SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1968 Shelby GT350/500/500KR => Topic started by: TA Coupe on June 18, 2026, 10:03:14 PM

Title: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: TA Coupe on June 18, 2026, 10:03:14 PM
Did the center emblem have a part number originally, as I have one I've had since the early to mid 70's and it has no numbers on it. I wouldn't think they would be making reproductions that soon after the cars were produced?

      Roy
Title: Re: Re: 1968 Shelby Steering Wheel For Sale
Post by: Rickmustang on June 18, 2026, 10:29:10 PM
No part number on original
Title: Re: Re: 1968 Shelby Steering Wheel For Sale
Post by: TA Coupe on June 18, 2026, 10:42:24 PM
Rickmustang, thank you. Does mine look original to you?

      TIA, Roy
Title: Re: Re: 1968 Shelby Steering Wheel For Sale
Post by: Bob Gaines on June 18, 2026, 10:57:00 PM
Quote from: TA Coupe on June 18, 2026, 10:42:24 PMRickmustang, thank you. Does mine look original to you?

      TIA, Roy
The cross hatch texture in the background is the tell that it is original. The repros have a smooth background.
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: TLea on June 23, 2026, 04:33:17 PM
The cross hatch texture in the background is the tell that it is original. The repros have a smooth background.
[/quote]
Not the newest version
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: Bob Gaines on June 23, 2026, 04:49:36 PM
Quote from: TLea on June 23, 2026, 04:33:17 PMThe cross hatch texture in the background is the tell that it is original. The repros have a smooth background.
Not the newest version
[/quote]The newest repro texture has lines going at right angles(up/down and sideways) the originals typically have lines running at a 45 degree angle. I posted a picture to be more clear. At least compared to the ones Branda sells now.
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: Bob Gaines on June 23, 2026, 04:51:33 PM
Branda repro.
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: Krelboyne on June 23, 2026, 05:31:31 PM
Question: Didn't ACSCO produce most all of the emblems/badging for most of the Shelby Mustangs?
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: Bob Gaines on June 23, 2026, 05:35:45 PM
Quote from: Krelboyne on June 23, 2026, 05:31:31 PMQuestion: Didn't ACSCO produce most all of the emblems/badging for most of the Shelby Mustangs?
I don't have the numbers but believe that to be a fair statement.
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: Coralsnake on June 23, 2026, 05:43:43 PM
I believe the snake also differs in size
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: chipsdad56 on June 29, 2026, 06:15:38 PM
I took a photo of three different steering wheel emblems. The top emblem is from a production car. The NOS Ford emblem has a thicker shinier black paint so it is harder to see the cross hatch lines compared to the ACSCO which has a thinner duller black paint. All three have the cross hatch lines at 45 degrees. The ACSCO has nicer shinier chrome in my opinion. One can argue that they see variations between the snakes and lettering. I got the ACSCO emblem from a retired ACSCO employee and she said it was one of the emblems that went to A.O. Smith.
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: propayne on June 29, 2026, 06:27:39 PM
The Branda looks to be a different font also - "R"'s are different.

- Phillip
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: TLea on June 30, 2026, 11:08:15 AM
Quote from: Bob Gaines on June 23, 2026, 04:49:36 PM
Quote from: TLea on June 23, 2026, 04:33:17 PMThe cross hatch texture in the background is the tell that it is original. The repros have a smooth background.
Not the newest version
The newest repro texture has lines going at right angles(up/down and sideways) the originals typically have lines running at a 45 degree angle. I posted a picture to be more clear. At least compared to the ones Branda sells now.
[/quote]
Your comment was "repos have smooth texture" Comment was to inform people that new repos also have cross hatch pattern albeit incorrect.
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: TLea on June 30, 2026, 11:12:56 AM
Quote from: chipsdad56 on June 29, 2026, 06:15:38 PMI took a photo of three different steering wheel emblems. The top emblem is from a production car. The NOS Ford emblem has a thicker shinier black paint so it is harder to see the cross hatch lines compared to the ACSCO which has a thinner duller black paint. All three have the cross hatch lines at 45 degrees. The ACSCO has nicer shinier chrome in my opinion. One can argue that they see variations between the snakes and lettering. I got the ACSCO emblem from a retired ACSCO employee and she said it was one of the emblems that went to A.O. Smith.
The biggest tell to me is the snake. If you see paint between snake and racetrack its a service piece or repo. Snakes coil touches racetrack on assembly line version
Title: Re: 1968 Steering Wheel emblem
Post by: chipsdad56 on June 30, 2026, 12:48:46 PM
The snake touching the racetrack makes sense when identifying production line verses repo emblems especially looking at the three emblems I posted.