Here is my problem with aftermarket steering wheels...

[bigchillcar]

This is just my opinion, but wonder how many of you feel similarly. You just can't get enough of a stock look from them. If you own a car that you keep, for all intents and purposes, pretty stock-looking (not concours, people) then I just don't personally like seeing momo, sparco or whatever written on my wheel. I have a '74 with the stock wheel that is as wide as Texas. I think I'd like to change to the stock 3-spoke leather-wrapped wheel, but that appears to be my only option. I don't want a wheel with funny red or blue colors on it, but a nice narrower wheel, wrapped in leather that has a Porsche crest on it so it isn't obviously an aftermarket. If I owned a track car this would be a non-issue for me and I'd be buying what worked best in spite of brand, but I don't.

Anybody feel the same?
Ryan

[carnut169]

Ryan- I do feel this same, but the 930s wheel can be had w/ the Porsche crest (I have one), and MOMO wheels used to be available with a Porsche crest horn button. Those buttons are still around- I also have one of those, just waiting for it to be rare to have a new one ($$). So, if you want to have a aftermarket wheel that looks factory, it is possible.

[Teutonics]

Check out the Prototipo that Pelican should have in the next few days. I have it in my '75 BMW 2002, it looks very "period correct". I get lots of comments on it at bimmer gatherings. (You can see pics of it from the link below, bottom of page)

Plus, the Momo lettering is very minimal on this model, and if you're very careful, can be scratched off with your fingernail! (at least it worked on mine)

HTH,

[nostatic]

While I like the early wheels OK, I find the 3-spoke that came on my SC to be less than stunning. More importantly, I am tall, and knee room is an issue. With my Momo, I am able to get a wheel that is a bit smaller in diameter and use a spacer. This gives a perfect wheel position for me, and also increases knee room...a win win.

I think the wheel looks good too, but I got a fairly tame version (Momo Competition, pictures before spacer installation)

[tryan]

i put a 914 wheel in the 911. smaller diameter. looks stock

[masraum]

If you look in Excellence magazine towards the back usually, I think, you'll see a British steering wheel company called Moto-Lisa. They make some really good looking wheels. that are available with a plain center cap. They are reasonably priced. I don't have one, but I'd like one and I once heard from someone either here or on rennlist who had one and said that they liked it and thought it was a decent quality. There is a website where you can look at the wheels too.

[APKhaos]

Moto-Lita is a revered name among Brit sports car buffs. The workmanship adn materials are second to none.

My ML wheel has a Porsche center cap - will post a pic if anyone is interested. They also have a 1" spacer for the Porsche hub.

[old_skul]

Nostatic, I have the same wheel, and for the same reason: I'm tall. Many wheels in the Momo line are sedate enough to work out fine in a 911, and on that particular model, the word "Competition" scratches off easily with a fingernail.

[atlporsche]

new steering wheel...what do you think?

just do what I did, cut the butterflys off, keep the center, a little bit of paint later...

instant custom wheel for 5 bucks.

sjd

[jyl]

I've come to increasingly appreciate the big horn pad on my '89 911 4-spoke wheel. At least once a month, somebody swerves into my lane or leaps into the intersection and I'm glad that I can reflexively blast the horn with my thumb without moving my hand from the wheel.

The Momo's etc have small round horn buttons that I probably couldn't get to on time.

Not sure how the horn pad on the 930S wheel would fare - can't tell from pics if I could easily reach it with my thumb and whether the outer ends of the horn pad actually triggers the horn. I'm still hoping to get the 930S wheel, though.

[nostatic]

You know that is the one thing that has bugged me about the wheel...I feel a fingernailing coming on this afternoon. Other than that the entire wheel is black (even the screws), so it pretty much disappears.

As far as fit, I can't believe the difference between the stock wheel and the 350mm Comp with extended hub and spacer. So much easier to get in and out of the car, plenty of room to move my knees, and I can recline the seat a bit and not have to fully extend my arms. All in all, a great way to dial in a perfect driving position.

[JTO]

I too went with a MOMO wheel because of knee clearance needs. The trouble now is that I can't see the gauges wortha hoot. The speedo is obscured right where you need to see it and the oil temperature is obscured. I am thinking of going back to the ugly factory wheel to better see the gauges. Any solutions out there?

Troy

[skinnerd]

Besides the Momo and Moto-Lita mentioned above, Nardi has some great period looking wheels as well. I believe one ended up in the 911R's. If you're tall or need leg room, the hub spacers are the only way to go.

[nostatic]

You can rotate the speedo to see it, but I decided to not worry about it. I can see the speed up to about 60 or so. If I'm on the freeway I know roughly how fast I'm going by the tach and/or surrounding traffic. I can see again once I'm up above 90, so that provides info on expensive-fast speeds.

[CamB]

Did someone say Nardi? (this is still one of my favourite things about the '69).



Not sure if they are still available - it is like a leather-wrapped version of the wooden wheel common on a 356. I definitely prefer it to a Momo (have Prototipo for instance).

[avendlerdp]

I have a Moto-Lita wheel if you want it. Cheap. The stitching is a bit frayed but could be fixed or ignored. They do look a lot moere like a stock wheel but not the size of Texas.

Alex

[bigchillcar]

Yeah, it's a problem...I'm tall too at 6'2" and although I could certainly appreciate a spacer and smaller diameter...that's got to feel great...I'm just so stubborn about the stock look on a wheel. I think it's because the steering wheel is such a visible component and I probably associate aftermarket too much with those tacky aftermarket wheels guys were using back in the 70's and early 80's on domestic cars...pre-ricers I guess.

I think that I wish I had the stock padded three wheel job, but guess you just have to wait for used ones to show up either here or on e-Bay. I've seen mags that offer re-covers for them, but not the stock wheel. So Wayne has a stock 930 wheel that might work well? Is it smaller diameter and nicely leather wrapped?
Ryan

[nostatic]

well, you could buy one of these and plop it on the Momo if that would help:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1873781744

[atlporsche]

nice automatic.......

sjd

[bigchillcar]

Nostatic,
Is that wheel in the pic a Momo? If so, do you know how much they run? It looks great with the Porsche crest to me.
Ryan