Rim Blow

Rim Blow was a type of steering wheel with no suspended horn ring or horn pad on the spokes that was featured on some automobiles built in the U.S. from 1969 to 1974. The inside of the rim could be depressed anywhere on its circumference to sound the horn.

1970 AMC AMX with standard simulated wood-grained rim-blow steering wheel

Design

The rim blow wheel was available in place of the traditional button-type or suspended ring used to activate the vehicle's horn. Some models such as the AMC AMX featured the new design as standard equipment, or it was optional such as on the compact AMC Hornet for an additional $37.[1][2] A rubber pad encasing wires was mounted around the entire inner surface of the steering wheel rim. Rather than pressing a suspended horn ring, a center horn pad, or switches on the spokes, to make the electrical contact, the inside of the rim could be pressed anywhere on its circumference.[3] Applying pressure to soft rubber inner rim of the steering wheel, a driver could activate the car's horn without moving their hands from the wheel rims.

Technical issues, such as hardening (difficult to activate) and shrinking (causing the horn to sound without activation) of the rubber, and a lack of customer acceptance led to the discontinuation of the rim blow steering wheels after only a few years.

It is possible to rebuild a vintage rim blow steering wheel.[4]

Dates of rim blow installation
AMC - 1970–1971
Chrysler - 1970–1973
Dodge - 1970–1974
Plymouth - 1970–1973
Ford - 1969–1974
Mercury - 1969–1974
Lincoln - 1970–1974
Cadillac - 1969
Buick - 1969–1971
Oldsmobile - 1969–1971

Notes
  1. Gunnell, John (2006). Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars 1960-1972. Krause Publications. pp. 19, 22. ISBN 9780896894334. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  2. Kilpatrick, Bill (February 1970). "AMC's New Hornet". Popular Mechanics. 133 (2): 96. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  3. Tast, Alan; Newhardt, David (2004). Thunderbird fifty years. Motorbooks International. p. 101. ISBN 9780760319765. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  4. Ford, Jeff (19 January 2000). "How To Restore A Classic Mustang Steering Wheel". Mustang Monthly. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
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