Technical 1951 Butterfly steering wheel(why?)

I'm not talking about the drag/airplane wheels, but the stock Chevy wheel referred to as "butterfly". I'd like to try and save mine, despite it's overall crustiness. I see the repops and, repop wheels are 97% overpriced trash in my experience (I've only ever purchased 3, so my percentage figure may be off).

My question is... why? Why is the center cap a weird bird with a bowtie? Why did my '51 Deluxe come with this? Were there different options for wheels? IF SO... what was the other option?

 

Pictures help. HRP

 

They tend to look like this. Mine looks a bit worse. Note the bird/bowtie... even though it's a "butterfly wheel".

 

They may not have coined the word "ergonomics" yet back then, but my guess is the "butterfly" spokes and horn rim was made to give line of sight to a certain style gauge cluster. I can't say if it was an option or maybe yours was a transplant. Maybe someone has the correct info and will reply.

(Whatever, I like the style. Very classy.)

 

It was pretty common to have an option of something fancier, for more money...so you could set yourself apart from the crowd, when you bought a new car.

https://www.google.com/search?q=1951+chevy+interior&num=50&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X

shows the main two types of steering wheels offered in 51 chevys.

 

Looks like truck wheels were trispoke... and passenger cars either had "butterfly" wheels, regular round wheels with a center horn button... and another option where it was the same wheel, but with a chrome horn ring? Ok.

But what about the lil' birdie?

 

Like Jim sez. My favorite is the 1950 Chevy Deluxe wheel.

 

Only (roughly) $175 in today's money. What a steal.

 

Didn't Chevrolet have a series back in the thirties called the Eagle Series? Maybe it's a reference or homage to that. Did I dream that or was there really such a model?

 

Chevy used to name their cars with a new name every year. The Eagle is the 1933 model.

 

Got an impala/gazelle on the hood, an eagle/butterfly on the steering wheel, and some field mice in the trunk.

 

Doing a quick Google image search, it looks like the "butterfly" was an optional choice from '50-'52. They all had the eagle that I could see but I saw no images that also had the bowtie. This could be because those are scarce or it could be because most of the images are the repops which only come that way...... or both.

 

Prob'ly free range! (Post #11)

 

The ones without the bowtie are repop. Mine has a bowtie and "eagle".

 

Yes, delicious free range mouse eggs for all.

 

Thst is not a 1950, it's a 1940 Car Deluxe steering wheel.

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Do you really have to ask WHY??
1: For years, a new buyer didnt just walk into a dealership and drive off with a new car, a few hours later. Nee cars were built to order, and the main sales drive was to sell the customer as many options as possible. And the Butterfly steering wheel was a top- of-the-line option.
2: Naturally, the bird on the horn button is representing the bird on the hood.
3: A bit of trivia, the early Corvettes had the Butterfly steering wheel as standard .

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Yes, why. Why is it referred to as a butterfly wheel when it has what most call an eagle in the center cap?

As to #2... theres no other bird on my car. '51 had a golden gazelle

 

That Gazzel is optional. The standard hood ornament is a bird. And why that particular steering wheel is called a butterfly, just look at it.

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Dayum! I must be havin' a senior moment. I was sure I typed 1940. Thanx for the correction

 

The shape of the horn ring resembles a butterfly's wings.

 

A similar steering wheel was offered in 1941. The difference being that the small wheel not only revolved, but it also slided from the center to the lower part of the steering wheel. Just a bit of trivia

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

But... with a bird in the middle. Just seems weird, design wise.

 

The black cap is '52. '50 - '51 were clear. There's 3 wheels in those years, the Special cheap one, the Deluxe horn ringed, & the "Special Equipment'', which has recently gained the "Butterfly" name much like 'Bubbletop" and "Piecrutch" slicks ...

 

Now THAT looks like a wrist breaker.
Kiss the curb and scream.
I had a friend who got a new turn knob and within a week, he was in a cast.

 

There we go @302GMC. Those'r the details I was wondering about... still dont understand the weird bird cap though. Mine isn't as clean as the one in the photo, unfortunately. Also, mine is clear capped, so most likely original to my '51 deluxe.

 

I had no idea that butterflies had steering wheels!

 

If you seek to understand art, you'll go crazy. Just accept it for what it is. Art.

 

Well said. I don't know about the younger generation. Reminds me of a dog chasing its tail!

Sent from my SM-J700T1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Is this a real thread?