Nardi Anni 50 vs Derrington vs Nardi Classico 360

To further, has anyone used a Motolita 15" flat, thin slot? It's similar to the Derrington, but with rivets.

I have no experience with any of them but my vote is for the Nardi Classico, it looks classy...co...

Robert I have the Nandi Anni 50 on my Beck and love it. The wheel has a great feel and my hand placements is just  perfect. Plus it looks fantastic  

Joe, forget the wheel, where did you get those cup-holders...and that cool oil-temp gauge?

Thanks, Will

Will Hesch posted:

Joe, forget the wheel, where did you get those cup-holders...and that cool oil-temp gauge?

Thanks, Will

Too early for thread drifting Will. Wait for a few more pages. LOL

Robert, I drive a cheesy, plastic VS, which came with a cheesy replica of the dished Nardi, and somehow, its cheesiness just goes with the whole rest of the car - the eight-slot wheels, the VW handbrake lever, the Home Depot carpeting.

Bolting on a work-of-art steering wheel, like Joe's, would somehow make me squirm a bit. The car's just not worthy. Hell, I'm not worthy. But that of course is just me.

More to your point is that my cheesy wheel is a 14-inch diameter - somehow fittingly an inch short of the 'real' wheels. But THAT part I love. I have enough trouble squeezing under it and a 15-inch wheel wouldn't help at all. The clincher is getting around it to work under the dash. I think I'd have to call 911 to get out from under there if I had a 15-inch wheel.

Kirk's Nardiesque repop is available from a few places for pretty cheap (as a kit with all the necessary fitment bits), looks OK (better than the Grant) and doesn't shout that you have aspirations above your rightful station in life.

i find comfort in its humility.

 Robert, post a pic of your interior. 

I  went from a 14" Nardi Classic to a 15" (390mm) Nardi Classic on my VS.  It opened up gauge view  and with the bigger diameter I feel more like I'm driving a car than a Disneyland Autopia vehicle.  I also like the clean lines of the non-riveted wood rim.  

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Robert.  I have a Derrington and the Nardi that is most commonly used on Speedsters as well as the Nardi replica that you can compare in person if you like.   Hopefully, others who have experience using them will also respond.

I took the opportunity at last year's West Coast Cruise (SLO) to take a pic of Robert's current steering wheel....

Forget the wheel, man-- that shifter is where it's at.

What's your budget, Robert? You could get a wheel made by Mike Lempert in any design you want. Here's mine:

After looking at all the photo's and comments on SOME of  the steering wheels...14', 15 ", riveted , non riveted' , Nardi, Derrington, Grant, real Porsche. Fake, Wood, type of wood, 3 spoke, 4 spoke, spoke angles. stainless steel, aluminum, roller chain, chain, chromed, brass plate, solid, nickle plated, Gold Plated, Holes, slots, tapered slots, I just get confused with why ! When I get in my car I might look at my steering wheel and admire it for a little while, while I'm waiting for the CHT to get to 200F and sometimes when the glint of sunlight flashes off of it on a turn up in the mountains. Otherwise I'm pretty much hanging onto it to stay safe in a very narrow zone to be able to enjoy another day. I guess I'm just missing some important point about the finesse or esoteric's of steering wheels.....Bruce

Just curious if anyone has a 420mm wheel ?  I have a 390mm and going to a 400mm just wondering if anyone uses or tried anything bigger and not a Ferris wheel.  

So many wheels, so little time ;-)

there are a few 2016 threads discussing wheels/hubs/ flat vs dished, etc...  Here is one with some links/pictures.

https://www.speedsterowners.com...8#541037243045526898

Hope this helps,

Marty Grzynkowicz posted:

 Robert, post a pic of your interior. 

Cupholders   http://www.santanainteriors.com/products/billet/

Troy Sloan posted:

Robert.  I have a Derrington and the Nardi that is most commonly used on Speedsters as well as the Nardi replica that you can compare in person if you like.   Hopefully, others who have experience using them will also respond.

@Troy Sloan

Okay. BTW, I like the new avatar. Quite classic.

Luis when you bolt the adapter on, do you see the bolts from the 9 bolt wheel come through to the other side when using the adapter?  Can you post a pict of your wheel so we can see it.  Thanks Ray

A few more links-

https://www.speedsterowners.com...9#498251187807811009

https://www.speedsterowners.com...2#540896447140849042

https://www.speedsterowners.com...4#485865147757307864

Happy hunting!

