 Leather steering wheel or leatherette?, How can one tell? |
|
|
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
|
  |
| Air_Cooled_Nut |
  Jun 12 2005, 10:04 AM
Post
#1
|
|
914 Ronin - 914 owner who lost his 914club.com  Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Beaverton, Oregon Member No.: 584 Region Association: None  |
My car came with the Comfort option package, basically, and it would seem some other options. I'm trying to determine whether the steering wheel is wrapped in leather or pleather. I would say leather but looking at the picture in the book I have by Brian Long it could be the fake leather. So how does one figure out whether the steering wheel wrapper is leather or leatherette?
|
   |
 
|
| smg914 |
Jun 12 2005, 12:24 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Sahara Beige Steve Group: Members Posts: 1,962 Joined: 22-February 04 From: Tampa, FL Member No.: 1,695 Region Association: None  |
The window sticker from my 1973 914 shows it has a "Leatherette Covered Steering Wheel". I believe some of the early 914's had optional leather wheels but it looks like somewhere around 1973 they went to leatherette.
|
|
|
|
| jd74914 |
Jun 12 2005, 12:32 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Its alive Group: Members Posts: 4,782 Joined: 16-February 04 From: CT Member No.: 1,659 Region Association: North East States |
The wheel could have also been recovered at sometime over its 30 year life. So it may be leather.
|
|
|
|
| davep |
Jun 12 2005, 01:20 PM
Post
#4
|
|
914 Historian Group: Benefactors Posts: 5,154 Joined: 13-October 03 From: Burford, ON, N0E 1A0 Member No.: 1,244 Region Association: Canada  |
804.10 is the hard plastic
805.11 is supposed to be leather, but may be leatherette from late 72 809.00 is a foam covered wheel |
|
|
|
| Air_Cooled_Nut |
Jun 12 2005, 04:04 PM
Post
#5
|
|
914 Ronin - 914 owner who lost his 914club.com Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Beaverton, Oregon Member No.: 584 Region Association: None |
Okay, I appreciate the info but I already know all that. What I need to know is how to figure out by looking/feeling/sniffing/whatever the wrap whether it's leather or leatherette (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif)
|
|
|
|
| lotus_65 |
Jun 12 2005, 09:34 PM
Post
#6
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,608 Joined: 21-March 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,795 Region Association: Northstar Region |
my '74 looks pretty original. the cover looks like leather to me, and it's got a great patina. it's a little loose and the thread (looks like nylon) is frayed.
maybe i recall that in the early 70's, some marketers might have considered "letherette" to be more sellable. i think mine is original, and it's leather. |
|
|
|
| lotus_65 |
Jun 12 2005, 10:07 PM
Post
#7
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,608 Joined: 21-March 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,795 Region Association: Northstar Region |
pic
Attached image(s) 
|
|
|
|
| smg914 |
Jun 12 2005, 10:26 PM
Post
#8
|
||
|
Sahara Beige Steve Group: Members Posts: 1,962 Joined: 22-February 04 From: Tampa, FL Member No.: 1,695 Region Association: None |
Unless I'm misinterpreting what you are describing.....Do you realize your steering wheel has an aftermarket steering wheel cover on it? Obviously a previous owner added that cover to the wheel. If you remove it you will find the factory leatherette cover or possibly no cover at all. |
||
|
|
|
||
| lotus_65 |
Jun 12 2005, 10:35 PM
Post
#9
|
||
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,608 Joined: 21-March 05 From: minneapolis, mn Member No.: 3,795 Region Association: Northstar Region |
...could be. the po musta made a good choice then! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif) |
||
|
|
|
||
| Air_Cooled_Nut |
Jun 13 2005, 09:31 AM
Post
#10
|
|
914 Ronin - 914 owner who lost his 914club.com Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Beaverton, Oregon Member No.: 584 Region Association: None |
What it looks like from afar:
Attached thumbnail(s) 
|
|
|
|
| Air_Cooled_Nut |
Jun 13 2005, 09:32 AM
Post
#11
|
|
914 Ronin - 914 owner who lost his 914club.com Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Beaverton, Oregon Member No.: 584 Region Association: None |
Looks really nice. But those crackly crinkles look very similar to the ones I see on the driver's arm rest (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/huh.gif)
Attached thumbnail(s) 
|
|
|
|
| Air_Cooled_Nut |
Jun 13 2005, 09:34 AM
Post
#12
|
|
914 Ronin - 914 owner who lost his 914club.com Group: Members Posts: 1,748 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Beaverton, Oregon Member No.: 584 Region Association: None |
When taking a picture of the backside of the steering wheel I noticed the seam running around the circumference of the steering wheel wrap (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) Well, case solved, it's not leather because leather would be a solid piece of material with the only seam being where it's stitched to the steering wheel. Rats! Oh well, it looks and feels good (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif)
Attached thumbnail(s) 
|
|
|
|
| Rand |
Jun 13 2005, 03:59 PM
Post
#13
|
|
Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
Ok, so you don't have to resort to the match test (the one where you hold a match under it and see if it melts a hole in it or smells like steak). (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)
|
|
|
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 10th June 2024 - 11:42 PM |
Invision Power Board
v9.1.4 © 2024 IPS, Inc.