pop23235

I’ve asked on several posts for the “experts” to describe what determines a repo from an original. I either get crickets or “it can’t be put in words”. I really think it varies on whether you are selling or buying. So if you’re selling and unsure, it’s obviously a repop.

68hemi

Yeah, I get that feeling as well but thought I would see what people think of THIS wheel. I am a buyer not a seller.

DansYellow66

I still vote original - that wheel lacks the notable deviations from originals that are in my reproduction I bought from Crane's Corvette years ago.

71scgc

Live or Memorex, it looks like a nice wheel.
if the price ain't just stupid $$, I'd spring for it.

Carter

roadster65

Original, or not ... looks like a POS .... wouldn't touch it !

68hemi

WOW! Really? Can you elaborate on why you say that?

phil2302

Thats...............harsh.

rayvaflav

The radius of the openings in the spokes look more rounded to me than sharply cut. That sways my opinion into it being an original teak wheel, IIRC that is one of the subtilties that is not consistent with the repro teak wheels. I also seem to remember that while handling both an original and a repro that the original teak wheel felt "heavier", maybe that it felt more substantial, more solid.

Ray

Nowhere Man

I thought the guys who made the repro teak wheels used original plastic wheels as a core for the spokes.

DansYellow66

That’s one of the traits of my Crain wheel - cut outs in spokes have sharp edges. Spent several hours carefully beveling mine with a fine file as they were actually uncomfortable to grip. So I would say that wherever Craig’s got their teak wheels and wheel frames, they are not originals.

roadster65

Steering wheel is a make or break element of a vehicles interior ...

The imperfections of that "thing" stick out like dogs ballz - you probably suspect this anyway.

68hemi

Again you are throwing stones without pointing out anything specific.

roadster65

Specifically ... too many nicks and scratches to both the metal core and the wooden rim, section joints not good, too wide a variance of grain and color between abutting pieces, and the overall color is too dark a shade of brown for a Teak wheel; that should be more of a Honey coloration, and the curvature of the finger grips is uneven.

Looks like something cobbled together from a child's Meccano set; there's better wheels around than this one ...

I wouldn't put this in any car I owned, but that's just me ... I have high expectations

mrg

Perhaps it looks a little on the dark side. But if you like this wheel, that’s all that should matter. If the price is right, go for it.

John

deejaydu

I do not know if it is original or not but there is nothing wrong with that wheel in my opinion and I would use it and I also have expectations. Put it on your car and enjoy it. The horn button will cover up the blemishes in that area.

Jay

68hemi

I thought there would be more “experts” chiming in On this. You know, the ones that claim they can spot an original verses a repo IMMEDIATELY.

phil2302

Opinions formed from internet pictures are just that...
An up close, in person inspection would be needed to really give a definitive answer.

65hihp

yes, they can, but not from photos. The differences are very subtle. It all comes down to price. Most repros are every bit the quality of OEM, or even better. If the spokes have the soft beveled edges, and you like the look of the wood, and the price suits you, buy. If not, don't.

68hemi

Well, years ago I used to refinish a lot of antique furniture mostly French and American walnut. Anybody that has experience with wood know there often extreme variations in both color and grain. In fact my wife ran the interiors department for a large Phoenix home builder that purchased/sold lots of cabinets and hardwood floors. She was sent to Sweden by one of the distributors to tour one of their factories. They were told that customers that had complaints about grain and color needed to understand that wood is a natural item and there is nothing that can be done about it unless you stain the wood that of course most people don’t want because they are buying a particular species of wood for it’s particular look.

Teak wood can have a wide variation in color depending on it’s age and what part of the world it comes from.

I had an original teak wheel on a 1966 Corvette I owned in the 80/90s that was every bit as dark as this wheel.

You are looking at pictures on the internet of the subject wheel and I am not sure of what nicks and scratches you are seeing on the wooden wheel butI can assure you there are NONE. The metal core wheel has some but nothing terrible for a 55 year old wheel.

I would hate to be any kind of craftsman working with natural materials trying to satisfy you as a customer from what you have written in this thread.

68hemi

OK, now for the reveal. This is a reproduction teak wheel on an original 65/66 wheel core.

I personally can not find any differences between this wheel and many known originals I have scrutinized over many years. Now, that being said I have seen a LOT of variations in the known originals I have inspected with regards to both color and grain.

As I said, this wheel is made on an original Corvette wheel core so imperfections would be expected on a 55 year old part but of course this means it has the correct cut/finish on the spokes.

I hope everyone that has an interest in these wheels has enjoyed this thread for it’s entire content.

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