Chasing a gtv6 steering wheel

[GBV GTV6]

Hi I'm after a gtv6 steering wheel in pretty good condition. Thanks

[bronzeoz1]

Hi,

There's one on Gumtree:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/thomastown/other-parts-accessories/alfa-romeo-alfetta-gtv-steering-wheel/1112486401

[rowan_bris]

that's not a GTV6 steering wheel - i have a GTV6 one but it needs recovering

[GBV GTV6]

Hi I have purchased one already from a gentleman on here. Thanks all

[aggie57]

that's not a GTV6 steering wheel - i have a GTV6 one but it needs recovering

Yes it is. Some were leather, some (faux?) wood.

[GG105]

I think this is how it was. The pre Recaro interior, plastic bumper, Alfetta GTVs and GTV6s had the plastic wood wheel, as illustrated in the Gumtree ad, in both LHD and RHD cars. In Oz that means it was fitted to the split dash GTV6s as well. The leather covered wheel came with the Recaro interior upgrade GTVs and GTV6s, ie from 1983 on.

I think the same faux wood wheel was fitted to the 1.8L Giuliettas. The lighter, sort of elm, colour of the wheel didn't match the darker faux mahogany colour gear lever knob either.

[LukeC]

I think it is difficult to rule this is how it was now definitively, unless you have photographic memory and have been dealing with these cars since new.

I have been messing with Alfas from about 1985 (the last Giuliettas were still in the show rooms and 90's were just about to be released) and have a pretty good memory for these little things.

I would say as a loose rule earlier GTV6 (pre-Recaro) and all 4 cylinder cars have the faux wood steering wheel. But Alfa was a bit variable on specifying cars so some later GTV6's came without leather. I worked in an authorized workshop in the mid 90's and have a good memory for cars and customers (particularly the good looking ones).

I have had in the past couple of years: and '84 with electric windows, no A/C, current cars: an '85 with A/C and no electric windows, and a an '86 with A/C with no electric windows but sunroof.

Neither could could I definitively say when the left hand exterior mirror became standard on either 4 or 6, but am pretty sure it was standard on V6 cars first. And did all GTV6's get electric windows.... I have seen one without.

Anyhow: John is happy with the wheel (from a GCL Alfetta) and the gear knob (from an 86 GTV) I sold him. Both faux mahogany.

[GBV GTV6]

Yes I am Luke thanks again I think it looks great in the car IMO

[GBV GTV6]

And when I go to sell the car the original black wheel will go with it as well. Let the new owner decide what look they like

[John A Pucak]

Tom Patrizi has one at his workshop in Carlton Sydney amongst all the other alfa bits he has.

[John A Pucak]

Neither could could I definitively say when the left hand exterior mirror became standard on either 4 or 6, but am pretty sure it was standard on V6 cars first. And did all GTV6's get electric windows.... I have seen one without.

MY 85 GTV has a left hand side mirror ,and its build date is March 85

[GG105]

Ah, the passengers side mirror question. Being around long enough to have bought these near new in the 80s, I can offer this. AFAIK, the pre Recaro update cars did not come with a passenger side mirror. I fitted one of these to both a pre update 2 litre and split dash GTV6 in the 80s. The cost was eye watering! My current split dash has both, however the paasenger side one was added alter.  I'm fairly confident none of the split dash GTV6s had them.

As to the 1983 and on cars, I suspect that the early single piece dash cars didn't have them, at some stage they became standard, all '85 delivery cars have them. Anyone add anything to this?

As to electric windows on GTV6s. I've never seen one without them and can't find pictures of one without, could it have been a conversion back? They are notoriously slow unless you add a seperate relay.

You never know with Alfas, until I bought my current split dash, I'd only seen one other without a sunroof and that was a private import. So, I thought none came without them, not true it seems.

We keep learning.

[Paul Newby]

My understanding is that 83 and 84 single dash GTV6s still had the single exterior mirror, though I know of an 84 GTV6, which had both mirrors. Maybe it was a dealer option? All 85 GTV6s had the twin mirrors. I wonder whether that change came with the Isostatic gear change and the shorter torsion bars? Both I believe were introduced in 1985.

While we are at "spot the difference" - when was the full grey side protectors and lower grey finish first introduced? Was it the with the single dash 83 models or in 84 or 85? There seems to be a lot of variation here, though I suspect that new GTV6 owners may have changed the look at their cars when they were new or near new.

[poohbah]

My 81 GTV has the grey side protectors.

[aggie57]

For what it's worth my October '84 build GTV6 was isostatic, grey lower panels, drivers side mirror only.  It was registered in May '85.  My '86 GTV6 didn't have the grey but did have the LH mirror.