Steering wheel measurements needed

[Gundy]

The wife is wanting a new leather cover stitched on the BE's steering wheel.
This after I used a poster's tip and used shoe polish to
spruce up the current cover. Looked great!
She's all..."But who knows what boogers have been there"
and "I want you to stitch on a new one...a one piece
one like you put on our other cars". Man I hate doing that job.
Then she wants to drive it tonite to dinner, with gloves.
OK.
I tried not to laugh when she stalled it a couple of times
leaving from a stop.
I about crapped my pants when she tried to shift into first at about 45mph. Quick reflexes took over and I shifted to 3rd
with her hand still on the shift lever.
Any way...She had a blast. My nerves are shot. :crazy:
I measure the rim diameter as 3 inches and the circumference
as 51 1/2 inches for a new wheelskin. Problem is, that is with the old leather still on that stock wheel.
I could guess 51 and 2 1/2 but I want to do it right with proper measurements.
Would one of you kind gents with a stock steering wheel
on a MK1 confirm those two dimension?
Rim thickness and total circumference of the wheel.
Thanks in advance,
David

 

[Whitephrog]

50 5/8" circumference. 2 1/2" across the rim at the low point. 2 5/8" across the knuckle.

I have a friend who just completed a beautiful Bugeye restoration in Pale Primrose. He's lusting after your cookie jar.

 

[scoutll]

Just WHO puts boogers on their steering wheel... I always roll them up and flick them up into the slipstream.... :lol: Dont tailgate.

 

[Gundy]

50 5/8" circumference. 2 1/2" across the rim at the low point. 2 5/8" across the knuckle.

I have a friend who just completed a beautiful Bugeye restoration in Pale Primrose. He's lusting after your cookie jar.

Thanks that's just what I needed! This cover is a 3 piece and
you can custom order skins in a one piece which will look better.

The cookie jar is a gem. The guy who gave it to me still has two.
I could ask if he'll sell, but be warned.....he sold one recently on e-bay for...GASP...$450. After he sent me the Christmas present. He laughed that had he only knew what
it was worth he wouldn't have sent it. I offered to return
and he laughed again. Great guy.
At one time he had about 5 in pristine shape.
The wife loves the jar so much she will not let me put it in
the Buggy Barn with the other Mk1 memorabilia.
That jar and the other Mk1 stuff is passing via my will.

 

[Whitephrog]

Ask, please, but that probably a bit much.

 

[Gundy]

Just WHO puts boogers on their steering wheel... I always roll them up and flick them up into the slipstream.... :lol: Dont tailgate.

I heard that! It's those little accidents that get 'em attached.
You know, when the flick fails and the failure is un-noticed.
She's funny about such stuff. We have a hot tub out back and
friends are always welcome to take a soak. She just makes me change the water the next day. She'd NEVER tell them no.
Sleep overs means she does the bed linens the next day.
I've learned to live with it and even enjoy her attention to details. :wink:

 

[Gundy]

I installed the new Wheelskins steering wheel cover today.
I went with black and used the dimensions given above.
Fit like a charm.
Looks much better than the old 3 piece deal that came with the car. The old one did not come together at the stitching
and that gap became a dirt magnet. Nasty crud was hiding in there. It sure is a lot of stitching but worth it in the end.
No gap where edges meet.
For some reason this one came with a straight needle and
required loop stitches. The last ones I put on the MBs came
with a curved needle and used a hidden stitch. Maybe the small
diameter of this wheel prevented the use of the hidden stitch.

Anyway, my fingers ache from all that tugging on the cord.
It's a one :banana: job.