2000 Berlina steering wheel - plastic?

[Damo105]

Hi All,

The original steering wheel for the 2000 Berlina, are they plastic or wood?

They look to have a similar varnished finish to the GTV wheels, but I'm not sure what lies beneath.

Anyone know?

thanks!

[Giorgio68]

As long as I know they are wood and slightly bigger and thiner than the spider steering wheel.
That's what I have on my Berlina 2000, and replace it with a spider wooden wheels to have it smaller and little sportier.

Giorgio

[Damo105]

The reason I ask - I sold one on ebay, and the buyer asked before bidding if it was wood, which I assumed it was. He's now unhappy because on receiving it he says it's plastic.

[Bill S]

The one I pulled from a U.S. spec '74 Berlina a couple of years ago is plastic with a not too convincing wood grain. Prior to that they were black plastic. I suspect that Giorgio's was a plastic one with a more convincing woodgrain or may have been replaced before he got the car. Or, who knows, maybe some Berlinas did get real wood.

[Giorgio68]

Bill mine is European Berlina sorry I forgot to mention that, I know it is wood.

Giorgio

[rogerspeed]

I've seen the faux wood on a number of post '71 USA Berlinas; it looks like wood, is slighter larger diameter than the Personal Wood wheel found on Spiders and the rim itself is not as thick. Looks real but it isn't wood.

[giulia_veloce]

Hi Damo.

All Berlinas sold in Australia had plastic steering wheels.
They look like wood but are also thinner.
All the 105 series cars steering wheels are interchangeable,so over the years,they may have been changed to Coupe or Spider wood steering wheels.

Robert

[Hans-Peter]

Last year I dismantled a very original 1972 2000 RHD ( New Zealand new, English, South African? ) and it came with a beautiful plastic faux wood, lightish colour, quite narrow steering wheel. I'm 99.9% sure it was original equipment.

[Damo105]

Thanks for all the replies.

I didn't look closely enough at it before I sold it. But it's obviously plastic with faux wood. I advertised it as an original Berlina wheel, which it is, and the buyer is unhappy because it's plastic. Maybe some of the european Berlinas got wood wheels.

[yvesmontreal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damo105 Thanks for all the replies. I didn't look closely enough at it before I sold it. But it's obviously plastic with faux wood. I advertised it as an original Berlina wheel, which it is, and the buyer is unhappy because it's plastic. Maybe some of the european Berlinas got wood wheels.

[Alleggerita]

The Euro 2000 Berlina is the same wheel as a Nuova Super or a Montreal wheel - thick wood rim made by Hellebore. It looks similar to a 2000 GTV or Spider wheel - the light colored version - but is larger in diameter.

[jasparon]

I have a Berlina 1750, EU 1970, its a large plastic like wood wheel. Its for 99% the orginal wheel

I always thought that it was wood...

[Seinista]

as far as I know, having had over 15 Berlina's, the 1750 versions had a very slim faux wood plastic wheel. Very early standing pedal 1750's sometimes having a black plastic three spoke. All the 2000's I ever had had real wood. Only last week, when I was taking one apart, I got splinters in my hand. These are fatter, and indeed the same as Nuova Supers. and bigger than a GTV wheel.
Don't know about exports though.

[vangelislaz]

My completely stock Euro Berlina 2000 has the Hellebore wheel and it is made of real wood.

[Green Berlina]

The Hellebore and Personal wood rimmed wheels were, i'm led to believe, an option on euro Berlinas, the black plastic (early 1750's) and faux wood/plastic wheels were standard factory fit. My '72 2000 had the faux wood wheel and it was most definatley factory fit as the nut and locking tab looked to have been un-disturbed for the 35 years they had been together, until I came along and and parted their company.
If any of you have the euro 2000 brochure, the main car featured in the pictures has every option on it A/C, electric windows, personal wood steering wheel etc.....