I tried this in the First Gen facebook group, but got about 10 different answers. I have a late May 1968 400 convertible. PHS says it came with deluxe interior in Ivy Gold. It also says that the deluxe steering wheel (code 462) came standard with the custom trim option. However, the deluxe steering wheel option is not marked on my PHS.
So, this is the wheel that is currently in the car, which I believe to be from a 69. I don't believe this steering wheel would have come with the car even with it being a May '68 build. Question is, what style wheel would have originally come with my car? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
68 400 convertible - recent purchase
Used to own: 69 400 convertible - Winward Blue 69 350 convertible - Verdoro Green 69 350 coupe - Matador Red
That is a 67 wheel only. 68 standard looks quite different. I don't have a picture handy. Maybe Sleddog does. He has a standard 68.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Hmmm. So what would the "wood look" wheel be called? Custom?
Wood steering wheel.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
68tpls400 is correct- it is called a wood wheel. The wood wheel was created as a "sport wheel" type- but never really pushed as such. It was mostly used as a replacement for the now very rare 1968 only standard wheel that you are talking about. The standard wheel had a flaw- which was excessive cracking due to excessive hot/cold temps and people pushing on the steering wheel when they were pushing the actual cars during car trouble. The company did not want to re-cast new std wheels so the wood wheel came to the rescue. I had one, but someone wanted it more than me, so I sold it and the perfect horn button I had to go with it. Here are some pics to help. The old horn button in the pic I still have- the other I sold was like brand new I found local to me. If i remember right it had two different finishes on it- one polished and the other brushed. I have included a pic of a wood wheel I looked at earlier in time as well. I have a wood wheel still somewhere that I would sell.
Last edited by Sleddog; 04/23/2010:40 AM.
Cant wait for summer... 68HO4004spvert Sleddog Iowa
God Bless the men and women past and present that have served this country. Thank you. Support D.A.V. - it helps gives a life back to those who gave so much for us.....
This thread has been helpful on the standard 68 wheel! It clears up some confusion for me. I noticed in some of the 68 literature that it shows the 67 standard wheel on various models so I made a broad assumption it also went with the 68 birds. Now I know that I can add another impossible and most likely expensive item to my 68 Aegean coupe restoration.
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible - April Gold/Deluxe Black Automatic 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Coupe - Aegena Blue/Standard Teal 4 speed 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 H.O. Convertible - Alpine Blue/Deluxe Teal Automatic 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Coupe - Autumn Bronze/Deluxe White 4 speed
If you find a standard wheel in any kind of shape, buy it if you are going for original. A wood wheel works as a sub, but to have the original is awesome and very rare. I have the old horn cap ( I think) I would sell if you are interested. I found my pics of the one that was new sitting in the box for decades that I sold. I sold it to the first person I mentioned it to- they are that rare in any kind of shape. You can see the two types of finishes they had.
Last edited by Sleddog; 04/23/2004:33 PM.
Cant wait for summer... 68HO4004spvert Sleddog Iowa
God Bless the men and women past and present that have served this country. Thank you. Support D.A.V. - it helps gives a life back to those who gave so much for us.....
Now I know that I can add another impossible and most likely expensive item to my 68 Aegean coupe restoration.
Just buy the one from Sleddog. He's a reasonably OK guy...
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure. I feel like I am diagonally parked in a parallel universe. 1968 400 convertible (Scarlet) 1976 T/A - 455 LE (No Burt) 1976 T/A New baby, starting full restoration. 1968 350 - 4 speed 'vert - 400 clone (the Beast!) 1968 350 convertible - Wife's car now- 400 clone (Aleutian Blue) (Blue Angel) 2008 Durango - DD 2008 GXP - New one from NH is AWESOME! 2017 Durango Citadel - Modern is nice! HEMI is amazing! 1998 Silverado Z71 - Father-daughter project 1968 400 coupe - R/A clone (Blue Pearl) (sold) 1967 326 convertible - Sold 1980 T/A SE Bandit - Sold
Thanks 68tpls400- I'll take that Much better than what the wifes been calling me lately since I started spending so much more time in the shop. Got your pm Tom- I'll see if I can find it..
Cant wait for summer... 68HO4004spvert Sleddog Iowa
God Bless the men and women past and present that have served this country. Thank you. Support D.A.V. - it helps gives a life back to those who gave so much for us.....
That is a great looking wood wheel. I’d buy that one if someone was selling. Got out and pulled mine off the column today. It’s not bad but the wheel is going to need some work and the center is pitted a bit. It’ll polish up ok but it’ll never look new. The second pic is one of those clear tops. Wish I could get it redone cheap but I don’t think that’s gonna happen so it’s just wall art for the time being.
The wood wheel in the pic above in the thread is of one I was going to buy but missed out on. I do have a wood wheel that I bought but it doesn't have the center cap or the parts to hook up the horn. PM me if you are interested.
Cant wait for summer... 68HO4004spvert Sleddog Iowa
God Bless the men and women past and present that have served this country. Thank you. Support D.A.V. - it helps gives a life back to those who gave so much for us.....
I was fortunate enough to find an original 68 standard wheel and a NOS horn cap. I'll post pictures in a few of both of them. I'm really excited to get the wheel restored to match my teal interior. I really appreciate the detail provided in this thread - thanks Sleddog!
1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible - April Gold/Deluxe Black Automatic 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Coupe - Aegena Blue/Standard Teal 4 speed 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 H.O. Convertible - Alpine Blue/Deluxe Teal Automatic 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Coupe - Autumn Bronze/Deluxe White 4 speed