[DeTomaso] Changing Steering Wheels
Garth Rodericks
garth_rodericks at yahoo.com
Wed Jan 23 14:11:01 EST 2019
Hi Stephen,
A well thought out response! And I agree, if the wife says "ok," that's reason enough! And, I see your point... What is a Pantera? Italian exotic? American muscle car? Supercar? Hot rod? Arguably, it's all of those things. I never made the LeCarra go-kart connection before, but I think you're right. Then again, when people ask what it's like to drive I always tell them "it handles like a go-kart!"
I do marvel at the many different personalities of the Pantera - I've always thought my car had more of a Classic fighter jet utilitarian feel to the cockpit, and my LeCarra wheel fits that personality well. And I've seen others with wood rimmed Nardi wheels embody a delicate Italian Luxury car personality, and still others with different personalities from modern supercar to tasteless import tuner-car.
I do hope to see your rear decklid back window in person someday. Most people I meet who are unfamiliar with Panteras are always surprised to find there is NOT a window in that spot. I've been thinking of ways to reduce the amount of dust and dirt drawn up through the engine compartment onto the rear decklid and imagine your window goes a long way to keeping the back of the car much cleaner. Your installation looks like it was very well executed! I was contemplating installing some kind of belly-pan under the engine compartment to stop the suction of dirt up off the road and out through the rear decklid opening, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Anyway, I completely agree with you... it is YOUR car to play with as you see fit!
Enjoy!
On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 10:34:47 AM PST, Steve <steve at snclocks.com> wrote:
Good morning Garth. Good question that. I’ve been thinking steering wheels ever since, about a year ago, I replaced the wheel in my ’69 XKE with one that is a little smaller in diameter and a bit heavier – the change in that car was amazing – from the flexible response of a tiller on a boat (OK – one got used to it, but gads, there is a lot of flex in the originals) to a crisp response. I was concerned it wouldn’t look right – but it is fine – and changes the way the car drives. Significantly. For the better. Besides, a friend who I have guided for 30 years on his XKE gave it to me!
So, then, gave some thought to our Daytona Coupe. It came with a Mota-Lita leather-rimmed wheel. Right – what came on those cars originally – either leather, or wood, with rivets. I’ve chosen to replace the damaged leather-rimmed wheel with one of the riveted wheels that match what came originally on a Cobra. Like the Cobra, what the heck is a Coupe – a European exotic – no, or, well, likely an American hot-rod – or, not really. I think this wheel will look appropriate – given the use on the Cobra’s and on a few of the Coupes. https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering-wheels/ac-cobra-wood-rim-oem/
Which brings me to the Pantera. So, what is a Pantera? An American hot rod – well, perhaps. Or an Italian supercar – well, perhaps. I agree that a wheel like the one above would look totally out of place. But, a Nardi wood-rim? They fit Ferrarrits and Lampos and Maesers and the like. But, really, the interior does not really fit that style – though I’d argue it could. No, the wheel I am considering is this one - http://www.mrsteeringwheel.com/nardi-kallista-wood-leather-350mm-5055-35-3000/ It brings a touch of Italian flare without over powering the otherwise black interior. The challenge I have is the Lecarra looks like it would fit perfectly on a go-cart. OK, there are those that could argue that a point and squirt as potent as a Pantera could be considered a go-cart. It’s got the first part down pat. But, I guess I am looking for something that speaks to my interpretation of the car – a European supercar with the best possible combination of suspension, engine and looks.
And, well, I sort of know good and well that many of you will disagree – heck, I thought the back window in the sugar scoop was a great idea for keeping the engine clean and keeping folks hands out of the engine compartment – but, I haven’t heard of anyone else jumping on that band-wagon. So, well, thank god each of us gets to play with our cars as we think fit!
And, besides, Kelly says I can have it! What better logic?
Stephen
From: Garth Rodericks [mailto:garth_rodericks at yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 9:52 AM
To: DeTomaso Mail List <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>; steve at snclocks.com
Subject: Changing Steering Wheels
Hi Steve,
Why would you want to put a Nardi steering wheel in your Pantera? A wood rimmed Nardi just looks out of place in a Pantera in my opinion. The LeCarra wheel you have looks period correct and perfectly suited to the Pantera's interior.
https://photos.smugmug.com/TheRestofourWorld/Autos/1973-Pantera-Detomaso-5332/i-ZTmSp7z/0/c5405c5e/M/5332%2005%2031%202015%2021-M.jpg
Just my 2-cents. Post a pic of the wheel you want to add.
Cheers!
Garth
-------------- next part --------------
Hi Stephen,
A well thought out response! And I agree, if the wife says "ok,"
that's reason enough! And, I see your point... What is a Pantera?
