steering wheel color

[Rex]

Hi, Group,

I am considering having my steering wheel recast by Quality Restorations in CA. I am, however, unsure exactly what color my wheel was initially. The car is Pastoral Blue (light blue) with medium blue leather and white bolsters. The dash itself is a medium blue. However, my steering wheel has turned absolutely a light greenish color as well as the door handles and turn signal gear shift knobs. Does anyone have a photo of a blue wheel that is the correct color to give us an idea? I want to make sure I am correct on the color.

Thanks,

Rex Crews Durham, NC

[Shelly Harris]

I'm glad that Gary learned how to post up pictures.

Is that a CB hanging on the lower left of the dash?

My steering wheel is in good shape, but I'm wondering if I should put on a cover to prevent it from fading. What's a good prevention for the fading and cracking of our steering wheels?

[Barry Wolk]

It's tinted glass, nothing should fade very badly. The steering wheel fades, even if stored in the dark as its chemical composition has changed over time, changing its color.

If it was a solar fading problem, just the top surfaces would have faded, not the bottom.

[Don Henschel]

What is the best sample to use in determining the color of your wheel. Was it an exact color match to the leather on the dash or the same color as the painted surface on the horn ring?

[Barry Wolk]

I think the Authenticity Manual addresses this, but mine's at the shop.:mad:

[Bob Barger]

Dennis does the steering wheels for Rosen and should have the correct color. My car was light blue and the steering wheel was the same color. He charges a lot but does excellent work.

[Chuck Lutz]

I talked to Dennis a few months ago. I told him my car was a Med blue and he suggested I get a color chip that I felt matched well and send to him. I really think he knows his stuff but he also doesn't want to bicker over a 1/2 shade either way.

[Bob Barger]

I forgot to add, the gearshift, turn signal and interior door handle knobs are supposed to be the same color as the wheel. I'm not sure but I believe quality can also supply these.

[Don Henschel]

I just received this e-mail from Dennis.
Hi Don:
I have that color mix, I can send a sample for confirmation. The following information applies;CONTINENTAL MARK II
I remove all of the old plastic, bead blast the frame and paint it the same color as the plastic. Through my proprietary process, I cast on a specially formulated thermoset UV stable urethane plastic in the original configuration without loss of the original detail. The urethane does not shrink, crack, turn yellow or change colors.

The steering wheel frame is placed into the appropriate mold. The clear liquid urethane is tinted to the desired color and added to the mold. Upon completion of the curing process, the plastic is heat treated, sanded and polished. The color is uniform throughout the plastic and the finished product is polished plastic, not a painted wheel. The molded plastic is one complete casting, there are no joints.

The cost to recast is $950.00 with a lifetime warranty. I also make matching door handle, turn signal lever and gear shift knobs in matching colors. The set is $100.00 when ordered with the steering wheel. For the continental US, there is a return shipping charge of $25-40 which includes $1200.00 of insurance. Turn around times vary from 3-5 weeks. Call me, 858-271-7374, for current turn around times, shipping information and any other questions.

When comparing my process to others, consider the following;

1. Are they using a UV stable urethane plastic? Epoxies are not normally UV stable and experience color changes with exposure to sunlight.
2. Is the steering wheel being recast or are they filling the cracks and painting the wheel?
3. Are they dipping and coating the wheel and thus covering the cracks and the deteriorated plastic? In this process the original detail is lost and the cross sectional diameter of the rim and spokes become much larger than original. The wheel falls apart from the inside.
4. Is the casting complete without joints or are they gluing pieces of cast plastic together to form the rim of the wheel and then painting the wheel? Again the original size and detail are lost.
5. Is the color tint uniform in the new casting with the finished product being polished plastic?
6. Is the steering wheel recast in the original configuration without loss of detail?
7. Is the steering wheel frame bead blasted and painted?
8. What is the warranty? I provide a lifetime warranty on all my work. If their process is so good, why don?t they provide a lifetime warranty?
Thank you for your inquiry, Dennis

[chris cimarusti]

Rex: My car was built with a data plate that calls for grey and white interior colors. When I purchased it in 1983, it had a green and white interior (the leather parts looked original) and a green steering wheel (and door handle trim). I did not like the green color at all and changed my interior to triple black.
I have seen cars with blue interior and green wheels before.

Chris Cimarusti

[Barry Wolk]

The green steering wheels were another color that's lost it's pigment.

The Authenticity Manual calls for the steering wheel to be the color of the paint on the dashboard. I found nothing to indicate the shift lever or door knob color, but I assume they are the same as the dash board and steering column.

[Pat Marshall]

What color of green was the interior? Grey was another color that changed with age. Some Grey turned to an unappealing (WWII War Department) dark grey/green.

[Shawn Newcomb]

I can attest to that, Pat.

[markiient]

Dennis does the steering wheels for Rosen and should have the correct color. My car was light blue and the steering wheel was the same color. He charges a lot but does excellent work.

Dennis has done a couple of wheels for us a few years back. His product is very good but I thought the cost was extremely high. Watch the Forum for a new source with affordable prices and quality.

[crystal59]

I do not know if this is correct or not but I was told that the original colour and intent of the gauges was to be grey but the light turned them green. Gary

[markiient]

Yes the original dials were charcoal grey and faded to green. You can verify this if you look at the outer edge. We made several sets years ago with the correct fade resistant color. I'm not planning on making another run as there isn't much interest as they are quite labor intense to install. I have a rare complete NOS gauge cluster with "Oyster" colored dials. I'll photograph it and post.

[crystal59]

Thank You. I would to see the colour that was on the original dials. Gary

[Barry Wolk]

I am told that these were NOS in '94.


http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/56LincolnMkll-51-1.jpg