VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Best Looking Accessory Steering Wheel

I was wondering what is the best looking accessory steering wheel. That is, one that is installed on the same year car and with the best cabin colors, etc to support the looks.

I don't know what year accessory steering wheels started but I think they covered the years from 1936(?) to 1952 or so.

The reason for asking is that I think the best production steering wheel sometimes looked just as good, if not even better, than the accessory one. I think 194o and 19411 meets that category. The spinner is a nice gadget but that grip part coming around makes seem a little whop-sided.

What ones really did the job of making the cabin look even better. I think some of the banjo ones look really great. The 42-48 questionable over the best production ones. See where I going with this.

Your thoughts and comments?

Charlie

I'll start it out,1st is factory...2nd is accessary, my 48 Aero

CC,

I'd say the banjo but not by much. They both look really great!

Excellent pictures.

Thanks,
Charlie

Banjo close up

Charlie, the best looking one is actually not an accessory, it's standard equipment:



All the Best, Chip

Chip,

Just amazing. It truly is. Looks real good. Strong, too.

Charlie

Bruce's banjo steering wheel on his '48 CC Fleetline is just outstanding. Of course, the whole dang car is just outstanding. A real beauty. I'd vote for the banjo wheel every time.

I couldn't agree more. There's something about those banjo wheels. They're too rich ($) for my blood, but I do appreciate them.

Of course the original is on display in the Man Cave

Some questions:

a. Was the banjo wheel available 42-48 or just 46-48?

b. Was the 1936 banjo a stand alone? Just that year?

c. Did 1939 have an accessory steering wheel?

d. Were the banjos for the 1937-38 the very same?

e. Was the circumference of the 48 type banjo the same as the stock deluxe wheel? Looks bigger.

f. Does anyone think the 49 deluxe steering wheel looks any better then the deluxe production one?

g. Is the reproduction 1950 thru 1952 accessory wheel the same diameter (circumference) as the regular accessory wheel? I think I read that those and the reproduction of the 48 et al were smaller (note: not the same question as in :e" above). Don't know.

While the accessory steering wheels look good 1941 (spinner) thru 1948, I still say that the regular deluxe wheel looks might good and not out of place as the others kind of do. Sort of. You know what I mean? Just my opinion.

Charlie

e)The banjo is bigger than the stock wheel...I don't know which size I like better

I thought we would see a wide range of different sterring wheels once this topic started...Come on guys,shoot some pics

Best crappy pic I have of my '36 wheel... steering column is out so there won't be any better pics for a long while!

So that is what a 36 looks like.

The center button looks a little wavy. Is that a problem with them and, if so, how can they be made smooth again. Or is there a replacement available?

What about the center button on a 42-48 banjo? Are replacements available? If so, do they fit nicely?

Back to the 36 banjo. I think they look pretty cool. No clutter on the banjo "strings" at all.

Charlie

It is a very clean, no clutter design!

That center button is a bit of a mystery to me... It's a thin material with a swirly pattern much the same as the wheel but brown. Under it is the normal rubber part and the 2 pronged steel "fork". The button broke into parts at some point and was glued onto a pringles chip can top by a previous owner. I'll probably turn a new one out of something and then finish it to match the wheel rather than brown... no replacement I know of... yet!

Yes I do like the 36 lots
There are repacements for the 48 button...Ranges around $150

I always like the butterfly wheel available in 1950-1952.

Gene,

I like them as well.

It seems that I read somewhere that the reproductions were smaller in diameter than the originals. Have you heard that? If so, how much smaller?

Charlie

The reproductions were popular a few years back. Don't see much about them any more. They were an inch smaller and designed for street rods, etc. with power steering. The 1" difference would make for a little less leverage and make for more effort required for parking, etc. They also came in "colors"
If they were a duplicate of the original I would have put one on my 1950.

Gene and all you others,

So to answer one of my earlier questions, accessory steering wheels were offered from 1936 through 1952 only. Is that right?

Thanks,
Charlie

That is correct.
Just want to add the 1939 also had a good looking accessory wheel. It no longer looked like a typical three spoke wheel like the 1936-1938 but rather had a more modern design.

Gene,

What does a 39 look like. Don't remember if I've ever seen one or not.

Does anyone have a picture of one that they would willing to post?

Charlie