I have a original steering wheel that has caught a lot of attention from people coming to buy some parts from me, anyways, a good camaro guy that i usually talk with offered me a brand new DSE (i think its budnik bc DSE sells budnik on there website 329.99USD) steering wheel, that i've always wanted for my car, but its gonna be a trade for my original.. my steering wheel has 1 small crack, but is in really good condition.. picture below, is it worth it? should i ask for more in the trade, he might throw in a console clock :)

http://www.detroitspeed.com/productpages/indproduct/steeringprod/steering_wheels_s_prod.htm


http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/camaro_1969/IMG_0860.jpg

A crack is a crack. Small maybe but that to me is like being a little bit pregnant. A purist would send it out to be repaired and that costs money. If the guy is a good friend I'd do the even swap if the wheel he is offering to buy is what you really want anyway.

I say dont do it....

One identicle to yours also with one small crack just sold two days ago on ebay for $520. I had it on watch out of curiosity, I have a mint one with no cracks and my wife hates it lol.

item #110442548324

how do i make sure that my wheel is original, is there specific things to look for?

how do i make sure that my wheel is original, is there specific things to look for?

Pictures in thread... http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=145259&highlight=wood+wheel

Any part is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. In this case one identicle sold on ebay two days ago for $520 with 23 bidders.

I wish I could post a direct link but cannot since the auction has ended.

Pictures in thread... http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=145259&highlight=wood+wheel
Copied and pasted from CRG...

As an upgrade, the RPO N34 simulated wood-grained, plastic wheel was available. As in 1967 and 1968, the spokes were a two piece design and overlapped at the center, requiring the correct hub with a cut-out for the wheel to fit correctly. However, this wheel had a much shallower dish, only 2.5" depth, than the 67 and 68 wheel. There were two versions of the 69 N34 wheel. The walnut version was only used for the first few months of production and is considered rare. Starting in late November 1968, the rosewood version of the wheel was introduced. It was dimensionally the same as the earlier walnut version, but it was now simulated rosewood to match the wood-grained trim on the instrument panel.

how do i make sure that my wheel is original, is there specific things to look for?

Repro wheels have a very coarse simulated grain to them. An original would likely have a somewhat smooth feel to it due to years of use. I would also say since its cracked chances are its legit.:thumbsup:

Not sure about the repro walnut wheels but the rosewoods I have seen are quite a bit off in collor from an original.

Repro wheels have a very coarse simulated grain to them. An original would likely have a somewhat smooth feel to it due to years of use. I would also say since its cracked chances are its legit.:thumbsup:

Not sure about the repro walnut wheels but the rosewoods I have seen are quite a bit off in collor from an original.

I've seen repos come out of the box cracked.

is there any number stamped that i should look for?? and funny, my car was early production, pre-x coded car, and built in 1968... could it be the original walnut? and when you say rare, how rare, something i should hold on, or throw on ebay.. im not looking for a original car, soon enough ralleys are coming off and 19's are coming on

post a better pic of it. It looks like a shallow Walnut or Rosewood. Both are for 69. I would say a minimum of 500.00

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/camaro_1969/DSC00953.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/camaro_1969/DSC00951.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/camaro_1969/DSC00950.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/camaro_1969/DSC00949.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/camaro_1969/DSC00948.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo52/camaro_1969/DSC00947.jpg

Kinda hard to describe the difference between the repops and the originals, but once you see a sample of each you will never mistake one for the other. If nothing else, the plastic on the repops has a much higher luster to them. The originals have more of a satin fininsh. The repops have a slightly 'too rich' tint to them also. Yours looks original to me.

and yes, i know, i have a clutch pedal with an auto trans, i have my reasons..........

and yes, i know, i have a clutch pedal with an auto trans, i have my reasons..........