Robert M posted:

Troy Sloan posted:

Robert.  I have a Derrington and the Nardi that is most commonly used on Speedsters as well as the Nardi replica that you can compare in person if you like.   Hopefully, others who have experience using them will also respond.

@Troy Sloan

Okay. BTW, I like the new avatar. Quite classic.

I had to change it.  Teby said I was misleading everyone with a 20 year old picture. 

This one was taken on our cruise.   Here's another one and don't blame me for the thread drift you just started! 

Ray, with my ISP classic 380 adaptor you don't see the bolts... They don't go through.

http://www.vwispwest.com/GA-64...c3E9Q2xhc3NpYyszODA=

... Looks like ISP doubled the price since I purchased mine ;-)   They really are a very nice product and the beauty ring hides the 9 bolts... Very clean and classic install. 

I have a ididit nardi hub and I am kind of looking for the shortest adapter 1/2 inch or so but I really would like the bolts to be hidden.  This adapter on the moto-lita site does not seem to do that ... I have sent them an email to inquire.  I know I can change the hub but I would prefer not to do it.   Sometime in the future Anand style wheel is what I really like for Bling on the car.   .. Thanks for the help mi hermano. Ray 

@IaM-Ray,

Ray, try this 1/2" adaptor.  The screws will not go throught the back side ( like the ones that use bolts) and will not be visible from the back.  They make a 3/4" as well... Billet aluminum, nice quality, momo and Nardi drill pattern adaptor.   I used the 3/4" adaptor/spacer when i originally installed a flat wheel using an existing ISP Nardi hub. (to maintain the space i originally had between the wheel and blinker arm when i removed  the 1" dish wheel.)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121246...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

you may also need a beauty ring, if your wheel does not come with one.  Adds a nice touch, and finishes out the look when you install the horn button

http://www.ebay.com/itm/331170...e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

buena suerte mi amigo!

Here's my Mike Lempert wheel that is modeled after Les Leston design.  The drop spokes clear up the view of the instruments nicely.  Like Terry said, you can get any design, any wood, with or without rivets, with or without engine turning, etc.

@Will Hesch  the cup holders pictured on Joe's car were made on the mill.  They are similar to the Santana cup holders, which are just an aluminum version of the Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice cup holders.  the Santana version required too much mounting depth so we just made our own.

@IaM-Ray yes I have run 400mm and larger wheels.  For me they are too large (I am 6'1" long legged) and I find they interfere with my driving position and shifting. I believe that @Former Member has a 420mm original on his VS and can comment too.

@Robert M although the Anni 50 is slightly larger than the classico, I don't find to its large or obstructive.  The classico is listed at 360mm but actually measures 365mm, so it's only 15mm smaller than the 50.  I have seen some variance in the rim thickness of the Anni 50.  Joe's was one of the thicker rimmed wheels we had, and feels great in your hands, but I've had a bunch that were noticeably thinner.  They were still very stable and felt good, just thinner is all. 

One thing I didn't see mentioned (if it was I missed it) is the dished vs flat and your hand position.  The flat wheels are obviously closer to the dash due to the lack of dish.  If you have a short hub adapter currently, this can put your knuckles at the eyebrow.  This is easily remedied with a deeper hub or a spacer.

aircooled posted:

After looking at all the photo's and comments on SOME of  the steering wheels...14', 15 ", riveted , non riveted' , Nardi, Derrington, Grant, real Porsche. Fake, Wood, type of wood, 3 spoke, 4 spoke, spoke angles. stainless steel, aluminum, roller chain, chain, chromed, brass plate, solid, nickle plated, Gold Plated, Holes, slots, tapered slots, I just get confused with why ! When I get in my car I might look at my steering wheel and admire it for a little while, while I'm waiting for the CHT to get to 200F and sometimes when the glint of sunlight flashes off of it on a turn up in the mountains. Otherwise I'm pretty much hanging onto it to stay safe in a very narrow zone to be able to enjoy another day. I guess I'm just missing some important point about the finesse or esoteric's of steering wheels.....Bruce

It matters to a lot of us.

Joel Schlotz calls any point where you come into contact with the car a "touch point", and suggests that you make those points something personal and pleasurable. Seats, steering wheels, shifters, pedals-- all of these things are personal preferences that make the car "mine"

A chain-ring wheel would still steer the car, but it wouldn't be the same for me. I suppose I could sit on a milk crate, but I'd rather not.

