Banjo vs. Nardi

I'm just wanted some opinions on the Banjo steering wheel. I have not had the opportunity to see or feel one in person. I love the look and just am currious on how the feel/texture is. Does it get hotter than the wood in the sun?

Marty

Marty,
I have the banjo wheel in my Speedy,and love it. I have not noticed any appreciable temperature differential when it is a hot day. The diameter of the banjo wheel tends to run somewhat larger than the Nardi's which can present a leg clearance issue if you are a tall person.(getting in and out of the car can be a challenge) I highly recommend the banjo,if you are going for a more traditional look for your car.

Marty,

I had a banjo wheel on my car for nearly 4 years. I recently had to replace it with a wheel with a thicker dia rim. A bit of carpal tunnel problems made worse by grasping the small dia rim....I went to a vintage looking MotoLita wheel that was not cheap....more expensive than the banjo wheel....

While I loved the way the banjo looked it was also a bit too flexible if you want to crank it hard...I wouldn't suggest one for autocross or road racing, for example....just driving down the road, great item....

Allen,

I'm barley 5ft 9in, so height should not be a major issue. does the wheel feel like ceramic?


Marty

Marty,

If you decide on the Nardi, I have one listed in the for sale section.

Mike

Banjo is "original" style, and as I recall, having had one many, many years ago, everybody who could afford one, got a Nardi. frankly, I thought the banjo looked silly, back in '62 when I was pushing around a '56 Coupe. Now, at this great remove, (older for sure, and who knows if any wiser), I see the banjo as just part of the style. If you like it, get it. For me, the Nardi was the "it" thing back in the '60s, when I had no cash to spare; so now I'm finally going to have one.

I'm on the same wave as Kelly.

In the early 70's I had a 57 1600Super with the banjo wheel...I got a Nardi as soon as I could afford it (partially paid for with cash from returning Coke bottles - young'uns don't even ask). The cost was almost half my rent at the time. The banjo also flexed and eventually developed stress cracks, which mine had.

IMHO if you're striving for the 'original' look with the banjo, then you should also have the skinny 4.5" wheels and skinny bias-ply tires to complete the original look.

Jim,

I am not that vintage. DOB 1967.


Marty

Jim, I was blowing $hit up in 1967

...and in '68 I was patching up the guys you were blowing up (well, most of them anyway!).

Marty - '67!!...that's when I BOUGHT the underwear I'm currently wearing!

My Bad! I forget sometimes that not everybody on SOC is as ancient as me and Vince are (some are even WAAAYY older). Most on here know that I have Alzheimer's - correct that - I have Alzheimer's Bulemia - that's where I 'binge' and then forget to 'purge'! BWAAA HAAAA HAAAAAA HAAAAAAA!!

Peace - Out!