lowlight - when did they change the steering column

[volksaddict]

My 59 vert, vin 2453xxx, has the older style bigger spline steering column. I thought they all did up into the early 60's like a bug so I didn't hesitate to drop 250 on a steering wheel, advertised as a 59, from a vendor on this site. Got my wheel and it has the later style, fine splines Now I got a ghia wheel that don't fit my ride and I'm 250 poorer for it. When did they change steering wheels / columns? Is a early looking wheel with fine splines really a 59 wheel? Aw crap!

[retrowagen]

I believe 1964 was the first year of the finer splining on the steering column shaft. A "true" 1959 wheel would indeed have the coarser splining.

If the wheel appears to be restored, it is quite possible that the "restorer" rebuilt a '58/'59 wheel around a later steering wheel hub. Not easy, but concievably done.

Whether or not the vendor is ignorant of these technical facts, if they are worth their salt as a vendor and honest, decent, VW-loving enthusiasts (sometimes the two are sadly exclusive, in my experience), I would hope they would at the least take the wheel in return. Nobody's perfect; we all make mistakes...how we deal with them (with grace and good humor, I hope) shows our depth of character.
_________________
David Ruby
President, Karmann-Ghia World Club

[volksaddict]