Quality Restoration - Steering Wheel Restoration

Pontiac's Clear Steering Wheel

1960 through 1968 Pontiac Transparent Steering Wheels

The Process:
1960 through 1968 Pontiac manufactured a clear and colored steering wheel which was injection molded with transparent acrylic thermoplastic over the top and bottom sections of the chrome plated reinforcing rim. This plastic was not UV stable thus it would turn yellow with exposure to sunlight and heat, shrink as the solvents and plastisizers evaporated and cracking would develop. As the steering wheel received more exposure, the effect became cumlative and the plastic became more brittle. Eventually, the plastic would fall off the wheel. Our steering wheel restoration process uses UV stable thermoset urethane plastic. Urethane has excellent compression and tensil strength and does not shrink. It's strength and ductility allow it to expand and contract with the reinforcing rim as the surrounding temperature changes. This material is expensive and the process is time consuming, however, this is the best system available for steering wheel restoration.

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to view other wheels.

Cast in Thermoset Urethane Plastic

Ultra-Violet Stable Water Clear Urethane

Will Not Shrink, Crack or Turn Yellow With Age

Trippled Plated Chrome on Reinforcing Ring

Grip Patterns as Original

Ultra-Violet Stable Colors Won't Fade

1962 - 1963 Pontiac
Transparent and Coronado Red

Click image to enlarge

1961 Pontiac Transparent Steering Wheel

Condition as received with the original clear acrylic plastic mostly missing from the top half of the steering wheel. This plastic was not UV stable and after years of exposure to sunlight and heat, it turned yellow, shrunk, developed cracks and fell off the reinforcing frame. The solid color portion of the steering wheel faired better, however, it also developed shrinkage cracks

Note the finished wheel below along with other years and colors