1960 - 1965 Steering Wheels

[Doug66]

I am trying to identify the CUSTOM truck model steering wheel(s) for 1960 thru 1965 Chevy C10 trucks. I have some information that the pictured steering wheel is correct for 60 - 65 CUSTOM trucks. Can someone please tell me if that is correct or just what years this wheel is correct for? I know they were on Custom 64's. Thank you very much!

[vin63]

I believe that to be correct, but some assembly plants went through or received inventory at different times, etc., so there have been variations in schedules. The steering wheel above was also used on the 59-61 Biscayne. The 1966 C10 Deluxe steering was also used on the 1965 Chevy II.

[Doug66]

Thank you very much. From your reply, I have a nice 60 - 65 Custom/Deluxe steering wheel for sale complete with horn ring and center cap. I also have just the horn ring and center cap for sale as well. Wanted to get the description right for the years installed. I do know that the wheel originated on the 59 & 60 Bel Air, Parkwood, & Kingswood models. The Biscayne and Delray's had only a center horn button.
Thank You again!

[vin63]

Originally Posted by Doug66

...I do know that the wheel originated on the 59 & 60 Bel Air, Parkwood, & Kingswood models. The Biscayne and Delray's had only a center horn button.
Thank You again!

Yes, the horn and rings varied, but the base steering wheel was the same. The Bel Airs often had the full horn ring, while the Biscaynes had the half horn ring:

[Doug66]

Thank you! I thought the 59 was the same horn ring too. Just the wheel from your knowledge.
Thanks for responding.

[jonzcustomshop]

if you find an actual deluxe truck wheel the 60-61 were dark (maybe charcoal/gray), 62-64 were white, and 65 were fawn.

[Kenfuzed]

What about 1966 Deluxe steering wheels? I have the identical wheel shown by Doug on my 66 C10, except my wheel is white.

[Doug66]

I have a stock 66 Custom and the steering wheel is what vin63 shows in his reply on July 12th @ 8:43 below. It is from a 1965 Nova originally. Chevrolet was upgrading their truck line in the 60's along with IFS, etc. They took nicer steering wheels from other Chevy models and installed in the Custom truck line along with brighter trim, two-tone paint and other upgrades.

[60-66]

Lots of confusion on steering wheels. The steering wheel in post 4 is a 1958 Chevy steering wheel horn ring, not 59 or 60. 59 and 60 Belair does share the same wheel as our 61-65 Chevy trucks. 1960 Chevy trucks did not use a custom wheel, the custom used a standard dark gray wheel in the customs. 1961 was the first year for the custom wheel, they changed the column and wheel to silver for 1961. 1962 1963 are white and some 1964s were white and later 64s were Fawn same as 1965. 1966 the steering wheel changed as pointed out above in post three. No custom wheels for 60-66 GMCs.

[61K10]

Aren't all the car wheels smaller in dia?

[duallyjams]

Yes some car steering wheels are smaller

stock GMC wheel


updated to a car steering wheel / sometimes I fool people and tell them it was part of the buddy bucket package for 66 GMC only

[jonzcustomshop]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Lots of confusion on steering wheels. The steering wheel in post 4 is a 1958 Chevy steering wheel horn ring, not 59 or 60. 59 and 60 Belair does share the same wheel as our 61-65 Chevy trucks. 1960 Chevy trucks did not use a custom wheel, the custom used a standard dark gray wheel in the customs. 1961 was the first year for the custom wheel, they changed the column and wheel to silver for 1961. 1962 1963 are white and some 1964s were white and later 64s were Fawn same as 1965. 1966 the steering wheel changed as pointed out above in post three. No custom wheels for 60-66 GMCs.

good info! I am putting a custom wheel in my 61 crewcab and it is good to know that it needs to be silver.

[Kenfuzed]

My 66 came with a fawn column and a white deluxe wheel in the style shown in post 1. Maybe someone changed it in the past but the wheel had the same grime as the rest of dash so it's been there a while.

[Kenfuzed]

Here is the wheel in my 66 but based on the comments here should I assume it is from an earlier model?

[vin63]

It's not uncommon...different assembly plants received and exhausted inventory at different times, particularly with the higher volume operations. I've owned many vehicles that were assembled at the Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA facilities; and the Southgate, CA, plant, and there were some differences in the same year models that were assembled between them and in plants back east.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by Kenfuzed

Here is the wheel in my 66 but based on the comments here should I assume it is from an earlier model?

You are correct Ken. Your steering wheel was from a 1962 1963 or early 1964 truck being that it is a white wheel. Read your build thread , looks like you have a very nice truck to start with !

Originally Posted by vin63

It's not uncommon...different assembly plants received and exhausted inventory at different times, particularly with the higher volume operations. I've owned many vehicles that were assembled at the Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA facilities; and the Southgate, CA, plant, and there were some differences in the same year models that were assembled between them and in plants back east.

And so a new internet myth is born .

[vin63]

Originally Posted by 60-66

And so a new internet myth is born .

