Correct steering wheel for Pushbutton

Three spoke on car #1313

here's a link to a two spoke version. I'm sure the three spoke is a bit cheaper.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16306...tr&item=163062892505

I saw one of the two spoke wheels on eBay about two months ago. It was used and sold for 500 Euro.

I know that both types are available. I am trying to understand which one is correct and original for #1313. It has the three spoke on it and it is probably original. But someone in authority told me that all Pushbutton cars came with two spoke.

I think the 3 spoke would be oem to a late PB car, with only the first 150 or so having the 2 spoke.

With a bit of effort you could trawl through Chuck's registry and try to figure where the transition occurred?

Yes, I that's how I found the two spoke on #1350. It is the only one I found thus far.

If a push button Pantera was originally sold in Europe it should have the expensive two spoke wheel to be original.

Someone within Ford didn't like the two spoke wheel, the story goes they thought it was unsafe. Roll eyes. The last push button cars manufactured under De Tomaso were shipped to the US and were retro-fitted with the 3 spoke Capri wheels as they were prepped for sale in North America (chassis 1286 through 1382). The 3 spoke wheel was original to all others.

Of course there may be exceptions … there's always exceptions.

One of the very first push button cars I drove back in 71 had the three spoke wheel.

The story I have heard somewhat matches what George shared.

My understanding was that United States DOT found the two spoke wheels were unsafe as they lacked the ability to collapse in an accident.

I heard they were removed by the hundreds at an LA shop that Ford contracted with and tossed on a shelf in a pile. I was told Gary Hall bought a small number of them and the rest are thought to have just been disposed of.

Whatever the real story is those two spoke wheels are now very rare and priced accordingly.

Larry

quote:

retro-fitted with the 3 spoke Capri wheels as they were prepped for sale in North America

Actually, although the three-spoke steering wheel looks a lot like the Capri steering wheel, it's different and designed and drawn by detomaso sometime in 1970.

So the wheel had been planned for some time prior to the introduction of the Pantera to the market.

I know that for a fact, as I have the blueprints of the original steering wheel drawing from the Detomaso Design studio (among the rest of the drawings of the car).

My car #1267 is a euro car, and it has the 2-spoke Ferrero steering wheel.

Also note, that there are different versions of that wheel, the detomaso version having "ferrero" insignia on the left spoke.

The one on ebay is the lancia version and has a different insignia.

Push1267,

Awesome that you were able to obtain those designs. Would you be able to scan and post some portions? I think we would all like to see them and perhaps hear the story of how you came into them.

Thanks