Smartin Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Could someone explain what this is exactly? Maybe a picture if possible...There are so many different steering wheel options on these early 70's cars that I can't keep track.Thanks,Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUICK RACER Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Had a squeeze it here all around to blow the horn, happened to see production #'s when I've been looking up all this other stuff, and there were lots of them, but I've only seen one or 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 I have an interesting story about rim blow horns. When I was 14 or 15 there was a new car show at the local shopping mall. It (Monroeville Mall) was one of the largest malls in Pittsburgh, and it was about a 20 minute walk from my house. I spent the afternoon going from car to car, oogling.At one point I sat behind the wheel of a new (1972 as I remember) Skylark. I grabbed the steering wheel, and the horn began echoing throughtout the crowded mall, drowning out every sound and conversation. I froze, and frantically began searching everywhere for the apparantly stuck horn button. No center button, no chrome ring. Nothing.After what I know had to have been more than a full minute of deafening, continuous horn blowing, I finally panicked and bolted from the car.Silence. Eerie silence. Hundreds of eyes all looking.I went back. I had to know.There was a flexible PVC back to the steering wheel. Grabbing the wheel on the vinyl and squeezing it made contact and blew the horn. In theroy you didn't have to lift your hand from the wheel to blow the horn.I didn't find it to be an egronomic improvement. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave@Moon Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 I was typing my reply when Roberta posted hers. I think it might answer why you don't see too many of them any more.I've personally only seen one other myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Me Toronado had one when I got it in 1986. Didn't work. Now it has a 69 Olds sport wheel.A buddy has a 70 Mustang that has it. Doesn't work. He has a pushbutton under the dash for the horn while he's looking for a decent and reasonably priced non-rim-blower Mustang wheel.One of those gadgets where theory and practice were 180 out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 6, 2003 Author Share Posted January 6, 2003 I had NO idea that's what they were...no wonder I've never seen one.Thanks for your replies!Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Shaffer Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 I did not know any 80s cars had them. I know that a lot of early 70s Ford Motor Company cars had them. My parents had a 72 Lincoln Continental back in the 80s, that was my grandmothers car and later my parents had a 76 Lincoln Continental Town Car. Both had the "rim" horn. If I can find my 1972 Lincoln sales brochure and if there is a photo of the steering wheel- I will try to scan it and post it here. I think it was standard on the 70s Lincolns, but was optional on the LTDs, Gran Torinos, Marquis, Marquis Broughams and Montegos. I seen a 73 Gran Torino Squire wagon on E-Bay a while back with the option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 6, 2003 Author Share Posted January 6, 2003 I'd love to see a picture of one of these oddities:)I have a good idea of what one may look like in my mind, but I really have no idea.Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 My 1971 Centurion still has its original rim blower steering wheel. It still works, although the foil trim that marks the boundary between the flexible plastic of the "rim blower" and the rest of the steering wheel has deteriorated over the years. While it would be easy to replace this item with the standard, three-spoke steering wheel, I would like to maintain this option on my car. I have looked for years for an NOS replacement -- without success. When I have the time, I will scan a photo of mine, then post here as an attachment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 6, 2003 Author Share Posted January 6, 2003 sounds good BrianBTW - a while back you posted production numbers on the 71 Centurion convertibles...what were they?? I vaguely remember a pretty low number.ThanksAdam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest John Chapman Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/showflat....amp;amp;fpart=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 I don't think the standard horns were well thought out on a lot of our cars either. On a 2-dr car every time you bend the seat forward it hits the horn. Someone moved my horn to a button on the dash before I bought it, and thats where it will stay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 6, 2003 Author Share Posted January 6, 2003 thank you thank you thank you:)What was the blurb about the White Pearl show car with gold plating?Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted January 6, 2003 Share Posted January 6, 2003 Adam, the book "Seventy Years of Buick" is a great pictoral reference of Buick models from 1903 through 1973. While the book contains a number of inaccuracies, it contains many photographs that are seldom if ever seen in other publications.This book includes a small black-and-white photo of a specially-trimmed '71 Centurion convertible that was evidently used on the auto show circuit in 1971. The car is described as having a pearlescent white finish with gold-plated trim. I do not have the book at hand, but I believe that the car also had a gold interior.This is the only mention of this car that I have ever seen. I have not run across any other photos of the vehicle, nor have I ever heard any indication that the vehicle still exists. Does anyone else remember this car or have any additional information about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 7, 2003 Author Share Posted January 7, 2003 this car must be found, and it must be mine <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted January 7, 2003 Share Posted January 7, 2003 If it's like most of the GM auto show cars from that era, it got scrapped once the show circuit was over <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK Buickman Posted January 11, 2003 Share Posted January 11, 2003 RE: Pearl white Centurion Convertible. I saw a pearl white 73 Electra 4-dr sitting for sale in the used car lot of Bill Stillwell Buick, in suburban Chicago. This was during a 1974-75 BCA Chicagoland Chapter car show. Someone (who???) at this show mentioned that this car was done by BMD for the annual Chicago Auto Show. If I recall, this Electra had some sort of wild velour interior. I remember that the pearl paint had many cracks in it over most of the car. Has anyone else ever seen this Electra?AK Buickman................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 Gonna try an attach a pic of a rim blow wheel. Click on attachment above.Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 12, 2003 Author Share Posted January 12, 2003 Cool <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Reatta1 Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 Speaking of show circuit cars, does anyone recall the 59 sport version of I believe the Invicta? It was about halfway between the size of a Corvette and the full size buick. I saw it at the Auto show in Washington D.C. when I was stationed there in the Navy. There was some talk of it being a production model but never happened. I thought it was a great looking car and wanted one badly!!Also had the hots for the Lincoln 'Futura' that was used in the Doris Day movie 'It started with a kiss'. How many of you remember that? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted January 12, 2003 Share Posted January 12, 2003 GM must have consolidated part #s on these things because the basic wheel is identical to the Olds version. The center pad is a Buick item but shaped exactly like the one that came off my Toronado.At least these pads were soft trim. I had a 1980 Thunderbird years ago that I had to replace the clear plastic center emblem because the previous owner apparently never learned that to blow the horn you had to push a lever instead of mashing the emblem. It was busted up pretty bad. Not one of Ford's better ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 In reply to one of the above posts, I am including an attached photo with this post of the '59 Buick show car referred to above. This "close-coupled" coupe was referred to as the "Skylark II", and the photos date from August 19, 1957. It appears that this concept was considered as a competitor for Ford's Thunderbird.I think that this car is very striking. While it has many of the styling cues of the 1959 Buick, the bodysides hint at the beautiful sculpturing of the 1960 models. The rear-end treatment is very similar to that considered for the standard 1959 Buicks but rejected because it was considered to be too costly for production. This car may never have progressed beyond the fiberglass styling exercise, and I have never heard that this car or mock-up still exists. Does anyone know any more about this one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 14, 2003 Author Share Posted January 14, 2003 It's got the signature sloping line down the side, which I think makes the car.Nice pic Brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 And now, back to the original topic. I'm posting an attachment here of my '71 Centurion rim blower steering wheel. This style rim blower wheel was offered in all the '71 full-size cars. For the reasons cited earlier on this thread, most have been replaced with the standard, more attractive steering wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Reatta1 Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 Centurion, that 'Skylark II' was in the Washington D.C. auto show in 1958 and was a fully operational vehicle. I sat in it and drooled. I recall someone at the display saying it was owned by one of the bigwigs in the Buick division. I would have loved to see that car make it into actual production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 14, 2003 Author Share Posted January 14, 2003 I can see why it wasn't popular...no offense, though.Is that the current wheel in your Centurion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centurion Posted January 14, 2003 Share Posted January 14, 2003 Yes, the original steering wheel is still in my car. I will replace it only if I find an NOS rimblower wheel in the correct color. Why? Well . . . if I had replaced it with the standard wheel, we might soon forget what the rimblower wheel looked like! It's part of what makes the car unique, a reminder of how it was optioned when new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted January 14, 2003 Author Share Posted January 14, 2003 I think that is the first and last rim blow I will ever see:)Nice to know someone is trying to keep the history of their car alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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