Shelby Steering Wheel????? Give me your opinions...

Brian,

Here is what I got back from Chuck Cantwell:

Hi Roy,

Good to hear from you. We'll look for you at Millville next year. I hope that comes off OK.

Interesting discussion. My R-Model parts list labeled "1966 Mustang GT 350 Competition Parts List" and dated 12/30/1965 says the wheel used is S1MS 3600-B and is described as Wheel, Steering 15" or 16" - Wood Rim. The adapter is listed as S1MS 13829-B Adapter, Steering Wheel. The original street and race cars used a solid machined adapter, 3600-A I would imagine. I guess that later on we made a die cast version. The adapter attached to the column shaft and the wheel bolted to it. That function and general configuration didn't change with the upgraded part. The part shown does look suspect in it's application. I don't see how it could be attached to the column unless there was an intermediate part used. It does look cut down. Note that the steering wheel is a -B also meaning that it was revised from the one with which we started. We had some problems with our supplier as time went on. (I was remembering they were made in Italy, but I gues not.) The wheel wood thickness begin to shrink and complaints arose. We added specs to the wheel drawing (and probably made it a "-B") and that solved the problems. But the wheels still had some variations (not likely depth, as that would have been specified on the dwgs.) Note that the race car parts list noted 15" and 16" varieties. We were intent on them looking good and being functional. As to size, we probably installed what we had; so maybe
used some Cobra wheels.

And, an aftermarket supplier could have put the original P/N on the part if he made a die for it. Or maybe someone got the original dies. Anyway, my recollection was the parts were thicker than the one shown and went between the column and the wheel. In any event an R-Model spacer and street car spacer was the same.

Regards,
Chuck

There you have from a guy who was there when it all happened. Hope this sheds some light on the situation.

 

I'm going to offer a theory,
I think the "part" is left over from an attempt to make a functioning horn button. Anyone with a lathe could have taken an original hub and done anything to it. It could have happened anytime from 1965 to a year ago. It just didn't get tossed..
jimbo