Teak Steering Wheels
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Safety Car
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From: St. Louis MO
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Teak Steering Wheels
I have two (2) teak steering wheels (wheel #1 & wheel #2)
I want to get opinions on original or repo. I think I know but I would like the “EXPERTS” to way in. *** Even those experts that way in on everything and have never had a teak wheel ****
They can be viewed here (excuse some of the photos) ==> Click Here
George
I want to get opinions on original or repo. I think I know but I would like the “EXPERTS” to way in. *** Even those experts that way in on everything and have never had a teak wheel ****
They can be viewed here (excuse some of the photos) ==> Click Here
George
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Safety Car
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From: St. Louis MO
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Team Owner
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From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
I'm also no expert; however I have stared at and handled both originals and Eric Freeman wheels, and as far as I can tell, the originals have slightly smoother radii corners around the grip indents on the back side, which from here would get my vote that #1 is a Freeman wheel and that #2 might be an original wheel.
Disclaimer: I am not an officially registered C2 steering wheel voter.
Disclaimer: I am not an officially registered C2 steering wheel voter.
Enjoy while you can.
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St. Jude Donor '14 thru '26
pm provette67, he collects them. He has more wheels than his wife has shoes.
Here is a good thread on the topic:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-wheel.html
provette67
"Many here have hit on some of the differences. None are major but they are there.A misnomer is "he had it for 20yrs". I bought my first Corvette in 1977. A maroon/saddle '66 roadster. I bought it from the original owner. He was a hoarder who gave me all kinds of great paperwork and his collection of old vette magazines. I found repop teak wheels for sale in ads from 1971. As mentioned here earlier it is a feel thing for many. Many of the repops were made with off shore made center sections. That is why the the edges are sharper. Some have even been found to be just a bit shallower in depth as well. Some were made without real teak and rosewood to save money in production. Many times the finger grips on the backside are different. The width of the wood itself many times is thicker on the repops. It all adds up. In person it takes me less than 30sec to tell original vs repop. When I setup with a few parts at Bloomington or Carlisle I usually bring a few wheels with me. A couple repops as well as a couple originals. People ask the differences. I point out a few things and they all quickly can tell the differences as well. Some people don't care if is a an original wheel or not. They just want one because they look good. Which they do. They also feel great. Others like me have to have original when ever possible. Some here that know me know that I am very meticulous about my passions. Teak wheels are one of my passions. My wife among others think that I have taken that passion way to far. Yes I admit that I have several original teak wheels including one that is NOS in the original box. Like I tell my wife unlike her shoes the value of the wheels don't go down. Now even the price of the repops have gone up close to what an original sells for. So others must like them as well."
Here is a good thread on the topic:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-wheel.html
provette67
"Many here have hit on some of the differences. None are major but they are there.A misnomer is "he had it for 20yrs". I bought my first Corvette in 1977. A maroon/saddle '66 roadster. I bought it from the original owner. He was a hoarder who gave me all kinds of great paperwork and his collection of old vette magazines. I found repop teak wheels for sale in ads from 1971. As mentioned here earlier it is a feel thing for many. Many of the repops were made with off shore made center sections. That is why the the edges are sharper. Some have even been found to be just a bit shallower in depth as well. Some were made without real teak and rosewood to save money in production. Many times the finger grips on the backside are different. The width of the wood itself many times is thicker on the repops. It all adds up. In person it takes me less than 30sec to tell original vs repop. When I setup with a few parts at Bloomington or Carlisle I usually bring a few wheels with me. A couple repops as well as a couple originals. People ask the differences. I point out a few things and they all quickly can tell the differences as well. Some people don't care if is a an original wheel or not. They just want one because they look good. Which they do. They also feel great. Others like me have to have original when ever possible. Some here that know me know that I am very meticulous about my passions. Teak wheels are one of my passions. My wife among others think that I have taken that passion way to far. Yes I admit that I have several original teak wheels including one that is NOS in the original box. Like I tell my wife unlike her shoes the value of the wheels don't go down. Now even the price of the repops have gone up close to what an original sells for. So others must like them as well."
Last edited by dahogan; Apr 2, 2021 at 01:25 PM.
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From: Cottonwood AZ
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[QUOTE=Black_Magic;1603242213]I have two (2) teak steering wheels (wheel #1 & wheel #2)
I want to get opinions on original or repo. I think I know but I would like the “EXPERTS” to way in. *** Even those experts that way in on everything and have never had a teak wheel ****
They can be viewed here (excuse some of the photos) ==> Click Here
George
[/QUOT
I don’t consider myself an expert but I have seen, handled and owned them in the past.
It is hard to determine if SOME wheels are repos or not IF they are made on an original plastic wheel core and with darker old growth teak wood. Many of the repos are often easy to spot since many are made in different diameters than the originals, are made on aftermarket rims with sharper spokes and lighter colored wood.
This being said I would GUESS that at least one if not both are repos. The reason being that the OEM of the original factory wheels has previously stated that late in his production he ran out of the darker old growth teak and switched to a newer much lighter colored teak. So there are FAR more original wheels in the darker color than the later “honey” colored wheels. Most of the several repo wheel makers make them with the lighter new growth teak which seems to be more popular with buyers.
