I've been prompted to start a new thread on this subject after reading - for what seems like the thousandth time - somebody describing the OEM steering wheel on a late 1970 production HLS30UV as "Plastic". 

No. The OEM steering wheel on the '1969 through 1973 production S30-series Z was WOOD. Real wood.

They were manufactured for Nissan by specialist Izumi Motor Co. Ltd, based in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Izumi made a wide range of steering wheels for Nissan, as well as selling their own aftermarket 'sports' stering wheels with a cheeky 'Izumi' engraved script which aped Nardi, one of their inspirations.

Izumi used a patented high-pressure heat moulding process. Real wood fibres, impregnated with resin, were laid - following the grain - in a heated mould around the steel hoop of the steering wheel. High pressure, combined with that heat, moulded the wood permanently around the hoop and cured the resin. The result was a wood steering wheel, complete with finger grips on the rear, with no joints or seams. No splinters.

My theory is that people found them a little 'plasticky' or just couldn't believe they were real wood, and it stuck. After 50+ years it is hard to shake this off, hence me reading a comment on yet another Bring-a-Trailer auction from somebody who is convinced they are plastic.

Evidence: I've cut one up. I'm making a 'special' wheel using this 1970 production Izumi as a base (it was already damaged, so don't weep...) and can therefore show what's under the surface. I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

   

 

How did you guys thing they made the wood composite? They don't grow trees like that right? 😉

 

Get the wood wet, bend into a mold?

 

EDIT* post 1: "Izumi used a patented high-pressure heat moulding process."

interesting.

Edited December 24, 20222 yr by heyitsrama

1 hour ago, heyitsrama said:

How did you guys thing they made the wood composite? They don't grow trees like that right? 😉

 

Get the wood wet, bend into a mold?

 

EDIT* post 1: "Izumi used a patented high-pressure heat moulding process."

interesting.

The raw wood was first processed into wood fibre (so, the grain was preserved) which could then be impregnated with the bonding agent and laid into the two halves of the former in continuous rings.

 

There's a surprising amount of push-back on all this. It's a known and understood process, but the whole "they are plastic!" thing is ingrained and deep rooted in a particular branch of the community...

Because it doesn't feel like traditional wood. Because the composites mixed into it, you get the plastic look and feel 🥸

On my usual Yahoo auctions search, I came across this;

A unused S30 wooden steering wheel, showing the original yellow brown colour as it would be from new.  It seems the Japanese company had this as a sample, as it looks like (from what I can gather from clicking on the internal link) is the company restores these types of steering wheels, the S30, P510. @kats anything you heard about this from fellow Japanese S30 owners?

https://www.jauce.com/auction/e1041624080

On 12/24/2022 at 1:48 PM, bartsscooterservice said:

Because it doesn't feel like traditional wood. Because the composites mixed into it, you get the plastic look and feel 🥸

Ironically enough, with a couple of coats of 'restoration' varnish/gloss coat on top of the wood composite of an original wheel, 'plastic' is pretty much what you *are* touching and feeling...

On 12/24/2022 at 9:14 AM, HS30-H said:

...but the whole "they are plastic!" thing is ingrained and deep rooted in a particular branch of the community...

I'm here all week, by the way.  

So: If I may be so bold as to offer a final summation:

Made of wood? No.

Made with wood? Yes

Looks like wood? Yes to most, no for some, but it is one of the basic design design objectives of this damn thing, so Yes is reasonably correct. Which wood? Who cares. As long as it makes most drivers think “wood”.

Feels like wood? Doesn’t matter. Original question is “wood yes or no”. See above. 

Made of plastic? No

Made with plastic? Yes

Feels like plastic? See above.

1 hour ago, zKars said:

So: If I may be so bold as to offer a final summation:

Made of wood? No.

Made with wood? Yes

Looks like wood? Yes to most, no for some, but it is one of the basic design design objectives of this damn thing, so Yes is reasonably correct. Which wood? Who cares. As long as it makes most drivers think “wood”.

Feels like wood? Doesn’t matter. Original question is “wood yes or no”. See above. 

Made of plastic? No

Made with plastic? Yes

Feels like plastic? See above.

Allow me to add one more point to the summation....

Guaranteed to generate endless debate and confusion 50 years after being introduced?:  Yes

Edited December 29, 20222 yr by psdenno

1 hour ago, psdenno said:

Allow me to add one more point to the summation....

Guaranteed to generate endless debate and confusion 50 years after being introduced?:  Yes

But Goertz still designed our car - yes? 

On 8/6/2022 at 7:10 AM, HS30-H said:

Real wood fibres, impregnated with resin,

Just a nomenclature thing here - "resin" would be considered plastic.  It is most likely a petroleum derived material, similar to what surfboards and boats are made from.  Ultimately, the goal was to produce a product better than either wood or "plastic" alone.  Wood feel, but with the dimensional stability and moisture resistance of synthetic polymers.  It is wood AND plastic and better than either alone.

5 hours ago, Johnny280 said:

But Goertz still designed our car - yes? 

Yes! And don't forget the "...For The USA!" part...

3 hours ago, Zed Head said:

Just a nomenclature thing here - "resin" would be considered plastic.  It is most likely a petroleum derived material, similar to what surfboards and boats are made from.

Tell that - just a few days after Christmas - to Frankincense and Myrrh. They'll Shellac you for it.

Seriously, we don't know what kind of 'resin' was used as a binding/curing agent here. We are guessing. But given Japan's long history with lacquerware ('Shikki') I would not necessarily bet against the binding/curing agent being plant-derived. Another guess yes, but one with some supporting evidence.

Incidentally, there's an old Japanese technique called 'Harinuki'/'Ikkan Bari' which is - in effect - paper composite. Japanese 'washi' paper was put into a mould or former and lacquer was applied in layers to 'cure' it into the desired shape. There was also a process called 'Shunkei Nuri' where wood was stained to bring out the grain and then lacquer applied in layers - sometimes with added metal flakes or shell fragments for decoration - to preserve the effect and make it water (or tea) proof. The artisans involved would probably find Izumi's wood composite work somewhat familiar, I should think. 

3 hours ago, Zed Head said:

Ultimately, the goal was to produce a product better than either wood or "plastic" alone.

I would respectfully add that we are missing two key points here. Volume production and cost.

Nissan specifically wanted wood steering wheels (they already had true 'Plastic' steering wheels for their more basic models, and they were made by a company called - wait for it - 'Nihon Plastics') but it was at that point fairly hard to mass-produce them. The traditional wooden steering wheel of the 50s and 60s was predominantly a low volume/hand made type of item attached to higher status/more sporting cars, or sold as a comparatively expensive aftermarket accessory with a brand name attached. Izumi's techniques allowed wood steering wheels to be mass produced (hundreds a day at least), and at a cost that made them viable for fitment as standard equipment. This is important.

       

Edited December 30, 20222 yr by HS30-H