Lost on RS stearing wheels

[parced@telia.co]

Can someone please enlighten me? What are the fact around the 380 mm stearing wheel that was found in the -73 RS?

I have seen two different stearing wheels in RS's. One thin, like the standard S but smaller and one a little more fat. I just bought one that is said to come from chassis 9113600609 (a 471). A former owner is said to have taken the wheel out of the car because it was a "RSR stearing wheel". The thing is that it was made in 1970. I have heared that the RS has the "same" stearing wheel as the 914-6's and that all RS stearing wheels have a 914 number, my has.

My RS stearing wheel


Together with my S stearing wheel


Interior shot from 9113601201 (another 471)


Pär

[andyjboy]

Par - check out this earlier thread on the subject:

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...t=914+steering

[parced@telia.co]

Oh, thanks. Now I feel confused on a higher level. My stearing wheel has the "look" that is said to belong to the RS but it is made june 1970.

:-)

And, I have seen 380 mm stearing wheels with thin and fat rim in RS's. I saw no comment on that in the tread. One possibility is that the thin rim wheels is "standard" 914 stearing wheels that has been put in RS's instead of some aftermarket stuff.

However I'm happy with my stearing wheel and it will be great in my Oxford blue -73 E.

[70SATMan]

What's the part number of your wheel? I've been trying to figure out how they were made. Schmidt reproduced the exact RSR interior in his latest piece of man temptation. He could answer your question I'm sure. Here is another good thread.

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...heel#post68515

I have a 70 date code 914-6 leather wrapped wheel that I want to finish as a RSR wheel with the larger grip I've been holding off on replacing the leather wrap until I know how they were built. I have an idea but, don't know for sure. If your wheel is original, the part number will give me more insight. Can you take a set of calipers and measure the diameter of the grip?

Cheers,

[parced@telia.co]

Dear Micheal,
the stiching was loose so a looked under the leather. Hard to tell, it's some kind of fabric, looks like wool. At least it is not any leather directly under. And, what I think I have here is a RS not a RSR stearing wheel. I have seen wheels that I think might have been RSR and I remember them as being even more fat in the grip. I have aslo seen a real fat 400 mm stearing wheel that from age and apearens did look original.

Part number 914 347 803 10, made 5 1970.

At the moment I did not find my calipers so I measured the cicumference of grip: 88 mm.

I have also a 914 foam stearing wheel from 2 1974, part number 914 347 809 00. It is 82 mm.

A standard leather stearing wheel from my -72 S, made 5 1972, part number 901 347 081 10 is 76 mm in circumference.

[execmalibu]

The Wheel On My 1973 S Has The Same Part Number 914 347 806-10 That I Have Seen On Numerous Original Rs..the Differance In My Wheel Is That It Is Dated 12/69..

Based On What I Can Tell From My Research The Factory Used A Leather 914/6 Wheel From Off The Shelf..the Was No Special Rs Wheel..

If Anyone Else Has More Info It Would Be Gladly Appreciated..

[andyjboy]

Par - 803.10 was originally a hard plastic wheel.

[70SATMan]

Par - 803.10 was originally a hard plastic wheel.

COOL STUFF! This seems to be inline with what JS said in the thread I linked. After he mentioned the word felt, I got to thinking of the felt that is used as padding in the earlier parcel shelfs, and under the vinyl trim in various places.

If the felt padding was bonded to the leather in an even thickness prior to stitching then the whole layer could be glued and stitched to the hard rubber wheel. Just like the standard leather wrapped wheels. I wonder why they started with the hard rubber wheel versus the softer rubber base that the standard leather wrapped wheels used? Makes me want to weigh the two for differences. Could also be that the felt layer added to the soft rubber base would allow to much play in the grip.

Par, it sounds like you have the real deal!

[parced@telia.co]

Michael, I did a "needle test". The "center" is indeed hard, and it is not the steel rim I hit. I tried the "feeling" on my 914 foam stearing wheel, not the same.

It could be that they used a "old" 914 wheel and put a leather wrap on them before using them in the RS.

The thing that realy "kill" the difference between the 914 and RS is the difference in dept. Is there any other explinaition to the "dept issue"?

Pär

[BOYER73S]

The early RS's also had a plastic horn rim not metal like the 914 and later RS cars.

If it really came from #609 and it has its original horn rim it should be plastic I believe.


Anyone else, Bryan, Robert perhaps.