

two very different conversations here with respect to old sporty cars and new euro sedans.

I personally love the feel of the wood on my s-class steering wheel.

 

Until two days ago, I'm not sure if I ever drove a car with a (real) wood steering wheel. (I'm not counting the fake or laminate stuff).

A friend just purchased a 365GT 2+2, as original as you can find, in great shape and a real driver. He generously let me try it - wow.

One surprising but very tactile experience was the (original) wood wheel. I am not sure if it was finely finished, or worn smooth over 45,000+ miles of hands on it, but it had a certain "feel" that worked so well. Along with the notchy shifter, it was a trip into history.

It's hard not to love a well-tuned and sweet running vintage Ferrari V-12, but the wheel was....special. I am unlikely to ever want it more than the carbon 458 wheel or the leather in the FF, but I feel lucky to have had a (15min) grip. It just worked....

 

The Nardi wood wheel in my 330 2+2 was a work of art to behold and use. Truly part of the vintage experience for Ferrari and others. My '61 Alfa Giulietta had a plastic wheel but it was the old-fashioned kind and felt right.

I've seen pics of 308s with wood wheels and they looked wrong and out of place. Don't much care for the look of the original leather covered wheel - MOMO I think - and bought a repro early 308 wheel to replace it.

As far as modern cars go, I don't recall driving one witha genuine wood wheel. Agree that it might be nice in a cushy Mercedes with wood interior trim to match but can't imagine one in a late-model Ferrari.

 

Am I mistaken or did people frequently wear leather driving gloves when driving fast or racing with wood wheels?
They are beautiful and feel good, but would become slippery with sweaty palms. Heavy vintage steering + sweaty palms on wood wheel = problems.

 

While the wood my be a work of art, the feel is not as sexy as fine Italian leather on a "form follows function" Momo. I have a Dino mahogany on my 7 but can’t compare to the Momo Race on the MX5 for feel in my hands around the curves at 10 and 2.

 

People used to wear driving gloves when wood and plastic steering wheels were the rule in even luxury/performance cars.

Edit:

Beat me to it.

 

WRONG info about urethane.....Urethane, a key component of polyurethane, has been around for some time now. Urethane and polyurethane polymers were first created by Otto Bayer and his associates in Leverkusen, Germany, in 1937. However, the urethane and polyurethane products were not made commercially available until 1952.....disclaimer...this post is meant to provide accurate & correct information about urethane, & NOT meant as a "troll"....Mark