Steering Wheel Part No. 914.347.803.10

[Bantam]

I have just unearthed a 380mm wheel with exactly the same part number as the one posted in the "show your ride thread" (914.347.803.10), mine looks like it is dated 12/72 but would need restoring.
Can anyone give me any background on the wheel, perhaps more to the point, is it worth restoring?
Thanks
Tim

[Zithlord]

914.347.803.10-hard rubber 914-6 70-71
914.347.804.10-hard rubber 914-4 70-71
914.347.804.11-hard rubber 72 up
914.347.805.10-leather 914-4 70-71
914.347.805.11-leather 914-6 and 914-4 72 up
914.347.806.10-leather 914-6 70-71 & RS
914.347.809.00-fake leather 72 up

With that datecode it could be for a RS?

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...914.347.803.10

John

[fryardds]

Hi Tim,

Can you post some photos of the wheel that you have? There were several different wheels used as RSR steering wheels and one of them was the 803.10 hard rubber core wheel.

Dave C. posted a nice photo of an original disected '73 RSR wheel that had a hard rubber core with a layer of felt glued to the wheel and an additional layer of material glued to the underside of the leather. If you restore it correctly in this manner it should be worth a premium over a leather 914/6 RS wheel IMHO.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Bantam]

John/Brian, many thank for the info. I have some pictures of the wheel which currently has the felt type material on it with traces of something that was on top of it just like the photo Brian posted. Although difficult to see on the picture I can confirm the date is 72/12.






The list that John posted has also helped me identify another 380mm wheel I have which is 914.347.805.10 dated 7/70 which is leather and is therefore from a 914-4 for 70-71. A few pictures for reference:







Regards
Tim

[Zithlord]

Tim; there is something "strange" with your 805.10. wheel. It dos not have the recess in the middle that 914 wheels usually have, its therefor a direct fit on a 911. Can you remove the 914 hub/canseling ring and take a picture? I would like to see if there are pre drilled counter sunk holes for the 911 canseling ring.

Best
John

[Bantam]

John, photo as requested



Regards
Tim

[Zithlord]

That wheel has been pre drilled (two counter sunk holes) for the 911 canselling ring and do not have the 914 recess, and would be the perfect candidate for a dubble wrap RSR wheel(was also made from a 380mm hard plastic wheel). You have two very sought after wheels that must not be misstaken for the ordinary 914 380mm wheels. They both fit right into the 911.

John

[fryardds]

No, no, no, don't do anything other than redoing the stitching on the 805.10 wheel. The factory leather wraping is almost impossible to duplicate correctly. That is a fantastic looking 380 mm wheel.

As to the 803.10, the felt looks to be in pretty good shape accept for the area at 2 O'clock. That area could be removed and new material placed there. Here is good thread demonstrating the creation of a correct RSR wheel.

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...ighlight=wheel


Dave's technique could be used to restore your RSR wheel. Make sure the correct grain leather is used and the hide is skived correctly at the center seam and the spokes where the hide is doubled over. Be sure to show us the result when completed.

[Bantam]

John/Brian
Thanks again for your input.
Brian you are right the factory leather on the 805.10 wheel is really nice and over half the stitching is still intact so would provide a good template for the finish that is required (I agree, many of the wheels you see redone are let down by the leather which to my eye looks too rich/soft on many examples).
The 803.10 would make a great RSR thick grip wheel, having looked at the thread of Dave's great work, I can't see me finishing it today!
If I am honest they will probably go back on the shelf until a real need drives me to pick up a needle in anger but its great to know I have the right raw materials. Thanks again.
Tim

[andyjboy]

Tim - nice find on the steering wheels.

Here's an 803.10 'RSR' s/wheel that I currently have in (excellent) original condition: