[NYGTO]

I've been in the hobby a long time and it's the steady learning of the various models that keeps it interesting.

Last Saturday I was told there was 3 steering wheels offered for 1965. I'm only aware of 2. The base wheel and the simulated wood.

Was there a third? Thanks in advance and always learning. :--)

[Option 382]

Standard, Deluxe, and Custom Sports.

The GTO option upgraded the steering wheel from the Standard to the Deluxe (horn ring).

[b-man]

Standard steering wheels must've usually been bypassed by most dealers when ordering cars to stock their lots, I've never seen one.

My '64 six-banger Tempest (not a 'Custom') came with a Deluxe wheel, as well as a few other 'luxury' and beauty options to make it more appealing to potential buyers.

Options were (I have no PHS for the car yet) Deluxe steering wheel, Deluxe wheel covers, automatic transmission, power steering and a pushbutton AM radio. It was likely optioned that way to make for an easier sale to a female buyer.

[NYGTO]

Originally Posted by Option 382

Standard, Deluxe, and Custom Sports.

The GTO option upgraded the steering wheel from the Standard to the Deluxe (horn ring).

Great, thank you. I didn't know this and was caught off guard last weekend when a restorer pointed out the deluxe wheel in my car. I was thinking it was a base wheel forever (maybe from never having a Tempest). Now I do recall base Tempest wheels.

Whenever you attend these events you always learn something.

[60sstuff]

The 65 "Deluxe Horn Ring" (Code 461) was standard on Tempest Custom and Lemans Series.

If you got the lower range Tempest, you would have to pay extra ($3.77) for that Horn Ring Option as shown below.

Note,
Wax - $15.00
Two Snow Tires and Wheels - $65.00

[b-man]

It's more than just a horn ring being added, correct?

I would think the Standard wheel should be styled differently than the Deluxe wheel, since it only takes a simple center cap.

[60sstuff]

Originally Posted by b-man

It's more than just a horn ring being added, correct?

I would think the Standard wheel should be styled differently than the Deluxe wheel, since it only takes a simple center cap.

Must be a rare wheel in the Tempest as I have never seen one.

Is this what it would look like?

No chrome rings on the rim, ribbing on the thick sides and a recess on back of bar?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/112034334748...T#ht_42wt_1153

[b-man]

Here's a Deluxe wheel that I have in my Le Mans convertible project, I removed the horn ring for this picture so you could see the difference between it and what looks to be a Standard wheel picture in the the eBay ad linked above.

Looks to me that it's much more than just the addition of a horn ring, the spokes as well as the outer rim on both wheels are definitely molded differently.

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by 60sstuff

The 65 "Deluxe Horn Ring" (Code 461) was standard on Tempest Custom and Lemans Series.

If you got the lower range Tempest, you would have to pay extra ($3.77) for that Horn Ring Option as shown below.

Note,
Wax - $15.00
Two Snow Tires and Wheels - $65.00

15 bucks sounds like a lot of money for wax 50 years ago! I don't even think the Meguiars I us today costs that much!

[NYGTO]

Funny I thought the same thing. I'm guessing that was wax and labor combined? Great car in the illustrations C.

[Jeff Hamlin]

I always thought the 65 & 66 Base Tempest Standard Steering Wheels were the same.
No bars/rings just a basic center cap type horn button that popped on via a rubber gasket.
The molded bars had the ribbed detail at least in '66 since there was no chrome bar added.
Like the one shown above and the one shown here from the '66 Fisher Body Manual.
It makes sense just to give the basic wheel a bit of low cost style.

However clearly looking at B-Mans wheel his does not have the deep center to except the pop on button like the Red wheel from the ad, which to me seems incorrect.
So am I incorrect that the 65 & 66 base wheels are the same??