Oh I got to hear the reason. This has got to be good.:yes:

Oh I got to hear the reason. This has got to be good.:yes:

its a nice foot rest......:p

its a nice foot rest......:p

A foot rest! I was hoping to hear it was for a hidden NOS system or some kind of crazy automatic trans hookup. Oh well. I'm sure it does work great as a foot rest.:beers:

A foot rest! I was hoping to hear it was for a hidden NOS system or some kind of crazy automatic trans hookup. Oh well. I'm sure it does work great as a foot rest.:beers:

LOL, dont want to slip my foot and hit a hidden nos switch :noway:




so should i trade the wheel or should i keep it, OR should i sell it on ebay..

I'd keep it. I love the old stuff and they aren't gonna make any more. I'm not bothered by one small crack either. Those wheels are very well made. The next crack will come 40 years from now. I'm keeping my original guages on my '68 project because I like looking at them. I'm a big history buff. Just think, someone had their hands on that wheel wodering if we would really make it to the moon, maybe if their brother was coming home from Vietnam soon. That's just me, certainly not everyone cares about that stuff which is also fine. (as a side-note, there was an old Ford from the early 30's in the town I grew up in. It had the side runners that the gangsters would stand on and shoot thier Tommy guns. Man, we'd play on that thing for hours.... ok, back to reality)

how can i tell that the wheel is actually from the early 69 camaro builds, and not just a 67 68 camaro wheel? my car is an early NOR build, and i read on camaros.org just doesnt tell me much how to make sure it came with the car and not off a 67 68 or even a corvette

how can i tell that the wheel is actually from the early 69 camaro builds, and not just a 67 68 camaro wheel? my car is an early NOR build, and i read on camaros.org just doesnt tell me much how to make sure it came with the car and not off a 67 68 or even a corvette

Did you read this? http://www.camaros.org/swheel.shtml

69 wheels are different because they are shallower to accomodate the longer steering column...ign switch on column. 67-68 wheels are deeper.

Yours is a correct 69 shallow wheel.

I vote keep the wheel! If you ever want another one it will cost you big bucks. Buy the after market wheel and put yours in a box.

Keeping it or selling it? I love old stuff and old car parts but I also sell some of what I find or have had that came from my 67 Camaro. My reasons for doing so are simple. I have owned so many Camaros and Chevelles over the years that I have no intention of selling the 67....ever. The car is going to be how I want it, it's just a plain jane 67 and nothing special, just a 327 210 H/P glide car. I bought it 16 years ago and put over 100,000 miles on her driving everyplace as a daily driver.

I would sell the wheel because it does not do anything for me, I like a newer style and the comphort of a new wheel and something a little smaller and dare I get flamed something that looks better. We all have an opinion and that's mine for selling. You could save up and get the wheel you want and store this one. Will ever use it? It could be worth a mint in another 10 years or worth nothing because it gets damaged, lost or some strange thing happens to it, this happened to me with walnut radio, dash and ash tray parts once.
I am advocate of go for what you want and keep tha part if it's something you really like, if not sell it and be happy with what you have. Just make sure you look at the mounts etc and see if it's something you can live with. Some look cheap and some are very nice. I spent $100 on a very nice Grant wood wheel (used froma member here normally close to $200) and $45.00 for a nice mount instead of the cheap one with a rubber sleeve.

Good luck
Joe

thanks i appreciate all your guy's feedback

Hey Camaro 1969 [ Vic ]......i live not to far from Vancouver.......i also have an early build 69 camaro RS/SS ... Nov 68. owned it for 32 years now. mines got the 68 rear spoiler on it too from the facory. i just bought a 69 walnut wheel for mine. yes, that IS an original 69 walnut wheel not a 67 or 68 walnut wheel. its got the shallow dish to it. and yes they are fairly rare, especially on a 69 camaro.
i think your "friend" knows what you have there and may be trying to get a deal......perhaps i know him?? id be interested to know who it is... LOL... i know alot of camaro guys around the lower mainland and vancouver island.
i would keep it and leave it on the car, or at least keep it.....its not going to go down in price.
i just had a thread on this site awhile ago trying to figure out what the 69 walnut wheel is worth.......no one could give me a real definative answer, but yes one did go for around 500.00 on e bay.

leave me a private message with your e mail...id really like to chat more about your car...maybe we can have a beer?
Mike