Found an NOS wheel for my car, finally, but the seller claims its black. I have a black interior in my car, but a grey leather wheel. I've only seen them in grey and tan.

He said its like a charcoal, almost black. I assume it really is different? Never seen a black leather wheel in an 86....

 

1982-1984 steering wheels were black. And a telltale sign of the leather wheel being pre-1985 is a stitched vertical seam in the leather on the bottom spoke. 1986+ leather wheels did not have that, and I presume 1985 wheels didn't either.

When Pontiac's interior accent color changed to grey in 1985, grey became the wheel's leather color. But because it is a dark-ish grey, people often referred to it as dark grey or charcoal. And standing alone, the grey color is dark, but on the wheel, there's a definite contrast between the leather's grey and the wheel's black metal spokes and hub.

I suppose there's always the possibility that something unusual might've slipped through the cracks, and there will probably be someone who'll post that up. And there will always be someone here who'll come along and say, "WRONG," as some people on this sight seem to live for those moments LOL. But save for any color-coordinating options that might've been available to "luxury" models(SEs, for example), pre-1985 leather was black, and 1985+ leather was grey.

It sounds like you'll have to see the wheel for yourself to know what the seller has.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Well, there it was. It sure LOOKS black, and he said it was black, but I'm with you...I really think it was grey.

No, I didn't buy it The quest continues....

 

That did look nice. And it did look black, but it's difficult to tell in pics. He might've wiped it with a leather product, which would've made it look darker than it really is.

If it was really NOS, then I don't think it's been stored very well. "Mint?" Well... it's in excellent condition for what it is, but the metal on the reverse side of the mounting hub is awfully rusty. That part of my 1987's original wheel is still brand-new-shiny-looking after all these years. And the horn wire is sticking out of the wheel for sale, which I'd doubt came with it if the wheel was purchased as a new part. Same with the horn button... that probably would've been a separately-purchased part, not included with the steering wheel.

I'm not saying that's not a nice steering wheel, because it certainly is. But NOS? I dunno. I think it came off of a car... maybe even reconditioned/recovered, which brings up another point... when recovered, those wheels are most often recovered in black, not grey. Shops either don't know there's a difference; or they do, but they think the owner doesn't; or they'll claim they don't have/can't find grey, which, granted, is not easy to find, and they won't try. So I guess they figure it'll look very nice when finished, and that's good enough.

Sorry you missed out on it. $300 isn't a bad auction price for a wheel in that condition, and you probably won't have an easy time finding one that nice in the future. But you could probably have your own recovered for that much or less, and you'll get to decide if you like the leather's color-match.

 

While we're at it...what's the deal with the different spoke widths on mid-generation (1985-89) 3 spoke leather steering wheels? The used one I got has the skinny spokes, unlike the NOS on in this thread, where the spokes get wider as they get closer to the rim.

Just wondering what style is correct for both years/models it seems like I've seen a mix of both on different year cars (I know, I'm not helping have this with my 91, but at least it's obviously wrong since it doesn't have an airbag anymore).

 

Hey navy, I'm not sure which wheel you mean. If it's the one I've posted a pic of, below, then that's not leather, it's vinyl. It's the only other 3-spoke wheel that I know of during that period. It was the standard wheel for a base bird from 1985-1987... maybe 1988 too, but I think '88 went to the 4-spoke wheel. And 1989 used the 4-spoke wheel for sure. Then 1990 went to the airbag wheel, I believe.

But that's not to say that wheel couldn't have been redone/can't be redone in leather, because it definitely could've been/can be. But stock, it was vinyl.

 

I was wondering the same thing! Didn't know the wheel pictured above was vinyl...looked leather to me!

Indeed, the '88-'89 used the 4 spoke wheel. I've found several NOS 4 spokes on eBay as of late...I keep getting sniped at the end of the auction. I may settle for an NOS 4 spoke at this point (2 up there right now)...I like the design, even if it isn't 100% correct for my year.

I know I can have mine re-wrapped for around $300, but I wonder about the quality and how well it matches the original leather....

 

Yeah, I think that's my wheel...could sworn it was leather though! Didn't think vinyl could crack like mine did at the top. Oh well. Still beats the leather airbag wheel that I had which someone had peeled half the leather cover off of before I got the car.

 

Yup, it's vinyl(or some kind of solid-spongy poly material), the "stitching" is molded-in, and the grey finish is paint/dye... looks good though. When you find them in junkyard cars, it's easier to see. The grey has usually worn-off(due to age and handling), and the vinyl is usually cracking-up. Whereas with the leather wheels, the padding underneath the leather usually turns to goo, probably from years of leather conditioning products soaking through the leather and into the padding.

'82-'83 used a similar 3-spoke wheel, and it can be found in black leather. I suspect the leather version was standard in the TA during those early years.

As for re-wrapping, people here have posted pics of wheels that they've had redone, along with the links to who did it. They look great, and the quality is apparently excellent too. Do a search, and you'll probably find some. I think one of the vendors for this is on ebay.

 

There are about 3 or 4 different 3-spoke Firebird wheels.
The thumb rest style, leather wrapped wheel, like the one in the Ebay add, or on an 87 GTA.

The early 3 spoke wheel with the large plastic center that extends onto the spokes, I've never seen one in leather but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Early Firebirds aren't my thing.


The middle 3 spoke vinyl wheel with the large round rubber Firebird cap, the rim is vinyl, but molded with stitching. Pictured in reply #6

The other leather wheel I've seen is pretty common in the Fiero's but I've only seen one or two in Firebirds. It has straight spokes with leather wrap towards the center, with no thumb rests.