Those could be had for around 20-30 bucks in the fifties. Now they’re impossible to find and they’re in the 1500-2000 range. E bay may still have one, the top of the hoop is cracked though.
info please......what are we talking about here? "accessory" steering wheel meaning an option upgrade available from the dealer/factory? Pics please 20 or 30 bucks for a horn ring back in the 50's would have been a ton of money
Rich it was an optional wheel in 53 54 it was a 4 spoke type.they also were available on earlier years not sure of years 49-51 for example.over the years I have seen broken ones for sale with big asking prices.if I get a chance I will post a picture of mine off the car.the 53 used a red coloured crest in center to celebrate 50th anniversary as regular rings did same at least ones I have seen.
Rich here are a couple of pics of accessory wheel and ring notice the area around crest it is where the 53 was red
Nice ring and wheel. Since horn rings are scarce, I am likely repairing mine. It is a 53 and has the red around the Ford Crest in nice shape. Need to make a new top round ring and weld the cracks with some filling. Already stripped the chrome found a local pot metal welder. The steering wheel will go out for recast on Monday. Message me if you have a choice steering wheel and/or horn ring that is for sale.
Those are good looking wheels...thanks for posting the info and pics, 54Vicky. Something else to keep an eye open for....ya never know when you'll trip over one in a salvage yard or garage sale.
Who are you sending yours out to? I ask because if I was to ever send one out(bought this one already redone), I would make sure to have it cast so that the color is in the urethane, rather than painted like mine. D&D Automobilia and Quality Restoration both do this, but I haven't had any personal experience with them
Your wheel looks great After a lot of research, mine went to Koch’s in So Cal. The vast difference on recast pricing pointed me that way. Koch was $550. After I am done with all, I will have $1150 in my steering wheel which is expensive for me. So, although I agree with you, I will go with a painted wheel. Having had a bodyshop, I have painted other wheels and was satisfied. The horn ring is the challenge as the upper part of the circle is missing and I cannot find a donor. To fix this, took a piece of 1/2 x1/8 steel flat stock and reduced it to 3/8 x 1/8 with a taper then circle rolled. It will then be soldered to horn ring and two of the spoke arm cracks will be welded by a local pot metal expert. Then to the chrome shop. Already had the chrome stripped. The center emblemis in great condition. Found pictured steering wheel in Virginia through a Facebook lead and paid $130.00 for it including shipping. What did you pay for yours? Any installation problems?
Update: Just found a ‘54 horn ring from a friend which has the correct diameter ring and will use it as a donor for the top ring instead of a steel ring I made.
The horn ring is completely different than the stock steering wheel. I ended up making longer spacers(the 3 small ones) and a plastic isolator and a lot of screwing around to get the horn to work and the ring to sit level. This is when I discovered it was painted, not cast color.
Interesting! Yes, the ring is very different. Did you get all of the wheel horn ring guts that came with the accessory wheel? Mine was complete when it was taken off the original steering column. Rather than unbolting and removing the wheel when bought, they just cut the steering shaft and sent it as an ***embly with the ring intact. I took the nut off and used a wheel puller to remove the shaft stub. So I think I have all parts.
It was mostly complete, I think. I couldn't find any diagrams or photos anywhere, so I had to make a best guess. Post some pictures if you could when you re***emble it.
I am doing the same with a Merc Accessory wheel, Ended up trading some wheels for a new recast from Koch.. Talked about welding rings etc.. But had bought one already done off of a guy who who was down sizing.Their plater can handle the weld and plating... Might be good to keep it all under one roof.
Will send post pics as requested. Won’t be until late March as I will be out of state to escape the winter v
Here is my 52/53 Merc wheel sitting on a dirty carpet.. Wheel is recast from Kochs, bought the horn ring on line
I was fortunate enough to ac***ulate 3 wheels, all very rough..for very little $. I filled one, and sanded but after two years the fills all cracked. I ended up trading those three and 3 centers for the cast.. I paid 350 for the ring and ****on, so all told I don't have much more than $400 in it. I still have two broken rings.. One is a wall hanger the other I am hoping to restore this winter
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