Nardi steering wheels

[norton]

Just seen a used Nardi wheel on eBay for $650.00 Don't fall into this trap,Nardi wheels are still available new. http://www.nardiusa.com/classicfamily.html

[mdsalemi]

Are the Nardi's smaller then the bus-sized 113?  How do those that have them, like them?

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Douglas]

I think they are smaller. Tom? Richard? Another issue I'd like to discuss is do they obscure the gauges? I like how the rim of the original wheel falls in a place where you always see the gauges.

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[norton]

The Nardi is a couple of inches smaller, makes the car seem like the steering is quicker. It can block your view of the top of the tach and speedo a little, if your tall.

[hauser]

In the Nardi Classico there are three sizes available.  330mm, 360mm and 390mm  The larger steering wheel is probably best suited for the 113.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[ted280sl]

I believe Nardi made a Classico which is the same size as our standard steering wheel. The large Nardi steering wheel is very expensive. It is my understanding that Nardi Steering wheels were never an option on our cars. I believe they were an option on the Gullwing 300SL.
Regards,
Ted

[tdun824259]

I have a Nardi on my 1971 280 SL.  I love the look of the wood and how it blends with the dash wood.  It makes the car look more like a sports car and seems to give the steering a tighter feel.  Mine is a 39mm wheel, complete with Mercedes horn pad.  I would recommend them highly.

tdun824259
1971 280 SL

[TR]

tdun -- Is it possible that you might take a photo or two of your Nardi installation?  You hit on the points I've been wondering about for a long time.  Namely, how close is the Nardi wood type, grain, color and finish to the 280SL's original wood pieces...how does the Mercedes horn pad look, etc??

My car is now undergoing a number of enhancements and the timing could be perfect for getting this done.

Tom in Boise

[Richard Madison]

Here's a photo of a Nardi wheel installed not long after the 1971 280SL was delivered.

This wheel is smaller than the original steering wheel and, for me, is easier to handle and very sharp looking.

The interior shown is Cognac.

None of the gauges are blocked by the wheel.

Richard M

 

Download Attachment: MbNardi.jpg
32.82 KB

[rwmastel]

Richard,
I see you also have the wood shift knob - very nice!  I think the finish on the Nardi wheel is a lighter shade than the MB wood.  How about on the shift knob?

I just measured my stock steering wheel at 44cm, so even the "large" 39cm Nardi is smaller.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[bluedipper]

You might consider a leather Nardi.  I love mine, even though it does hamper the view of the tach and speedometer.  I'm not entirely sure but I think the leather wheel may only come in black.  I saved the old, white, steering wheel but prefer the smaller Nardi.  Those original wheels just seem like they belong on trucks to me.  

Chuck Gale
San Jose, CA
68 250SL

[tdun824259]

Tom,
Would be glad to take a couple of pics for you.  My interior is actually very similar to Richard M who has posted a picture.  Just have redone my interior in cognac leather and refinished my wood shifter knob.  All the wood (dash included has been refinished and all match and blend very well together).  I can't believe you would ever be disappointed in a Nardi wheel.  In my humble opinion, it pulls the whole interior together.  I have a couple pieces of carpet to glue and instruments to reset so I'll probably wait on the pics unless you want to see her half dressed!

tdun824259
71 280 Sl
Auto/Cognac

[TR]

tdun -- Thank you; that is a very kind offer.  I agree that it'd be best to see it all together, so waiting a little while for those additional pics makes good sense.

I love the idea of the highest quality wooden steering wheel and matching shift knob.  As mentioned, I've been thinking about it for a long time.  Here's my potential concerns:

1)  I'm having brand new French-walnut wood pieces (console box, dash pieces, radio grill) installed.  As we probably all know, these are being produced again (reportedly by the original manufacturer) to original specs in terms of wood/veneer material, stain color, and finish texture.  Hopefully the wooden steering wheel (and shift knob?) would match, or come very close to matching, those original wooden pieces of a W113.  Perhaps that's too much to hope for, but it's what's in my minds-eye.

2)  I've never understood why MB decided to put a ship-sized steering wheel in the W113's.  If a replacement wooden wheel had a bit smaller diameter, yet still "fit" in terms of instrument visability, etc. that would be lovely.

3)  My understanding is that in its day the W113 was known for having the safety feature of a collapsible steer column.  I've heard that when the original wheel is swapped for an after-market wheel that an adapter is needed, which can in-turn eliminate this original safety feature.  Do you, or anyone else, know whether this is true?  If the safety aspect of the 280SL was dimished I'd probably stay with the original.

4)  The wooden shift knob is a great idea.  But I've never seen one in a W113.  Same question, though, as above about matching wood style.  4-spd shift pattern engraving would be another question/concern.

Sorry for being so full of questions about this.  A beautiful wooden steering wheel / shift knob combo seems like a wonderful idea.  But the whole interior package would need to match up very well, IMHO.

BTW, I've had the original steering wheel covered in matching leather.  To do that job right is extremely labor intensive.  But it too looks awfully good.  My hunch is highest quality wood would be even better, assuming 1-4 are satisfied.

Tom in Boise
'71 280SL 4-spd Signal-red w/lt. tan leather

[J. Huber]

Hey TR. All sound reasoning -- however...

I have to respectfully disagree with you about your views on the "ship-sized steering wheel." Here's why. Shortly after I got my driver's license (I was 17), I drove my later-to-be car for the first time. I remember how totally cool it was with that big old wheel, no power steering, and that view over that front end. I dug it (along with the dim but colorful dashboard at night...) To this day, I get that same feeling everytime I get in.  

