Frequently Asked Questions
How long will my steering wheel restoration take?
Typically, a restoration takes about three weeks, though it’s often completed sooner. For repop enhancement services, you can expect a turnaround of 10-12 days. For more intricate builds or custom requests, we will provide you with a specific delivery date.
What does restoration cost?
You can find our pricing guidelines here. Final costs vary based on your wheel's condition and complexity - from simple refinishing to extensive reconstruction. We provide detailed quotes upfront, so you'll know exactly what to expect before we begin.
Can I provide my own paint or paint codes?
Yes! If you have a hard to match custom color, or just want to ensure your wheel is done from the same batch as the rest of your dash/interior, we will gladly apply it.
Can I send you my reproduction wheel?
Absolutely. Many reproduction wheels have casting or molding flaws—seams, flash, surface imperfections, orange peel, etc.—that we correct and refine. We also work closely with you to get the color and final finish just right, whether you’re matching an interior or aiming for a more authentic look. The result is a cleaner, sharper, more accurate version of your repop wheel. You can find out more here.
Do you farm out any work?
No, all of our steering wheel restoration work is done in-house. We take pride in managing every aspect of the process ourselves, ensuring that every wheel meets our highest standards for repair, restoration, color, and finish.
What's your background?
With over 50 years as a builder, carpenter, and passionate car hobbyist, hand-craftsmanship is in Bob Monetti's blood. He grew up around his father's car lot, and Bob's first job as a teenager was in a body shop--where he learned bodywork and painting from old-school artisans. He painted his first car at 17, and has been hands-on in the car hobby ever since. Bob completed his first ground-up, frame-off restoration over 55 years ago--a 1930 Franklin that won a CCCA First on its inaugural outing and continued to rack up a series of Firsts and 'Best in Shows' over the next decade. In subsequent years, he restored and won numerous AACA awards with his 1951 Imperial Convertible, 1956 Crown Imperial Limousine, and 1952 GMC 1-Ton Pickup.
He has been exclusively focused on steering wheel restoration since the early 90's. Bob leads all restorations alongside his son Jonathan, who has dedicated himself to mastering these specialized techniques. Together they maintain the uncompromising standards our clients have come to expect.
What can I expect from the final result?
We specialize in concours-quality restorations, with repairs that are undetectable. Finger grips, raised accents, grooves, paint color, and finish—everything is carefully restored to match factory-new standards.
Related: Are there exceptions?
By customer request. For instance, one customer sent us a wheel that was badly worn, but intended for his cruise night "driver." To keep costs down, he opted to eliminate the original ornamental grooves on the face of the rim rather than have us spend many hours restoring them. The result was unique, functional, and economical.
I'm building a custom--can you help?
Yes. One of our specialties is downsizing/re-rimming steering wheels to suit custom builds! Many owners want that vintage look but (wisely) refuse to install a generic aftermarket steering wheel. When retrofitting a vintage car with power steering, a smaller wheel is also more practical and comfortable.
We can also do hub swaps for customers mating vintage interiors with more modern running gear (e.g. IDIDIT columns). The result is authentic vintage style with modern functionality.
Do you restore vinyl, leather, or other soft wheels?
Sorry, not at this time. Our focus is on Bakelite, hard solid-color plastic, and wooden steering wheels.
Depending on condition though, we often CAN help with hard wheels that have soft plastic horn shrouds, center caps, etc.
Is the work guaranteed?
We guarantee the surface finish for one year. Our process uses deeply reinforced repairs and resilient materials that significantly slow aging, though original components continue to change over time—something manufacturers never anticipated for wheels now 50-100 years old. You can help preserve your wheel by avoiding extreme temperatures, UV exposure, and physical stress. Most importantly: never lift yourself from the car using the wheel or push a convertible by the steering wheel, tempting as it may be!
Can I see examples of your work?
Yes! Check out the extensive gallery on our home page to see photos of our restorations. These show everything from basic refinishing to custom jobs and rebuilds. Our blog pages also include in-depth looks at featured projects.
How do I send my wheel?
Please contact us first to discuss your project and get a quote before shipping. Once we've provided your quote, pack your wheel securely with adequate padding and include your contact information inside the box (a business card is fine). We highly recommend shipping via UPS.
If your wheel is coming from a third party (ebay seller, parts dealer, etc.), just let us know.
That's all there is to it! We'll confirm receipt as soon as your wheel arrives. The shipping address is:
Steering Wheel Bob's
652 Rosemont Ringoes Rd
Stockton, NJ 08559 USA