I was looking at a couple Steering wheels. One is from the The Parts Place and the other one is from Tamraz.

Are they one in the same wheel or from different manufactures?

Looking at the pics in their ebay ads the texture on the two wheels looks different.

What are your thoughts?
Which one is less obvious as a reproduction?
I have what I believe is an original one but since I'm restoring the interior, I want everything to look fresh.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/70-77-Cutla...53.m1438.l2649


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-77-Old....c100290.m3507

 

Repros suck. Seek and or wait for a good original if yours is not 100%

 

The repo wheel looks great but the feel is off.

 

Most likely when your your sport wheel has grain on it.....it's a repro. I'm sure there's exceptions but most only have some grain left on the backside of the wheel

 

PM sent

 

I'm thinking someone is now making a repro with a less-pronounced grain/texture on the rubber rim. The first repro wheels had a rougher/larger grain than the originals but for some reason I recall seeing a more recent repro with it "toned down".

It looks like Parts Place's wheel you link to has this less pronounced grain.....at least from the close-up pic on the ebay ad.

Tamraz's looks more like the "first generation" repro with the overly pronounced grain.

I think Fusick may be selling the version with the "better"/less-pronounced grain as well.

From what I remember it's almost as if this less-pronounced grain version is NOT quite as pronounced as original/NOS wheels but I can't recall 100%. It's almost as if they aimed for a "slightly worn" look on it. In other words...on the first version they "overdid it", grain-wise and then they "underdid it", grain-wise, on this second version.

I'd say that this "better"/less-pronounced grain version, assuming it exists, isn't as obvious of a repro compared to the first generation repro wheels.

 

My repro wheel is the overdone grain. Not only is he grain over done but the grip feels softer then my original one with the grain worn off. It’s spongy like a newer wheel where the original is hard. I’m not sure where it came from as I bought it off Gerald a few years back. Over all it’s a pretty nice wheel and looks better then the worn slick original even if it’s not an exact match.

 

OK how is my SOLD wheel doing on wear ?
Gerald