James
63 230SL

[TR]

James -- Interesting!  Just a little while ago I told my wife about my posting, re the "ship's wheel".  And her feeling is the same as yours; i.e., that big diameter wheel is a true part of the car...charming, historical.  I can't disagree...with either of you!

Still, I look forward to any info relative to #1 thru #4.  My attitude is it's okay to "enhance" these cars...BUT, they should be easily returnable to an original state if & when the desire strikes.

My fall-back position is to have the original steering wheel re-covered in fresh leather.  It will be going to the interior shop soon for a little spruce-up.  BTW, my interior guy did a car for ZZ Top if that tells you anything.  The way he did the leather covered steering wheel is very subtle.  Most people don't even initially notice it.

I appreciate your observation on this James.

Tom in Boise

[Joe]

I put a Nardi on my 280SL. I don't know the size, but as others pointed out, part of the speedo is covered. From about 50MPH on up, I have to cock my head quite a bit to see the numbers. I'm right at 6' tall. While I like the wheel, I would prefer one the size of the original wheel.
Joe

[norton]

I'm out of town for work again, so I can't look at my car right now, but I was thinking that the collapsible steer column, was more to keep a front end wreck from driving the column into the driver, than to collaps if the driver hit the column, if so then the Nardi wheel should not affect it's operation. :?:

[CarlG]

My nardi wheel blocks the tach more than the speedo, but definitely blocks both a bit, and I am 6' 1".  

Regarding safety, the adaptor moves the wheel maybe three inches closer (7-8 cm) so your chest has less room to fly forward before it impacts the wheel.

Where are you guys getting the wood shift knobs?  Are they still available?

1967 230sl (stick)

[George Davis]

My understanding of the "collapsible steering column" is that it's really a deep, wide collapsible steering wheel hub, which is designed to deform if the driver impacts it, thereby reducing injury to the driver.  The steering wheels used in the 280s and later 250s have this hub.  The steering shaft itself doesn't collapse, just the hub.  Replacing the steering wheel will (of course) eliminate this hub, so that safety feature will be gone.  If one is wearing 3-point seat belts, one shouldn't impact the steering wheel (much) anyway.

George Davis
'69 280 SL Euro manual

[TR]

George -- I double-checked this, and your understanding is correct.  Thanks for that lead.  This safety factor (even perhaps a relatively minor one) coupled with less than perfect visibility of the instruments when using a Nardi...not to mention input from my wife(!)...have convince me to stick with MB's original big-diameter steering wheel.  Also, I learned/confirmed the rationale behind MB's choice of the large wheel.  For cars without power steering MB felt it was needed for leverage.  And for cars WITH power steering (of which mine is one) MB felt the big wheel should stay as a backup in the event the PS unit failed (yet another safety consideration).

I guess I'll have my interior guy replace the leather on the MB "ship's wheel".

Thanks everyone for all the input.  As mentioned, it's something I'd thought about for years.  Now I'm comfortable staying with the original steering wheel (although modified with the addition of stitched leather).

Tom in Boise

[Vince Canepa]

Many years ago I tested a Nardi wheel at Vilem B. Haan in Beverly Hills.  It was somewhat larger that the current 390mm, but smaller than the stock wheel.  The rim was smaller in diameter (cross-sectional) that the current wheel, more like a 50's - 60's Ferrari.  I didn't buy it because I decided not to make any changes on the car from stock.  It did block the tops of the instruments a bit, but was acceptable.  You might look around eBay, etc. and see if any of these ae still around.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[CraigD]

About 4 posts back in this older thread, Carl mentions that the adaptor for the Nardi wheel moves the wheel 3" closer to the driver.  Is that accurate?  Aside from the smaller diameter and possibly obscuring the view of the guages, 3" closer seems like a big difference in the steering wheel position.  Nardi owners... is the wheel really 3" closer to the driver?

Craig
'70 280SL Euro, Manual,  Leather
Silver/Black

 

[al_lieffring]

quote:Originally posted by CraigD

About 4 posts back in this older thread, Carl mentions that the adaptor for the Nardi wheel moves the wheel 3" closer to the driver.  Is that accurate?  Aside from the smaller diameter and possibly obscuring the view of the guages, 3" closer seems like a big difference in the steering wheel position.  Nardi owners... is the wheel really 3" closer to the driver?

Craig
'70 280SL Euro, Manual,  Leather
Silver/Black

The 113 cars have 2 different steering columns, before 68 and after. the later column is shorter for the extra depth of the colapsable wheel.
Nardi makes 2 different versions of thier hub adapter for early and late Sl's, but both have the same depth so when installed on a 67 or older SL the wheel sits too far back, 3 inches would be an exageration, I machined 1" off the casting of the Nardi hub on my 66 and now I can reach the combi-turn signal lever without leting go of the wheel.

This shouldn't be a problem with your 70 model.

Al

66 230sl
113-042-10-014715
904/396 blue, Ivory Tex
condition: not-as-rusty-as-before-bucket

[Khurram Darugar]

Does anyone know how to remove a nardi steering wheel.  Do you need to unscrew the metal disk around the horn?  Thus exposing the nuts on the column.
I could'nt get the ring off and was wondering whether i need to apply more pressure.

Thanks
Kay

Kay
Euro 68 280sl LHD Auto.

[dldubois]

You just need to pop the ring off.   Mine actually has rubber where the bolt heads are covered making it difficult to remove like yours.



Dana DuBois
1969 280sl
Corinth, TX