I want to get opinions on original or repo. I think I know but I would like the “EXPERTS” to way in. *** Even those experts that way in on everything and have never had a teak wheel ****
They can be viewed here (excuse some of the photos) ==> Click Here
George
[/QUOTI don’t consider myself an expert but I have seen, handled and owned them in the past.
It is hard to determine if SOME wheels are repos or not IF they are made on an original plastic wheel core and with darker old growth teak wood. Many of the repos are often easy to spot since many are made in different diameters than the originals, are made on aftermarket rims with sharper spokes and lighter colored wood.
This being said I would GUESS that at least one if not both are repos. The reason being that the OEM of the original factory wheels has previously stated that late in his production he ran out of the darker old growth teak and switched to a newer much lighter colored teak. So there are FAR more original wheels in the darker color than the later “honey” colored wheels. Most of the several repo wheel makers make them with the lighter new growth teak which seems to be more popular with buyers.
Last edited by 68hemi; Apr 2, 2021 at 01:51 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
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Looks like wheel 2 is an original and 1 is a good repop. I'm looking at mine which is guaranteed original and it matches up pretty well with 1.
Edtted,... got my numbers reversed.
Edtted,... got my numbers reversed.
Last edited by nutt; Apr 4, 2021 at 10:26 AM.
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If you look at wheel #1 the side angle of the spokes are not smooth indicating that it is almost certainly a reproduction. While I am no expert, I have done a lot of research on teak wheels and in my opinion, they are both good quality reproductions. Compare the sides of the metal spokes on wheel #2 to see if it also has machine marks or is smooth.
Melting Slicks
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Mine doesn't have the sharp edges that you normally find on the repro's. In looking at the photos, I have to believe that #1 is a repro. Sharp edges to the finger grips. #2 has softer edges similar to my wheel.
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From: St. Louis MO
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I have no proof but supposedly #1 is real and #2 I have no idea.
#1 came on my '66 which originally a FULLY loaded coupe -- PS, PB, PW, A/C, Radio, Headrest, PG, Telescopic column, ???
Again no paperwork but passed on word-of-mouth which is worth nothing
Thanks for all the input as I'm still confused --- back on the shelf with #2 for a while.
George
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Waiting for PROVETTE67 to check in
I have no proof but supposedly #1 is real and #2 I have no idea.
#1 came on my '66 which originally a FULLY loaded coupe -- PS, PB, PW, A/C, Radio, Headrest, PG, Telescopic column, ???
Again no paperwork but passed on word-of-mouth which is worth nothing
Thanks for all the input as I'm still confused --- back on the shelf with #2 for a while.
George
I have no proof but supposedly #1 is real and #2 I have no idea.
#1 came on my '66 which originally a FULLY loaded coupe -- PS, PB, PW, A/C, Radio, Headrest, PG, Telescopic column, ???
Again no paperwork but passed on word-of-mouth which is worth nothing
Thanks for all the input as I'm still confused --- back on the shelf with #2 for a while.
George
If this picture is of your original known teak wheel, it appears that it was made of a combination of old growth and the lighter colored new growth teak wood. I have never seen this with an original wheel. However certainly there had to be at least ONE made by the OEM when he ran out of the old growth wood.
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Waiting for PROVETTE67 to check in
I have no proof but supposedly #1 is real and #2 I have no idea.
#1 came on my '66 which originally a FULLY loaded coupe -- PS, PB, PW, A/C, Radio, Headrest, PG, Telescopic column, ???
Again no paperwork but passed on word-of-mouth which is worth nothing
Thanks for all the input as I'm still confused --- back on the shelf with #2 for a while.
George
I have no proof but supposedly #1 is real and #2 I have no idea.
#1 came on my '66 which originally a FULLY loaded coupe -- PS, PB, PW, A/C, Radio, Headrest, PG, Telescopic column, ???
Again no paperwork but passed on word-of-mouth which is worth nothing
Thanks for all the input as I'm still confused --- back on the shelf with #2 for a while.
George
You know - if they are so close - lack any obvious, smack you in the face clues they are a repro - and there's no consensus one way or the other - and you aren't trying to market it, I don't know that it matters. They are beautiful, period correct, examples of teak Corvette steering wheels that anyone should be proud of having in their car.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
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From: St. Louis MO
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Still don't know
Answers to my original question ---
Neither is original
#1 orig
#2 repo
#1 repo
#2 orig
Both repo
Just a guess at this point.
I would to sell 1 or both in the future but want to be sure.
George
Answers to my original question ---
Neither is original
#1 orig
#2 repo
#1 repo
#2 orig
Both repo
Just a guess at this point.
I would to sell 1 or both in the future but want to be sure.
George
Le Mans Master
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From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
I have a repro teak wheel on my '66. I also had the pleasure of "handling" a real teak wheel off of the car awhile back. To me, the OEM teak wheel somehow seemed heavier, more substantial and I'm not really sure why. Since you have the two you could look into this, see what you think. It could just be me ... It usually is.
Ray
Ray