[ Historic 335Formula STEERING WHEEL ] Introduction of New Product

Introduction of New Product

We have spent two years designing and planning this new product, and has taken us a further eight months to engineer and manufacture. Now, we can finally present our new steering wheel. The Historic 335F.

　【Background/Start of Production】

Many steering wheels for the classic or vintage cars including Classic Mini, are no longer produced and very hard to find in the steering wheel market nowadays. It is getting difficult for us to meet our customers’ needs with only a few choices in the market. Some classic-style British steering wheels are still produced, however their quality is not balanced with the soaring prices. This is what I have been struggling to tackle for a long time as one of British car parts importers. Even secondhand vintage steering wheels are far from affordable prices and also rare to encounter the one to be kept in a good condition. In this situation, my peer specialists, dealing with vintage British car parts for years, told me they were bearing the same problem with mine. Our broad and deep discussion and development have finally produced this new steering wheel “335F”.

　【Our Special Concept】

The motif comes from Springall and Speedwell Formula that gave a lot of inspiration to the 1950s-60s Formula cars and other British racing cars, in addition to components used in Lotus competition cars. Leaving “the 1960's aura”, we have built “our all-in and best quality” exceeding the vintage original steering wheels.

　【Craftsmanship for Spoke】

The spoke aluminum plates are given several types of hairline finish by hand, not using commercial brushing alloy plates as they are.

The most classically finished face is selected out of those plates and formed by our unique brushing mold, and treated with appropriate rust-proofing. 

The reversible spoke can be used, either side with or without an engraved serial number.

　【Our Spirits in Slim and Firm Grip】

Rim Grip is made of special polyurethane by injection molding.

It has optimum hardness capable of providing slim-fit and excellent grip feeling to satisfy the professionals.




【For Smooth and Accurate Steering】

Japanese quality smooth leather is used for wrapping the wheel. Sewing is done by hand with the racing cross stitches.

　The specialized steering factory and the famous repairer for real leather steering, worked hard for this new product to complete sewing.

　【No Compromise on Details】

6 pieces of “retaining screws” for assembling the steering wheel on the steering boss are ”minus-slot” screws according to the 1950s specifications, not pozidriv screws.  The screw head has the custom-made “raised head” shape more round than normal standard radius.  The material is strong CHROMOLY (chromium molybdenum steel、CRMO) to prevent the common issues on minus screws such as “slot stripped” or “slot damage trouble ”. Covering the tough material, the nickel-chrome plating represents warm and calm looking, like the vintage finish.

　【Reviving Center Cap Quality― Heart of Design】

We spent more days and attentions to production of 335F special horn cap, because this determines an impression of steering wheel, exactly the center of the whole design.  What we adhered to most is the quality of center cap that has to be balanced with the one of steering wheel.

This is a high quality revival of the popular cap that Speedwell or other original manufacturers often adopted, and also ”FORMULA-LUCAS＃33674A Horn Cap” that is impossible to find in England at present.

We also produced boss kit for quick fitting (Classic Mini 1977-1996y models) as it has 15degree difference of the position of indicator return roll pins.

　【Postscript】

There is not enough space here to write many more about the production that we adhered to everywhere. This will be continued on my web homepage.

Thanks to the support of experienced peer specialists of mine, we could do everything we wanted to do. We have just produced the limited 200 units of “Historic 335 Formula” containing their passion and Mini owners’ spirits to classic cars. I am so happy and proud to introduce this new product to the world.

Price

335F Leather Steering Wheel （35cm Dia.） Limited QTY to 200  JPY 48,000

Mini Boss(before 96 year model)+ Dedicated Formula Horn Cap JPY 13,800

The new product will be released in March by JMSA group and D.O. Trading.

We will be open for reservations soon on the D.O. Trading homepage.