Yeah, because operations and parts suppliers were exactly identical plant to plant back then. So, how do you explain the part differences used in same year models assembled in different plants (block date codes, transmission and rearend case codes)? Or, paint differences? Why did some vehicles come with firewalls with body color from one plant, but black from another plant? just to name a few.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by vin63

Yeah, because operations and parts suppliers were exactly identical plant to plant back then. So, how do you explain the part differences used in same year models assembled in different plants? Or, paint differences? Why did some vehicles come with firewalls with body color from one plant, but black from another plant? just to name a few.

Now you've named, a few things, that did happen. Somewhere on here we have listed specific details in sheet metal , paint , paint methods, bolts etc. But NO WHERE will you find a white 1962-1963 custom wheel put on a 1966 non custom truck , done on the assembly line, as Ken has. Sorry , it just did not happen. 1964 ? Yes , not 1966, but then, the 1964 "early" model year would also have a white steering column , not fawn as Ken has. Also you will never find a "black" firewall, unless the truck was painted externally black. You will find firewalls in the primary body color, or Fawn ,the interior color, or a mix of both colors . Sorry VIN63 , just trying to stop some of the younger members from believing everything they read on the internet as fact, happens WAY TO OFTEN . I like both modified and stock trucks , I'm slightly passionate about facts and details about our trucks. When someone makes a broad statement , I would hope to see it accompanied by facts or documents not speculation .

[vin63]

Originally Posted by 60-66

...But NO WHERE will you find a white 1962-1963 custom wheel put on a 1966 non custom truck...

Where in the hell did I cite that?

My post was in response to the comment that the steering wheel should've come on an earlier model than the 66, and that they also came on other model vehicles.

[60-66]

post 15 can be read as , that steering wheel was installed in that truck because "different assembly plants received and exhausted inventory at different times, particularly with the higher volume operations. I've owned many vehicles that were assembled at the Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA facilities; and the Southgate, CA, plant, and there were some differences in the same year models that were assembled between them and in plants back east. " as it was in response to Kens post 14, or were you referring to some other post ?

[vin63]

"Can be read as" and what is actually written are two different things. So before you mis-read anymore things and post more personal attacks, let me try and make this clear for you, understanding that I'm probably addressing a lost cause since my reference to black firewall and body color firewall differences between plants was not specific to trucks.

The steering wheel the OP posted I acknowledged as correct for 1961 up to 1965, and that 1966 used a different deluxe steering wheel that is often found on 1965 Chevy IIs. However, while the same steering wheel was used on different model vehicles, often the horn configurations varied. You see, the steering wheel and horn ring/button are two different things. In post 15, my response was to the general statement that the steering wheel used as the 61-65 Chevy truck deluxe option was indeed used pre-1966 Chevy truck, and used on other vehicles, just as other steering wheels from other vehicle models were also used on other models or years (not just trucks) - this is not mutually exclusive to just Chevrolet branded vehicles, but was a practice of the parts interchangeability assembly strategy. For example, the 1963 Pontiac Tempest LeMans Custom option came with the 1962-63 clear Pontiac Bonneville/Catalina/Ventura steering wheel, but used a 1961 Bonneville/Catalina/Ventura horn ring and button configuration. That's not myth...that's a fact as I've owned and still own these vehicles.

The timing of this practice of using parts across years and models varied depending on inventory surpluses and supply chain factors.

Originally Posted by 60-66

post 15 can be read as , that steering wheel was installed in that truck because "different assembly plants received and exhausted inventory at different times, particularly with the higher volume operations. I've owned many vehicles that were assembled at the Oakland, CA, Fremont, CA facilities; and the Southgate, CA, plant, and there were some differences in the same year models that were assembled between them and in plants back east. " as it was in response to Kens post 14, or were you referring to some other post ?

[60-66]

Sorry if you took that as an attack Vin63 as apposed to the "passion" I have for details. As I stated , your post did not specify WHO or what you were responding to, but fell in right after post 14, so the "Can be read as" is justified the way your post was written.

I agree that 1959 and 1960 Bel Airs shared the same wheel although different paints, and, 1966 Trucks used similar but not exactly the same wheel as Chevy II .

Being that we are on a truck site , your comment about black firewalls , may have been written in haste , or lack of explanation, to further confuse, hence my response.

In the end here, looks like we are now on the same page and just confusing words. I have little knowledge on Pontiacs , my specialty is 1965-1970 Impalas with the greatest concentration on 1967-1968 Z24 cars. Good to know your a Pontiac guy . Thank you, for clearing things up. Jon

[Kenfuzed]

So all of this is starting to make sense now. I just found out that the seat that came in my 66 Custom is also a 64-65 style covering, which probably means the PO likely pulled interior parts from a 62-64.

Given my truck has a PS upgrade and not as much need for a large diameter wheel I will probably find a smaller custom wheel, and then pass this current wheel down to someone looking to put together an earlier interior with this style wheel.

[oldusafmsgt]

Custom wheel in a factory original 61 C20

[oldusafmsgt]

61 C20 Custom Wheel, Silver