Original Nardi Steering Wheel option

[AudioGuy]

Does anyone have the dimensions and/or a picture of the original steering wheel option for the W113?  Our original wheels was about 17" in diameter, my Nardi is 16" with smaller wood than the 15" and the more common Nardi dimensions is 15".   I am attaching a picture of my 16" Nardi and horn button. 

[Flyair]

my steering wheel which came with the car and was apparently part of the original purchase is exactly 15''15 (or in more human units: 38:5 cm ). However, I also received as a gift a slightly thicker wheel, which is probably 16" or so, and indeed it has the wood that is thinner than the original one. Both have MB logo and fit the car perfectly.

All things being equal, my preference goes for the smaller one with larger wood as it not only falls in hand better, offers a better grip and - last bout not least makes getting into the car a lot easier, especially when the driver is more like XL size  

[JamesL]

I think the best option is meant to be the 390mm (or thereabouts)

It still has a tendency to "clip" your view of the speedo/tacho but less than the smaller Nardi wheels

[AudioGuy]

What is the original horn button suppose to look like?  I have seen many versions over the years.

[hauser]

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-W113-280-SL-42-cm-16-54-Nardi-Wood-Steering-Wheel-New-FLAWLESS-/350636925272?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51a396e158&vxp=mtr

[Garry]

Can someone show where the Nardi was offered as an MB option, not heard that one before?

[Flyair]

wasn't it rather a dealer's option, like air conditioned?

[Garry]

John  49er might know, I don't think the Italian steering wheel was ever offered, it was just a thing of the period and not an option. Why would a German car dealer offer an Italian  wheel?

[Flyair]

Garry
Nardi wheels were always considered as top notch stuff, and I remember that some Porsche dealers also offered them. I personally think that they look traffic and have a unique feel that I cannot get from the original wheel. after all, this is maybe because for me wood was also more nobel than plastic  

[john.mancini]

I had an original Nardi in a 1964 Porsche 356SC that I sold last year. Porsche offered it as an option. It was not offered as a factory MB option, I believe, just as Stan mentioned. Dealer or personal purchase. The price on that eBay Nardi is crazy. I tried that same wheel two years ago on a 280SL and returned it. It was offered to me for under $1200.00. I should have grabbed it. Way better than the stock market! Oh well.

[Flyair]

I think that the bet place you can get the answer about which wheel type was offered for Pagodas is the Nardi site. You can see that they group them by categories, such as Vintage etc.
http://www.nardi-personal.com

It may well be that as the time went by, different models were offered . all with Mercedes buttons. The pic below shows one that looks like one of my two Nardi wheels.

Regardless of the model, I think that they adorn our cars and the type you choose is question of taste and personal liking

[simonarn]

So I have read all the posts, and I would like to fit a Nardi steering wheel on my 280, I think it will look better than the slightly jaded black plastic original. I cannot however find the best siteon the intranet to order for Europe, as Nardi themselves don`t wish to sell on line. Any recommendations please? Thanks

[71Beige280SL]

Just one word of caution. I considered getting a Nardi steering wheel. Depending on the size, it can block some of the instrument cluster. Decided to get keep the big, black wheel. I think it is part of what makes our cars an icon. I may however get a leather wheel wrap. A recent post planted that idea in my head. Still keeps the car original to the data card but, can easily be removed.

One man's opinion...

[Hans2012]

I will add my opinion having recently made a change. 

I bought my car with the smaller (15" I believe) and liked the feel and the look with my cognac interior, but found it quite annoying that it blocked most of my view of the speedometer and tachometer.  I have recently tracked down a prior owner who commissioned the extensive restoration at Hatch & Sons - he loved seeing pictures of the car fifteen years later, but his first comment was "Of course, you have got to get rid of the Nardi."   My mechanic made the same comment.  They convinced me and I bought an OEM wheel from the Classic Center and had it installed.  It is really big compared to the Nardi (which has made the view of the gauges much improved) and the rim of the wheel feels a bit slender after becoming accustomed to the other wheel - that will change with time and miles.  However, the interior looks great as was intended and for me that trumps the other considerations.  I am happy that I made the change. 

Regards
John

[Garry]

I have a question of the Nardi fans here and other knowledgable people.

Many have commented that the Nardi wheel was an option offered by the dealer.  I find that hard to believe that a Mercedes Benz dealer would offer an Italian steering wheel for a German car, but no doubt this did happen in the USA. To me it is a bit like putting the after market boy racer mag wheels on your Chev to trick it up a bit. 

So question is,

Was it true that dealers offered the Italian Nardi steering wheel as a Mercedes Benz dealer fitted option.

Was it only the USA that this happened or does any know of it happening elsewhere in the world, and

does that mean that I can fit after market fat mag wheels, (not Bundts) of the same era to my Pagoda to make it look better

[Peter van Es]

does that mean that I can fit after market fat mag wheels, (not Bundts) of the same era to my Pagoda to make it look better

Garry... you're Australian. If you think it looks better... go ahead. Just don't post any pictures expecting to get a positive response... 

[gerster]

I agree with you Peter!