Italian exotic? American muscle car? Supercar? Hot rod? Arguably,
it's all of those things. I never made the LeCarra go-kart connection
before, but I think you're right. Then again, when people ask what
it's like to drive I always tell them "it handles like a go-kart!"
I do marvel at the many different personalities of the Pantera - I've
always thought my car had more of a Classic fighter jet utilitarian
feel to the cockpit, and my LeCarra wheel fits that personality well.
And I've seen others with wood rimmed Nardi wheels embody a delicate
Italian Luxury car personality, and still others with different
personalities from modern supercar to tasteless import tuner-car.
I do hope to see your rear decklid back window in person someday. Most
people I meet who are unfamiliar with Panteras are always surprised to
find there is NOT a window in that spot. I've been thinking of ways to
reduce the amount of dust and dirt drawn up through the engine
compartment onto the rear decklid and imagine your window goes a long
way to keeping the back of the car much cleaner. Your installation
looks like it was very well executed! I was contemplating installing
some kind of belly-pan under the engine compartment to stop the suction
of dirt up off the road and out through the rear decklid opening, but
haven't gotten around to it yet.
Anyway, I completely agree with you... it is YOUR car to play with as
you see fit!
Enjoy!
On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 10:34:47 AM PST, Steve
<steve at snclocks.com> wrote:
Good morning Garth. Good question that. Iave been thinking steering
wheels ever since, about a year ago, I replaced the wheel in my a69 XKE
with one that is a little smaller in diameter and a bit heavier a the
change in that car was amazing a from the flexible response of a tiller
on a boat (OK a one got used to it, but gads, there is a lot of flex in
the originals) to a crisp response. I was concerned it wouldnat look
right a but it is fine a and changes the way the car drives.
Significantly. For the better. Besides, a friend who I have guided
for 30 years on his XKE gave it to me!
So, then, gave some thought to our Daytona Coupe. It came with a
Mota-Lita leather-rimmed wheel. Right a what came on those cars
originally a either leather, or wood, with rivets. Iave chosen to
replace the damaged leather-rimmed wheel with one of the riveted wheels
that match what came originally on a Cobra. Like the Cobra, what the
heck is a Coupe a a European exotic a no, or, well, likely an American
hot-rod a or, not really. I think this wheel will look appropriate a
given the use on the Cobraas and on a few of the Coupes.
[1]https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering-wheels/ac-cobra-wood-rim-oem/
Which brings me to the Pantera. So, what is a Pantera? An American
hot rod a well, perhaps. Or an Italian supercar a well, perhaps. I
agree that a wheel like the one above would look totally out of place.
But, a Nardi wood-rim? They fit Ferrarrits and Lampos and Maesers and
the like. But, really, the interior does not really fit that style a
though Iad argue it could. No, the wheel I am considering is this one
-
[2]http://www.mrsteeringwheel.com/nardi-kallista-wood-leather-350mm-505
5-35-3000/ It brings a touch of Italian flare without over powering the
otherwise black interior. The challenge I have is the Lecarra looks
like it would fit perfectly on a go-cart. OK, there are those that
could argue that a point and squirt as potent as a Pantera could be
considered a go-cart. Itas got the first part down pat. But, I guess
I am looking for something that speaks to my interpretation of the car
a a European supercar with the best possible combination of suspension,
engine and looks.
And, well, I sort of know good and well that many of you will disagree
a heck, I thought the back window in the sugar scoop was a great idea
for keeping the engine clean and keeping folks hands out of the engine
compartment a but, I havenat heard of anyone else jumping on that
band-wagon. So, well, thank god each of us gets to play with our cars
as we think fit!
And, besides, Kelly says I can have it! What better logic?
Stephen
From: Garth Rodericks [mailto:garth_rodericks at yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 9:52 AM
To: DeTomaso Mail List <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>;
steve at snclocks.com
Subject: Changing Steering Wheels
Hi Steve,
Why would you want to put a Nardi steering wheel in your Pantera? A
wood rimmed Nardi just looks out of place in a Pantera in my opinion.
The LeCarra wheel you have looks period correct and perfectly suited to
the Pantera's interior.
[3]https://photos.smugmug.com/TheRestofourWorld/Autos/1973-Pantera-Deto
maso-5332/i-ZTmSp7z/0/c5405c5e/M/5332%2005%2031%202015%2021-M.jpg
Just my 2-cents. Post a pic of the wheel you want to add.
Cheers!
Garth
References
1. https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering-wheels/ac-cobra-wood-rim-oem/
2. http://www.mrsteeringwheel.com/nardi-kallista-wood-leather-350mm-5055-35-3000/
3. https://photos.smugmug.com/TheRestofourWorld/Autos/1973-Pantera-Detomaso-5332/i-ZTmSp7z/0/c5405c5e/M/5332%2005%2031%202015%2021-M.jpg
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