Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Cord wrapped steering wheel

So I tried restoring my slightly bent, and seriously split, original Walsall steering wheel a few weeks ago after getting the car. It was an improvement - but I still wasn't thrilled with the results. Had to use some filler and the poly was wavy. In addition, the wheel had been sanded a few times in the past, and felt as thin as a pencil in my hands.

So, I decided to try wrapping the wheel - ala TOK 258 that won LeMans. Below is the actual interior of TOK 258. I doubt the wrap is original - but this is where I got the idea from:



Most period racers used cotton cord or hemp twine to wrap their wheels...I found a product called "Danish Cord" that is used in weaving furniture seats. It's actually made out of paper in Denmark, and has a nicer finished look in my opinion. It comes "laced" and "unlaced", and in "natural" color as well as black. Pictured below are my results using "Natural, unlaced" Danish Cord.

The process is easy, the ends are finished by tucking/pulling the ends under the wraps on the back of the wheel. PM me if you need details.

I'm still not sure if I love the results - may try the black product, or possibly using 4 equidistant wraps instead on the longer top wrap...but it's still an improvement on the ratty wood of the old wheel.



In the future I *may* commission a copy of the TOK 258 wheel from Mike Lempert...but he's gotten pretty pricey (which I think is understandable considering the quality of the work he does).

Cheers,

GC