Restoring - General discussions that span across many different groups of years and models > Interior & Trunk
1965-66 Mustang Wood Grain Steering Wheel history
67gta289:
The 1967 one year only P&A catalog does not identify a manual vs power steering variation. It does have a very early (before 9/26/66) and later version - but I seem to recall that there was an across the board steering wheel design at about that time.
From the OSI catalog, both the C7AZ-3600-T and C7OZ-3600-S are acknowledged, and interestingly enough they were both replaced by (RB) the same C7OZ-3600-AJ. To me this is an indication that either there was no functional difference between the two wheels, or perhaps the C7OZ-3600-AJ included the two variations of the small part(s) that had a difference, so they could stock one item, or the difference was visual, and by the time the replacement took place, the designers were probably working on the new Zephyr or Escort and did not care.
66SevenLitre:
Thank you for the replies. Jeff, good general rule of thumb on the brochures.
John, I too have heard the Wood-grained Spoked / Sport steering wheel used in 7-Litres was different than that in Mustangs. Add to that, there has been a long-time well-known Ford gentleman on Facebook posting in Galaxie groups over the years saying they are different.
But from everything I've found, they're same. Instead, the difference was the chrome collar that sits behind the steering wheel (aka Lower Steering Wheel Hub / Cover). The one on 1966 Galaxie 500 7-Litres & `66 Fairlanes (C6OZ-3491-A) was about 1/2" thick whereas on Mustangs (C5ZZ-3491-A) it was 3/4" thick. See picture.
As you said, it's possible steering wheels used during 7-Litre production were different from Mustangs and thereafter Ford serviced them using the "Mustang" part. Given there would have been extra cost associated with that, I'd think not, but without comparing an original from 7-Litre to same from Mustang, hard to be certain.
John / Charles, for 1967, was the Wood-grained Sport steering wheel standard in the Interior Decor group option? It's not mentioned in the `67 Ford Car Facts book and other materials do not specify either. But does sound like that wheel could be ordered on any model Mustang. John, good find on the common C7OZ-3600-AJ wheel replacing the PS version (C7OZ-3600-S) & manual (C7AZ-3600-T).
Here's the chronology I?m seeing on the two Wood-grained Sport Steering Wheels:
1964.5-1965 -- as Charles Turner said, Mustangs had the color-keyed plastic steering wheel with chromed simulated spoke horn ring until around March 1965 when the 15.5" diameter C5ZZ-3600-N simulated Wood-grained Sport steering wheel became standard equipment on cars with Deluxe / Pony / Interior Decor.
1966 -- same C5ZZ-3600-N wheel was carried over as standard equipment on Mustangs with Interior Decor option, standard on 7-Litres and optional on Fairlanes. As I understand, it was also an extra-cost option on other Mustang, but have confirmed it was not optional on any other full-size Ford models.
1967 -- a new 16" diameter "impact absorbing" Wood-grained Sport steering wheel was offered (as part of safety design) and again was shared between Mustangs, 7-Litres and Fairlanes. For Mustangs it was optional on all models (correct me if I?m wrong here). For full-size, it was standard on Ford XLs ordered with the 7-Litre Sports Package (7-Litre was no longer a standalone model that year) and not available on any other model. For Fairlanes it was an RPO option on all models. As John said, there was one version of the wheel for PS models (C7OZ-3600-S) and another for manual (C7AZ-3600-T), both later serviced by a common wheel.
From what I've found on the 1966 ordering / coding process, the line-item for ordering a "Deluxe Steering Wheel" was #54 on the Vehicle Order Cards. Code #7 was used. If the model was ordered with the "Deluxe Steering Wheel and Third Seat", it was Code #8.
Please correct any errors. Thanks again -- Roger
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