Topic: 1965-66 Mustang Wood Grain Steering Wheel history

[66SevenLitre]

I'm trying to understand the history of the 1965-66 Mustang Wood-grain steering wheel.  Generally I look at the brochures, Ford Car Facts books, Master Parts Catalogs, etc to find the answers, but this one's a little fuzzy.  Here's what I've been able to deduce so far: 

When Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964.5 there was a Sport Steering Wheel with 3 chrome spokes and chrome center that Ford describes as being among standard feature that "often cost extra" in other cars.  That wheel was different from the wood grain spoke steering wheel available in 1965-66 Mustangs.

Per an article in Motor Trend, Ford introduced the Pony Interior (Deluxe) on April 17, 1965. I understand the 3-spoke Wood-grain was included.  But I can also see in a 1965 Mustang brochure Ford offered the "Wood-grained deluxe steering wheel" as part of the "Interior Decor Group".  The brochure notes the wheel is also available as a stand-alone option. 

Yet elsewhere in the same brochure (where it's describing Hardtop Mustangs), same as the 1964.5 Mustang Brochure, standard features are being described that "often cost extra" in other cars, including a "Sports Steering Wheel with Bright Metal Horn Arms".  Is that the Wood-grain wheel, or the original wheel used in the 1964.5 Mustangs? 

Overall, trying to understand when exactly the 3-spoke Wood-grained Sport Steering Wheel was introduced and what packages it was included in then and thereafter.  As most here know, that wheel was not only run in 1966 Mustangs, but also was a standard feature in the one-year 1966 Galaxie 500 7-Litres as well as 1966 Fairlanes (optional, all models). 

As everyone here already knows, in 1967 Ford changed to a different 3-spoke Wood-grained Steering Wheel.  It was used in 1967 Mustangs as well as the full-size 1967 Ford XL with the 7-Litre Sports Package option as well as 1967 Fairlanes.

[CharlesTurner]

For 64.5 through mid-year '65, have only seen the standard color-keyed plastic steering wheel with chromed simulated spoke horn ring.  Deluxe/Pony/Interior Decor all refer to the same option, the official term was 'Interior Decor'.  This included the simulated wood grain steering wheel with real spokes.  It was also a standalone option, but rarely seen.  Not sure if I have ever seen an original window sticker with a standalone wood grain wheel listed on it (on a standard interior car).


My guess is the brochure was just trying to make the early wheel sound like something appearing to be exclusive, even though it had simulated spokes.

[jwc66k]

Now for the bad news. The "wood grain" finish wears away. Several years back, I got a "re-manufactured" wheel from a local Mustang Shop. The finish contrast was darker than my original but has survived well.
The shop owner recommended I wear gloves while driving. It seems that moisture from your hands has a negative effect on the plastic.
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Also remember or at least consider that brochures are poor sources for production details since the pictures were typically taken of prototype/pilot plant cars and not production cars. One example would be the individual taillights (three per side) or 8 track trim seen in some of the advertising pictures

[67gta289]

I had read, fairly recently, a statement claiming that the wood wheel used on the 66 7-Litre was different than the Mustang.  Don't believe everything you read, right? 

We can't believe everything in the Ford P&A or MP&A catalogs, but they are worthy of review.  I took a look at all "wood grain" wheels from 1965 through 1967 for all Ford (not Mercury) cars.

Observations:

1. The 66 7-Litre and Fairlane were in fact serviced by the C5ZZ-3600-N,  same as 65-66 Mustang.  I suppose that it could be true that the 7-Litre factory steering wheels were different, but serviced with the Mustang part.

2. For 1967 the Galaxie, Fairlane, and Mustang also shared the same wheels, which from a cost perspective is very logical.

3. I've never noticed before, but for 67, there are two wood grain wheels listed - a power (C7OZ-3600-S) and manual (C7AZ-3600-T) steering variation.  That seems crazy to me.  This might peel off into its own thread given the subject, but I would be interested to hear if anyone has any info on this.  I've got 3 or 4, and have sold maybe 5, and have never noticed anything different between them.  Since the 3600 is an assembly of up to 20 different parts, I suppose that the manual vs. power difference might be in the main wheel component.

[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