[JJDeville]

I am looking at a 1969 Trans Am. The car has a Formula steering wheel. Was that standard equipment on all 69 TAs ? I know the Trans Am option lists a Sport steering wheel. I have seen pictures over the years of 69 TAs with Custom Sport wood steering wheels and also Formula wheels with the wings down emblem. Which one is correct? Also should the column be Black or the interior color with a Formula wheel? I think the 1970-72 GTOs with the Formula wheel option had Black columns so they matched the wheel hub. Very late built car December 1969, any remote chance it could have come with a 12 bolt rear? I am thinking no, but possible?

[tom s]

Would not have had a 12 bolt.Tom

[tom s]

Pull the PHS on it and you will know how it left the factory.Takes guessing out of it.Tom

[JJDeville]

I have seen the PHS and it doesn’t show an optional steering wheel. So the Formula wheel must have been standard equipment on a Trans Am. I think the 12 bolt was a previous owner upgrade.

[65madgoat]

Post photo of the Formula wheel if you can and we can help you know if it is an early fat wheel appropriate for that car. I do not believe the Formula wheel was standard - it was an option.

[JJDeville]

It is definitely not the original fat wheel. I think it is a later model nice GM original wheel as it has the 1970-1981 horn button emblem rather than the wings down emblem.

[tom s]

Mine came with the wood wheel.Tom

[JSuchma]

Our original, late-built 69 TA has the fat formula wheel as standard, with a blue column to match the interior.

[RagWeed]

I only saw three '69 TAs when they were first released, and all three had the simulated wood-rimmed steering wheel.

From the Kenny G's info page, I lifted the following info:
"Simulated wood steering wheel. Some later cars (built after 9/69) came with the padded Formula wheel with the one year only "wings down" Firebird cap."

My '70 TA came with the fat padded wheel and I loved it.

RagWeed

[north]

RagWeed has it right. The 69 TA was supposed to be equipped with the formula wheel from the beginning but since it wasn't available at the start of production they instead installed the custom sport wheel (the woodgrain wheel optional on all other Pontiacs) until the formula wheel became available. Similarly, the 69 TA was supposed to have white letter tires (which were never offered on any other 69 Pontiac) but the earlier production TA's came instead with white line tires until the white letter tires became available.

There are plenty of online sources that better document the changes above including the transition dates. For Example, my TA was built in the first week of September and had the white letter tires but had the wood wheel instead of the formula wheel.

[JSuchma]

Originally Posted by JSuchma

Our original, late-built 69 TA has the fat formula wheel as standard, with a blue column to match the interior.

Ours has a build date of 10-31-69

[rwfisher]

You may find this link helpful as it does a good job of getting many of the facts straight on ‘69 T/A’s..
http://www.classicalpontiac.com/members/2/4.html

[Tellyshavilli]

Formula wheel used after September 15, 1969.
No 12 bolts on 69 Trans Ams

[JJDeville]

Thanks for the information guys! Also this car has an 11A build date. It is about 250 cars from the last known VIN. It was shipped in December 1969. Probably hit the lot in January 1970.

[RLEngland]

Curious if anyone can say for sure if this wheel is a 69 or a 73. Same size as an IC wheel. I'd love to see the back side of an original 69 or 73 formula wheel so we could compare.

[65madgoat]

Looks like a 1973 wheel maybe as it has those mold marks on the back (I had seen this wheel on facebook) appear to match other 1973 wheels I have had... but yeah could be a 1969/early 1970 one with no stamp.

[RLEngland]

Originally Posted by JSuchma

Ours has a build date of 10-31-69

Would love to see some detailed pictures of your 69 wheel.