VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1965-1970 Optional 1968 Wlanut Steering wheel question

I purchased this car late summer and since I don't have/can't find a build sheet I am curious to know if there is any way to tell if the steering wheel in the car was assembled that way or if I have an aftermarket reproduction.The wheel does have a grain to the"wood",butI'm just not sure.... any help would be appreciated! Here is a picture albeit,not a great one.....

Did that car come from the Vegas sale?

Hi,no this car was owned by a collector in Maine for about 15 years,he sold it to a dealer 2 years ago and they sold it to me last year.It is not in perfect shape,but,it will take a bit of TLC to get it there.It is mechanically sound and just needs a repaint due to sloppy prep work.It is almost identical to that auction car,I sure didn't pay an auction price for it though.

The 1968 Dealer Show Room albumn refers to it as a Sport Styled Steering Wheel. The pictures, which are not actual photographs, show a fine wood grains and thats the way I remember them.

I also believe that is the correct wheel for 68 , and 67.

I ordered and received a new 1968 Chevelle SS 396 when I was in college. I ordered It with that exact steering wheel. It was an option. Wish I still had It. Sold it when my first son was born.
Richard

its the same steering wheel the 67( and i think 68) corvettes came with. they'll bring 300+ bucks at Corvettes @ Carlisle.mike

Actually the Corvette wheel is different.....Joe

Some real good info here,I am just trying to get an understanding to how the 68s were optioned as I have never owned a 68 previous to this one and I have been told that the wood wheel is unusual to be seen on an Impala.Thanks for all the responses!!

I remember it being more common on the more sporty models like the Camaro, Chevelle SS and Corvair and Corvette.

That is a cool looking steering wheel!!

I'm with you J.Y.D it is a cool wheel,although the picture doesn't do it justice.If you look at it closely in person,you can see how the manufacturers really tried to make it look like faux wood.The best thing is how comfortable it is to hold,much better than the standard plastic wheels IMHO.I was very suprised that the car had this feature,I'm just trying to find out in this post if it was common for the Impala to be ordered with it.As always thanks for the info and the kind words.



Dave

Hi Dave,
I too love the feel of the wood wheels and early 70's cushion grip sport wheel compared to the stock steering wheels.My favorite wood wheel is the '69 rosewood wheel.

Here's some cool numbers for you:
RPO N-34/retail list $31.60/only 2,021 found their way onto Impala SS and Z24 B-cars for'68 model year.Rare and a nice upgrade option especially with tilt,imo. Jim

Hi Jim,thanks for the info!! I too really like the 69 rosewood wheel and have seen it on quita a few Chevelles,Camaros and a few Impalas.On the other hand I have only seen one 69 Caprice with the "comfort grip" wheel,I suppose that option was pretty rare.

My 69 Vette had one like that. Very classy. I wish I could find one for my 68 Camaro SS. Although my Camaro has the tree spoke SS wheel on it now. I found out that the original plastic 3 spoke with the little SS emblem is hard to find these days, and my has the worn away paint in all the right places. I repect that.

Still I think the faux wood is very cool.

Good luck with the car!

RayG

Hi Dave,
The cushion comfort grip wheel replaced the rosewood '69 wheel and first came out for '70 models. Jim

I put up 2 pics of the 70 standard Impala wheel that came on my unrestored 70 and the 70 sport wheel I replaced it with. Jim

Looks similar the steering wheel on my 66 vette. I replaced
the plastic walnut wheel with the teakwood wheel.