Which Steering Wheel Should I Use For Sunfish??

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cosgig

cosgig

MoBro Inc.
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Hey gang, cosgig here. I'm happy to report that it is finally time to completly refinish the dash in Nella's car "Sunfish"!! For anybody not familiar with the car, it is a 1967 Barracuda convertible...

Now, heres the question...which steering wheel should I use for the restoration?? My two choices right now are an original black steering wheel that we put on the car when we got it, to replace the exact same wheel that was cracked and pitted. This wheel is near perfect, not a crack or scratch on it, and other than some light pitting on the horn ring, it is in beautiful condition!!

My other choice is a woodgrain 3 spoke steering wheel that is correct for 68-70 A&B body cars. This wheel is also in very nice condition, one very small crack on the backside right where the grip meets the spoke. The spokes were rusty, so I blasted and painted them, and re-dyed the horn center black, which matches the interior. It has the Barracuda symbol in the center. The biggest drawback to this wheel is that it isn't correct for 67 cars, although it looks right at home on her car!!

Now, mind you, the dash is going to be completly refinished, the housing blasted and powdercoated by our own "Mistress of Metal" Leanna, and the entire cluster is going to be gone through and new bezels purchased for an almost concours redo.

I need the wheel to pop just as much as the rest of the dash, so I'm opening the voting to see what y'all think I should use for a steering wheel. Here are a couple pics of both wheels installed on the car, although with the old, "before" dash!!

So, lets hear it from the people who count...YOU ALL!!! Nella will be happy with whatever goes on, and I will probably sell the other wheel here, so son't let your needs taint your votes!!!LOL!! Thanks for any input received, y'all ROCK!!! Geof and Nell
 

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In Nella's convertible Barracuda Sunfish :cheers:
I would defiantly go with the wood grain 3 spoke :happy1:
Looking in a great car that wheel is a sure fit Geof :cheers: JMO
hugs out to the family and miss everyone, Hello Nella :hello2:
 
The woodgrain wheel is nice where there is other woodgrain. In my opinion it looks out of place where its the only wood.
 
What about a later model woodgrain wheel. I prefer the smaller steering wheels. Will it work on an earlier car? I've seen them on a few 70and up Darts.
 
Use a 1969 black rally steering wheel, Same look as the woodgrain wheel only black.
 
I like the black one because it has that big chrome horn.
Darryl
 
Wow, you guys are quick on the response today!! Thanks for all the replies so far, and I too thought the woodgrain looked a little out of place where there is none other to accent it. As for getting a black sport wheel, my honey hole has a bunch of different color 68-70 sport wheels like the woodgrain one pictured, I just never bothered to grab any of them. I'll look for a black one next time I'm there and bring it home. I guess I'll also bring a couple others home and clean them up too if they're worth grabbing!! Anybody know if they'd be worth getting and selling here??

Oh, and to Memike, Nella gave me a BIG hug and kiss to pass along to you, although it won't be the same as it would be in person!! Here goes...hugging the monitor...now kissing it.... there, how'd that shake yer boots??!!LOL!! Geof
 
I think you should use the black one. I will be happy to take the wood one off your hands for my 67 fastback. LOL
 
there is a woodgrain decal you can get for the dash on ebay... if you want the woodgrain wheel!

I like the wood grain wheel especially with the barracuda in the hornbutton. But I also like the black one. Stay with the black if your not going with the rest of the wood grain.

my .02
 
I also like the black wheel better, but more importantly.....which one does Nella like better?
 
What do you like?

Personally I like the wood

Have a grant wood wheel on my dart could have put the dark blue plastic one back on, but think it looks better with wood.

And, it is the only wood on the interior
 
Whatever you and Nella like. I dont know if you have seen my steering wheel and/or dash but I didn't ask for opinions. I simply went with what I liked. The original black wheel ( identical to yours ) is in the top of a closet so it can be back in the car if and when.
Same applies to the floor shifter and more.
 
cosgig said:
Oh, and to Memike, Nella gave me a BIG hug and kiss to pass along to you, although it won't be the same as it would be in person!! Here goes...hugging the monitor...now kissing it.... there, how'd that shake yer boots??!!LOL!! Geof
Click to expand...

Shook my boots a bunch Geof :happy2: My day is on the right track now
this morning :love7: Thank you Nella :hello2: reading this was better then
any pill I had this morning :love5:
 
OK gang, it's 11 for the black wheel and 5 for the woodgrain with a couple that didn't vote!!

I hear y'all about going with what we like, but I like them both, and Nella does also. They are both nice wheels, and up till a couple days ago, I wasn't going to use the woodgrain for her car at all, I was just cleaning it up to sell!! But I thought I would try it on her car and thought it looked OK, and of course the wheels started turning and we ended up here!!

I am usually on the side of correctness and I've decided that I will be using the black wheel. It looks better, it's correct, and it's black. I think I'll seek out a better horn ring though, the one on it is the original from the car, and although it's pretty nice, it will not be able to compete with fresh dash components, and the mighty powdercoating skills of Leanna!!

Thanks for the replies all, I really appreciate it!! Geof
 
Too bad your car doesn't have a red interior and you were going for a old school look. I have a 3 hole Superior that is red metal flake. LOL tmm
 

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