SECTION 3 - INTERIOR
Steering Wheel and Horn Button
The steering wheel, part number 1540647, is white with a 17"
diameter. The part number is stamped on the back side of the
vertical spoke about 1" below the center hub.
The horn ring is chrome and is a half circle, with a vertical
spoke, on the lower half of the wheel.
There are two chrome
11/32" rings which encircle
the rim on each side above
the horizontal bar. One is
about ½" above the
horizontal bar and the
second is located about 4-
1/2" beyond the first. The
area between the two chrome rings is ribbed. The remainder
of the steering wheel is smooth.
The part number is stamped on a flattened area of the rear of
the vertical spoke.
Steering Wheel Assy. 1540647 (17-¼” overall diameter)
Engineering Release Date: 9/8/55 (Superceded steering wheel
assy. 1539788X41 for 56J). 1539788X41was a black steering
wheel and probably appeared on the first two show cars
before this change was implemented. There is also a
Studebaker advertisement showing a 1956 Golden Hawk with
a black steering wheel.
There was a similar wheel available for
Sedans and Station Wagons with an 18"
diameter. This wheel can be identified by
the part number 1540635, on the reverse
of the vertical spoke. The number "18" is
also stamped on the front side of the
same spoke between the side rails near
the center hub. This wheel looks exactly
the same as the correct Golden Hawk 17"
wheel except that it is 1" larger in diameter.
The horn button is gold with the Studebaker crest, similar to the grille
emblem, in the center.
Reference Source:
1955 - 1958 Chassis Parts Catalog, page 413.
Mechanix Illustrated dated April 1956, page 96.
Motor Trend dated February 1956, page 22.
Hot Rod Magazine dated April 1956, page 54.
Speed Age dated July 1956, page 20.
Engineering Change Proposal Release Date: 9/8/55
Last Update - July 2, 2018
Page 91
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