I used every metal polish and cleaner I had, and it was beyond saving. It really pitted and the chrome has turned brown. I have to figure that it was a pretty crappy chrome job when it was new. I have thought about sanding the chrome off completely and then working it with 150 grit to give it a brushed finish and then shooting it in a matte clear. I'm still not 100% sold on this wheel yet.
Here is "Option 2" of the Steering Wheel Experiment. I really, really like the look of the old Corvette teak wood wheels from the mid-60s, but those things are spendy. Chevy did make a bunch of non-wood variants of that wheel, and one day during a "recon" trip to the local Pic-A-Part, I found a completely destroyed 3-spoke wheel in a gutted Corvair Monza. My buddies thought I was nuts When I showed it to them because it was junk. I bought the steering wheel epoxy repair kit and went to town. Man, does that job suck!! I ground out all of the cracks, added the epoxy, and started sanding. After two rounds of Rage Extreme, and many more hours of sanding, I had to walk away. I was totally burned out. Those guys who do steering wheel restoration must have unbelievable patience. My ultimate plan is to paint the rim the same fawn color as the interior. Never seen that done, not sure how it'll look. Here it is, waiting for a coat of primer so I can see just how much more work I have to do on it. I'm afraid to find out.....
Everywhere you see white is where the cracks were in the wheel. It was totalled.
My only issue with this wheel is the size and the deep dish. When you use the hub adapter, it comes way away from the dash, right in your lap.