1956 Steering Wheel

For perspective, having your wheel re-cast costs around $1600.

I've tried the 'ol grind and fill process on a few wheels prior, and I have never found a way to patch them up without the cracks eventually re-appearing. Now that we're not restoring any '56 DeSotos, I don't need one, but my next one will probably be one of Dave's.

Here is the one on eBay now: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-1956-desot ... a0&vxp=mtr

Considering all the hand work in this wheel, the starting bid of $650.00 does not seem high at all, especially considering the shape of most original wheels.

Mark

yeah, that's my latest on ebay now. 16 people followed the auction last week at
$850 but no takers so I'm trying a new tactic. This recasting process is really a labor of love and maybe I'll quit. Maybe I've saturated the market.

Hello Dave,

I have followed you from afar as far as the steering wheel recasting work goes. I have seen your work, it looks good. I saw a guy who did something a little better but he was twice the price and 3 times the time time estimate.

I encourage you to keep up your work. My daily driver 1952 S17 has a steering wheel from 1956 in it and it is in bad shape but the original was just a wire ring..... I have another '52 that was a barn find, covered in tarp since 1971, the interior is perfect except for the decayed headliner....That being said, it seems that most of the guys I talk to keep hoping to find some miracle on ebay or Craigslist and I have to tell you...it is like a shot to the moon finding an unmolested interior part from the '50's.

I am no expert, I bought my first one as a present for my father after my mother had passed a few years. I wanted him to drive it in parades and pick up a skirt or two at the senior citizens center....Well, it is not mechanically perfect and died on him a few times so I repo'd it and it sits in my shed...with the steering wheel from another year and a steering wheel cover from the local truck stop as it seems to have been 18" diameter, no luck at any parts store with the cover until TTT truck stop for a greasy heart attack and a lucky find on my way to the bathroom...

My point is, after all the above bloviation...I could sell my green '52 for 4 times what I paid, just in interior parts, but I made a promise to restore this guy's grannies cruiser. I have looked at your steering wheels and while I love them, I have no show car, just a daily driver, so I keep the cover on and the occasional person will note the incorrect made of steering wheel.that is always the grease to get a conversation about "unobtanium" parts going...

I live in Kansas now, work overseas...my dreams are on hold, but if you do decide to quit and go out with a bang, this farm boy would be interested in your last product....the problem is that I do not have the original decayed steering wheel....

Keep up the good work, yours is not a labor to get rich but to make the world a little brighter, and I appreciate that very much!

LarE

thanks for the accolades guys. I sold my 55 last year and the buyer (in Conn.) posted a clip on youtube of his dad getting it. it's under {dad surprised by 55 Desoto}. a number of years ago I bought a wheel for $200. with the outer rim mostly intact and needing filling and re sanding the hub...that is what I made the mold from (took 3 tries to figure out how to do it and the silicone mold making material is outrageously expensive). Of course I regret selling my baby but I recapture some of my memories by admiring the wheel. I think this is the most beautiful wheel ever made and I may keep the last one to hang on my wall.