We're talking about steering wheels because the wheel and the gauges are the things you are looking at every time you get in the car. There have also been threads about the pedals and shifters (a lot), because the steering wheel and pedals and shifters are how we interface with the mechanical bits of the car.

We don't talk a lot about seats, because most guys don't think there's any real options. My first car had the old Vintage Speedster "comfort seats", which Kirk describes as "cut down 914 seats". To my butt, they are nowhere near as comfortable as a 914 seat, and really qualify as an instrument of torture. My JPS had speedster seats, which while uncomfortable, were at least somewhat better.

Intermeccanica's 2005 speedster seats (he's since changed them) were way more substantial, but not really more comfortable. I ended up paying a lot of money for seats that fit my butt. I mounted them on my own rails (fixed position) to pitch my torso back to a comfortable (to me) angle.

What does this have to do with steering wheels? Everything. Steering wheels are a personal preference, and make the car "mine", but they are also (along with the seats) a primary "touch point". Spending what you need to to make the car yours is always worth the money.

Robert, this may look good.  It is 367mm or 14.45 inches.  Splits the diference size wise and has the cool downward spokes. http://www.nardi-personal.com/...ng=en&Itemid=280

Here's my Mike Lempert wheel, similar to Lane's, a Les Leston downslope.  Mike makes great steering wheels - I had him do a Derrington when I had an MGB.  For this one, I specified 12 sets of 2 rivets, just 'cause I like the looks -similar to a Derrington, but different.  It's also not laminated with different bands as a Derrington should be. As Lane said, the downslope design gives you a clear view of the instrument panel.

What's the little button on the end of the directional stalk for?  Hi/Lo beam?

And, Lane - that is one terrific steering wheel!  Very, VERY classy.

Thanks Carey for the input and your right the in the body style cup holders do require more depth and I find hold only a very small cup and so I find myself having my

AUTO CLOSE Contigo cup more often then not between my legs.  

Go figure... but honestly nothing is good till you try it out with your own habits and see if it works for you.  

As far as seats are concerned I have had IM roadster seats for 5 years and have been in the speedster 2004 IM seats and my Recaro's now are perfect for my body as I have been in them for a few 12 hour rides without any pain or soreness anywhere.  

Now that a saddle I can ride.  

I still think the Anand VDM GT that Mike created is a gem and I would love to try a 420mm that would make the wheel a really nice focus point for me. Ray

Joe Fortino posted:

Robert I have the Nandi Anni 50 on my Beck and love it. The wheel has a great feel and my hand placements is just  perfect. Plus it looks fantastic  

@Joe Fortino

Was the Porsche horn button added later? Were you able to buy it outright or did you have to make it?

@Robert M I purchased it from Sierra Madre, I am sure there are other sources as well.    http://www.sierramadrecollecti...el-56-73-p23432.html

Gordon Nichols posted:

What's the little button on the end of the directional stalk for?  Hi/Lo beam?

And, Lane - that is one terrific steering wheel!  Very, VERY classy.

Yep - low and high beam button.

And, yes, Lane's wheel is very nice with the turnings on the spokes. 

Yeah .... that little button makes the lights dip as they say ... it is a feature you can get with an Ididit column and you can wire it for flash to pass too which is a real nice feature in my opinion.  They also have a cruise control option but I nixed it... it just did not look period correct.  

I have the old Oval turn signal without the dim option so I used a small NO stainless button to ground the relay. 

I have one of the old turn signals that does have that option if anyone is interested. 

I may have Mike redo the turnings on my spokes as I kinda messed 'em up.  We added those a couple of years after I got the wheel and, after he set up a jig and did some instructing, I did most of it - not perfectly as it turned out.

Robert - My car originally came with a Nardi 390mm wheel. I let that go for a 15" Derrington style wheel. Then I bought a hand made 16" Derrington replica from Lempert Wheels. Both of these are flat. I prefer the flat as that's how they were in the day. I suppose a dished wheel could help you if your steering column is set too far in and you want a short steering adaptor.

I think the seats are a bit higher in a VS than in an IM and you may run into a leg clearance issue with the 16" wheel dished or not. Gauge visibility has not been an issue for me. 

Here's a pic of my old 15". If you want I'll take one of the new 16" when I get home. The 16" Mike Lempert replica is spot on to the original but is much thinner than the 15". Also, Lempert will make the wheel however you want - dish / flat.

Damn Rusty - that is a nice looking steering wheel.