Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

An ivory wheel is a desirable option. Would that have been available as a factory option on my '48? If so, I would gladly repaint mine ivory after I finish the repairs. Right now, the wheel is a beige color with the black accents.

I'm not really that fond of beige.

Joseph (joeyearl), all I can say is that brown hard rubber wheels have been the standard equipment for your 48 Touring Sedan. If you go through other Eights then you will find another variations like ivories, even two-tone wheels and horn ring differences. Don't know if the variations were available as factory options in 1948.

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As you probably know, the ivory steering wheels were made of ivory looking plastic and not painted. Well, you were talking about your tight budget...

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The same PA389782 plastic deluxe wheel was available officially from 48-52 and as Guscha mentioned, a sort of ivory translucent plastic rather than painted hard rubber. As I recall from some posters comments, the plastic did not hold up well and many wheels became or are somewhat cracked or crazed.

They changed numbers in 53 but I believe the deluxe may still have been plastic. Believe in 54, they were mostly all painted and available in several colors to match the interior including real ivory colored paint.

If you go thru the photo archive you will see a few photos showing them. From factory, mostly on the higher end cars but dealers seemed to add them to some lesser models.

My grandmother had this beautiful translucent white steering wheel and gear-shift knob on her '37 Buick. I always wondered what it was made of??

Jerry of Yesterdays Radio probably knows what they use but to bring back more memories, there is a restored 37 Buick ivory wheel on Donaldson's siteamericanfiberglassinc.com/steeringwheels/ Also a restored 39 Buick wheel on another sitequalityrestorations.com/buick.html which they are calling transparent maroon -- apparently using a urethane material. Both are very pretty wheels as are some on the Packard page.

The semi-translucent ivory wheel was standard equipment on the Custom 8 and listed as "standard equipment at extra cost" (whatever than means) on the 22nd series Super Eight convertibles. I wonder if that use on the Super convertibles was actually carried out in regular production, perhaps so. It would be a good question for Robert Neal.

What was IMO probably the most spectacular and elegant wheel of the era was the one used on Chrysler that was clear translucent plastic with randomly dispersed metallic flake. Don't recall what years and models used it, perhaps just Chrysler and just pre-war and just post-war. Anyone ever seen one?

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I seem to remember Chrysler having a slightly rectangular clear wheel except for two colored spoke areas. In the late 50s, early 60s. IIRC, you couldn't see any metal supports in the the clear circumference plastic as is found in a typical wheel. Don't remember if there were flakes in it though.

Yes Howard, I remember that one as well, but the one I was referring to was well before that. If I had to guess I'd say 1942 to perhaps 1948. It was stunning. Actually those Chrysler dashboards 1942 thru 1948 were pretty wonderful as well.

Wish I had a photo.

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A quick Google search resulted in this:

books.google.com/books?id=XginyU3PkLEC&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96&dq=1948+Chrysler+dashboards&source=bl&ots=2x6LvVTAcr&sig=BQRWGZfD8uYnXAFvoS9Um843RgA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HT_AT7yXIISo8ATf3PScCw&ved=0CKQBEOgBMAQ#v=onepage&q=1948%20Chrysler%20dashboards&f=false

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Yes, the 'deluxe steering wheel' was offered in the accessory booklet. It also had the chrome inserts on the spokes. As others have already pointed out, the plastic was translucent which won't be duplicated by paint, but if it were my car... I'd go for it. Both my ivory wheels are cracked and in need of restoration, but at 10 feet they look ok.

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