[laniermax]

This is quite interesting...

My 70 GTO convertible, built in Fremont (2/70), has the Formula wheel option (shown as code 464 on the PHS window sticker). My steering column is blue, matching the interior.

To back this up, I have the original build sheet (found in the during restoration) and it shows the STRG COL COLOR (#71) as BLUE. And, #69, STRG WHL is LEATH. There's also an NK3 code (SIM LEATHER S) listed with the rest of the options on the build sheet.

So, I guess they did paint the steering columns to match the interior color.

Jack

[gtoric]

Leave it to Fremont to do something different...

This brings up another anomally, the options and accessories catalog, as posted by BobsGTO, shows the UPC to be NK1 for the Formula steering wheel. Jack's source, the factory broadcast sheet, shows the same option to be NK3. This appears to be another instance where PMD changed a small detail after the catalogs were printed. Anyone have a revised '70 Accessories catalog with the correct NK3 code?

[BobsGTO]

Interesting anomoly. The catalog I have has a print date of September, 1969, so if someone has a later version, please let us know.

[4SLASH6]

wow jack, that is interesting,..although I have 3/70 freemont build, I have aded the formula wheel,it is an original & I think they look super!! as others have said, mine has some of the dried up look of an older wheel but I just put a wrap on it &think it looks fine,..now, I am not the concourse type purist but do like to have my car correct as posible when adding or deleting options,..would really like to here from others with formula wheel that have sandlewood int.as to what color steering col. are. sounds as if maybe a person could get it a couple diff. ways. great post, tom

[laniermax]

As FYI, the original formula wheel on my car measures ~ 3.75" in circumference.

Jack

[Held for Ransom]

My Pontiac built Judges' build sheet (listed as T.A. SPT STR WHL) and PHS only list 464. My original window sticker was tore on that side and can only read "RING WHEEL-FORMULA 464 42.13".

[polarwhite70judge]

A friend of mine has a 56,000 mile original paint unrestored 71 Judge with dark brown interior with an original Formula wheel. His column is brown to match the interior. I went to look at his car a few weeks ago to check this out because I am installing a Formula wheel on my polar white/dark blue interior 70 Judge. I have seen it both ways on different cars over the years and did not know which way is "correct".His car has never been touched, although it is getting in need of some work. As for me, I think it looks better when the column is painted black, it makes the Formula wheel look like it belongs there and is not an afterthought. But thats just my opinion...

['ol Pinion head]

Polarwhite,
Wondering what plant & time built is your friends '71 Judge?

From reading latest posts, am not ready to just make this a "Fremont thing", as the detailed info I previously added, is what I've had my hands on, & several of those cars were(are) original Fremont cars.

Fluke deals happen in production. To give an example, my HO GT-37 came with pebble grain black dash bezel & factory installed rally guages. The typical T-37 or GT-37 for '71, when equipped with rally guages, had woodgrain dash bezel, not the "std idiot light"/black pebble grain bezel. When I was doing the GT-37 survey in the early 90's, ran across the original owner of a '71 GT-37 that had idiot lights & wood grain dash bezel, car had never been altered. Even one of the original magazine roadtests on a '71 GT-37 shows a black pebble grain dash bezel & rally guages. My point is there is a way things were planned to be built & sometimes, asm line strayed from that guide. Believe this is what we are seeing with some body colored steering columns & factory installed Formula wheels.

Trusting buildsheets as the 100% gospel...
On buildsheets, they only note how a vehicle was supposed to be built. When certain coded parts were no longer avail, there are instances where the buildsheet called for the part but another part was used. Good example, is JW in the wheel box on buildsheets of early '71 T/A's equipped with rally wheels. The '70 1/2 code JW's were not used, but one of 2 or 3 dates of KN's were used. Have also seen this happen with buildsheets calling for JT 14x6 rally II wheels, when all plants were using KU's. Could go on & on, but one should get the point.

[andrewT]

would the black column be full gloss, semi gloss or completely flat in colour?

[78 GHOST]

I think 60 degree gloss black IIRC.

[70Steve]

Just a quick question...Ol Pinion Head posted in post 6 that he owned an Orbit Orange 70 Judge with a red interior, anyone got a pic of it, or another with those same colours?
Just curious to see one, that's all.

[OVERULD]

What ever happened to OPH anyway - haven't heard from him in a while.

BJ

[Evil Stu]

I have an 09/69 Oshawa built GTO with the formula wheel and a dk. brown (253) interior. Steering column was semi gloss brown.

[andrewT]

Originally Posted by Evil Stu

I have an 09/69 Oshawa built GTO with the formula wheel and a dk. brown (253) interior. Steering column was semi gloss brown.

any pictures of it Stu?

[Shiny]

70 LeMans, swapping to floor shift and repro Formula wheel (black), trying to decide what color to paint column and hub.

I'm obviously not concerned about originality, but hoping to get some pics for comparison.

I am thinking of painting column and hub the interior color to stick with LeMans feel. Seems the "correct" would have a black hub, with or without a color-painted column. Black hub seems like it would look "wrong" with color on column, even if it is correct. When the wheel was colored in the TAs, they had colored hubs.

Anyone have any pics showing:

a) color on column, black hub, black wheel?

In all the threads about this topic, I never saw a photo of it, even though several have this as original.

b) color on column, color on hub, black wheel

May be incorrect, but I'd like to see it if anyone has done this

[richmas5]

I owed a bunch of them , late 70 -71 formula wheel an large imprint on it IE,72 small print ie, 73 iex,74 nothing ,all had the seams around all aluminum wheel ,if you took the horn button off it had a notch all fat wheels ,with a scalloping effect on the back of the wheel, after that they got thinner ,the later ones I think 78-81 were steel spokes with two notches in them if you removed the horn pad. I believe the column and collar were all black where as the Trans am were color keyed to the interior

[Shiny]

Yes, the details around all this stuff is pretty complex if you are trying to restore accurately.

Thankfully, my goal was just to get pictures of different options for painting a swapped-in column and the formula wheel hub.

I was able to find a bunch on the web (attached), and have ruled out having a black hub with a color-keyed column. It just looks weird to me.

Black everything is probably safest, but if I decide to be colorful, I'd go with painting the hub the same as the column. I think the color-keyed column and hub over-emphasizes the column, though, so am leaning toward all black.

[Shiny]

Did a 70 Formula wheel in an A-body have black or silver spokes?

Was the black hub painted with a wrinkle finish or some other "rough" texture?

[melwff]

The other steering wheel option in 1971 was the Sport wheel. My father was the original owner and the column matches the saddle interior.

[Shiny]

melwff

Thanks for sharing

I'd love to see a photo if you are willing