Original 73’ Accessory steering wheel?

[suntour]

I think I have an original 73’ accessory steering wheel that I have seen in the sales brochure but I can’t be certain. Does anyone else have one or a picture so I can compare? Just wondering…

Oh and one other question. The exhaust on my gas heater has rusted almost flush with the orange gasket where it passes through the body. Where does it originally terminate? I have seen the pictures of just the exhaust pipe in the parts catalog but that doesn’t really tell me where it is suppose to end. I was hoping to fabricate a new one.

[kubelmann]

In 73 Things only had a wheel cover as an accessory. In 74 there were two different three spoked steering wheels offered as an accessory. One had a wooden dteering wheel and the other was leather covered. Both had three spokes with holes in the spokes. The 73 and 74 Things had a different spline on the steering column shaft. It is one of those funny things that happend to the Thing becasue of all the safety changes that happended to cars in the US between 73 and 74. There are three parts on the exhaust pipe of a 73 BN-4 gas heater. They include the elbow that exits the heater unit, the exhaust pipe that connects to the elbow and the sealing ring. I would be careful about fabricating parts for the BN-4. In the past few months I have seen a few exhaust pipes and elbows for sale on Samba and eBay. He is the main expert on that unit. If it were me I would contact Ark Mavis and buy the parts from him. He in one of the only remaining factory trained experts on that heater. K-mann

[suntour]

Here is the last page of a 73' Thing Brochure
I believe I have the one on the right.

Here is what mine looks like.

The leather wrap is something I put on it a long time ago. But underneath is a pseudo wood grained plastic. I think it is an original accessory wheel but I just don’t know. There is no adaptor and it has the stock horn button guts inside it. But I can’t be sure if it’s just some odd-ball after market that fits up perfectly. I was hoping to restore this but I don’t know what the original finish is supposed to be. Hence I was hoping that someone had a picture or could tell me what the finish is?

As for the exhaust. I have seen a few come up for sale lately too but I don’t want to pay $80+ for it. I can get a ton of different pre-bent exhaust shapes and easily weld it up for just a few dollars but I would like to see where the original ended to make is some what accurate.

[suntour]

Oh and I have tried to contact Ark on a few different occasions for parts and he has never gotten back to me. It has been months, so I figured he just retired or something and let it go.

[181freak]

it is a plastic wood finish... looks kind of like woodgrain on new cars.. that is a factory wheel, just take the leather off it and you should have a cracked plood steering wheel underneath.. i have one in my car...

thanks..

[suntour]

So what is the original finish on the center spokes? Shiny, dull, polished, sand blasted???? Mine is just scratched up silver with slight surface rust and the black center section is also showing signs of surface rust. And help would be greatly appreciated on what the factory finish was. Thanks.

[181freak]

its kind of like a satin silver and the horn area was black.. they are usually pitted, so take a brillo pad and a little ebow grease and you should be good!!
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1973 Thing
96 Golf

*Looking for any Dealer Items from
MIKE GRADY VOLKSWAGEN in South Carolina!!!

[LanceMcKay]

I’ve been looking for one of these. The sales brochure calls it a “Deluxe wood rimmed steering wheel”

I just want to clarify and to help my search that it is actually a plastic and not a wooden wheel. The reason I ask is a bought a very bad one that from a Thing vendor that is wood and stamped “Superior”.

Can anyone tell me who made the true VW accessory? Also if any has some close up pictures of the wheel and horn button they can send, it would help me with my search.

[Video Bob]

This optional steering wheel came on my '73. PO said that it was a rare option. The spokes were pretty rusty but cleaned up with a little media blasting and a spraying of clear coat. see link. How do I get this photo to show up on the post?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/311172.jpg
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Ya can't have too many Vdubs!
1956 Oval
1966 Beetle
1974 Thing
1974 Super Beetle
1976 Westy P22

[LanceMcKay]

Thanks! That helps a lot, and gives me a better sense of direction. The pictures differ from the Thing Brochure and the VW accessories catalog. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/73accessories/page4.jpg The difference is where the steel meets the wheel, in the Thing Brochure there is no overlapping of the steel. Here is picture of the black one in the Thing Brochure http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=335597 Still wish I knew who made it.

Hey…is that an 8-track player? Now that’s old school….
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[Video Bob]

Sharp eye! Yes, it is a working 8 track. The rim on my wheel is not wood but plastic wood imitation. PO said they are valued at about $450.
_________________
Ya can't have too many Vdubs!
1956 Oval
1966 Beetle
1974 Thing
1974 Super Beetle
1976 Westy P22

[Ian Epperson]

[Ferretkona]

[suntour]

[Ferretkona]

I gave up on those aftermarket type wheels years ago. Just hit a rock or curb and see how your thumb feels.

[suntour]

I grew up driving old crappy 4x4’s. You learn very early not to leave your thumbs inside the wheel when the road gets rough or hold onto the roll cage for support.

F.Y.I. it isn’t an aftermarket wheel. It has VW stamped all over it.
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Order of the Voodoo Spoon

[Ferretkona]