Myths vs Facts of the IC formula wheel
 

I have heard many thoughts on the IC big and little fonts and the ICX.

The recent one I heard is there is no such thing as a IC NOS wheel.

I can honesty say I've never seen one, and the NOS formula wheel sold don't have the IC on them...

my .02... the only way one would have an NOS IC or ICX Fomula wheel is if the buyer ordered the wheel from Pontiac in the early 70's. Once the next style version began being used in production, there was a lag in time when one could still still get an older stock version, once they were gone, they were gone. Always get a good chuckle, when I read someone posting an ad looking for an NOS IC or ICX wheel.

I agree no such thing. But if someone had one it might just go for lets see........One Million Dollars. ;)

My personal observations are that the IC wheels were used on the '70 and '71 F cars and the ICX was used on the '72 models. Can't comment on the small versus large font (without looking at the ones I've got).

Only if it's MINT....

I have a super MINT 73' fat wheel and will take less than one million dollars for it.

NOS you say? :-)

Here is the wheel that Enrico (the original owner of my SD Formula) made the dealer install when his Formula didn't show up in August 1973 with a "Formula" wheel. You don't say no to a 6'8" tall 280 lb. Master Mechanic.

If you recall, he hung on to the original tan plastic wheel for 40 years until I bought the car and he shipped it to me overnight after our first telephone conversation. What a guy.

He even kept the original box that the Formula wheel came in.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/IMG_1560.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/IMG_1564.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/IMG_1563.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/IMG_1562.jpg

Steve, i don't see an IC

Exactly!

That NOS wheel is an odd duck. No IC stamps for '73, but they still had the molded back like the earlier years. That one appears to be like the '74 style wheel.

Could very well be since the car was delivered in August and the parts pipeline would have been stocked wth 74 parts, maybe?

August seems pretty late so I suppose that could be the case. But that would also presume that the dealers had no back stock of these items either.

Do nice used fat wheels come up for sale now and then and what might one expect to pay?

Date on that Box Steve?

This is Exactly true and well said OPH !
The Gm system used to search down parts was a very odd deal, and eventually you might find one far away, but be able to buy it in the late 70's, more than likely it would end up open box, and possible a returned item, etc as well.

To further muddy the waters,....I bought a Formula wheel from GM in '79 or '80, at that time not caring (or knowing) about fat vs. thin wheels. But what I was surprised to receive was a wheel that didn't have the black anodized, brushed finish spokes. It had a rough, almost "sand cast" look, although still in black. I assumed that must be the current style '80 production wheel.

Yes, that is the 1980 and 1981 style. They are also heavier than the earlier ones. I believe the "frame" of the wheel was made of steel, rather than aluminum. Should also have scallops on the end of the spokes, on the foam section (semi-elliptical flat spots).

any idea what this one is? It is on Gramma's 75 Firebird. I bought it used in 1992. The molded digits on the back look like "1 1". Just a hair thinner than the 1973 wheel. More of a glossy finish on the foam. Very soft and pliable - not as firm as the 1973 wheel.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/IMG_1581.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...c/IMG_1365.jpg

Does it look like the spokes have been repainted? Doesn't appear to have either the brushed or "sand-cast" rough finish.

The spokes appear to have a sanded metal finish with the grain all going one direction. It looks to be painted flat black originally and not anodized or cast finish.

Here's a weird thing I noticed. I have been measuring the three wheels I have around here and I have found that the area that runs between the 4 and 8 o'clock positions is noticeably thicker than the area on the 10 to 2 oclock positions. This can't be from the sun shrinking it since the "NOS" wheel I have is the same way.

Here's an example. The first number is the back to front measurement and the second is the outside to inside seam measurement.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t.../IMG_1561a.jpg

From the archives:

Big vs. Small IC clarification...

70 BIG IC, 71 small ic, 72 icx

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...light=IC+wheel

Then, you read some other threads...

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=393082&page=2

165th's info seems right to me - at least it supports what I have seen.

I have a formula wheel on my 73 GTO thats been on there fro over 35 years. I got it off a 70 GTO , I know it's a fat wheel but what do I look for on it to see what number or cast or series it is. I've never really looked at it close as it's been on for so long. I only know that there was a fat & thin wheel. ?????

Letter are on back side of simulated leather on center spoke

the chubby Formula wheel
 

I always thought that the Formula wheels used on the early Pontiacs was the best...I do not know if one vendor supplied all the wheels but the changes that occurred definitely down graded (IMO) THE EARLY CLASSIC WHEEL..I purchased a N.OS. wheel(1977?) and except for the thinner rim it is as close to the early rim than the still later wheels that have scalloped angle at the spokes?!..the worst are the last ones with a wrinkle finish..so what year was the best wheel discontinued?

Steve, pictured is my early '74, still had the '73 style wheel. The later had the style you've posted. Also posting a '72 ICX wheel. Notice the dates.

What do you all make of this wheel? Notice the injection hole is closer to the spokes much like a 70 IC wheel. Looking at many examples of other years, I noticed in all of the 71 small ic, 72 ICX, and 73s with the same sculpting that the injection hole moved further away from the center. This would lead me to believe this is a 69/70 wheel. Unless 73 molds had different positions for the injection holes.

What’s the circumference measurement on the grip? I have seen some 69 Trans Am formula steering wheels , obviously the thick one, but there is no IC on the backside.

My 70
 

My original steering wheel for my 70 formula doesn't have ic stamp but is original and has different location of mold injection hole compared to a 73. I believe either forgot to engrave or stamp ic or it's a 69.

It's thick at 3 7/8 in most places. As far as I know, all these wheels with the racetrack pattern on the back are very close to the same thickness. Who knows how many different molds they had. I'll bet the 69/70 wheels without the IC stamp come from the same set of molds as the ones with the IC stamp. For some reason a single mold or a few didn't have the IC. What I can't see happening is the 69/70 molds having the injection hole near the spokes and the 71-73 moving away from the center, then moving back towards the center like this one. That's why I don't think this wheel was cast in 73. There was definitely more than one mold, so maybe the injection holes were in different places. I guess we'd have to compare a lot wheels to figure that out.

Yes, it would be good for research if we could get several guys with original 1969 TAs with Formula steering wheels to send some pictures (must be original formula wheel ) and measurements . I don’t believe any of the 70 Trans Ams came with without any ic stamp on the backside of formula wheel ,at least none out of the several hundred I’ve researched and Documented but maybe one or two slipped through.

1970 wheel
 

Can you explain why my original wheel is a non stamped ic but has injection hole in same location? My car ra3 formula assembled in 1st week on March.