The Ford Barn

Jeffstag · 04-04-2020, 07:04 PM

I'm sorting parts and trying to pin a value on this 1955 accessory Mercury steering wheel. The only data I can find online is some guy asking $550 for the used horn ring, but I'm thinking that guy is dreamin' a bit. Any thoughts on the actual value of a decent wheel with no cracks? (photo attached)

JeffB2 · 04-05-2020, 10:54 AM

Put it on ebay with an minimum bid bid of $150 plus shipping and hope you get lucky with this Virus going on some folks may be holding on tight to their cash.

scicala · 04-05-2020, 04:50 PM

I've seen them for sale for outrageous prices (when like new or restored well), but don't know if they ever sold. It's easy to go on EBAY and search for parts that actually sold to get an idea of what people are actually paying. You never know, there might be one that sold on EBAY.

Sal

packrat5 · 04-05-2020, 07:16 PM

Even tho it is not cracked , or broken, it looks really crusty. Clean it up as nice as possible, and shine up the chrome. It's easier to sell something that looks good.

Daves55Sedan · 04-05-2020, 08:04 PM

I agree with packrat. Many years ago I had a couple extra '55 Ford Customline/Fairlane steering wheels and decided to fix one up and sell it on epay. I cleaned it up good, sanded down and buffed the worn areas with fine steel wool and painted the wheel with high-gloss black. The ring was busted off the horn so I ground it down to the surface of the spokes on both ends and had it rechromed. The wheel itself had many small micro-cracks around the rim, but no separation. I took photos and gave an accurate description of the condition of the wheel, advertising it as a "sporty" driver wheel. I was really scared that there would be no takers since it wasn't completely restored to mint condition and set the bid really low. I checked all that week and the bidders were racking up. I couldn't believe it. I went back and looked at my description to see if I left anything out that might have left people to believe this thing was cherry. Nope, couldn't have added anything else. It ended up selling for $120.00+shppg. Blew my mind! Yeah, I had a little TLC in it and the cost for the chrome ($25.00), but normally you don't expect to get your cost out of it let alone think about re-imbursement for your labor.

Jeffstag · 04-07-2020, 07:26 PM

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Well, I took your advice, cleaned it up and got it listed at $150, we'll see what happens

deuce5wndw · 04-09-2020, 09:21 AM

You already have a bid too. I think it will go much higher. Put it on my watch list just to see what it brings.

58Yeoman · 04-09-2020, 10:03 AM

I'm watching it, too.

scicala · 04-14-2020, 08:44 PM

Wow !! It sold for $1575 with 28 bids !

Sal

58Yeoman · 04-14-2020, 09:47 PM

Holy Crap! Ya dun gud!

Jeffstag · 04-15-2020, 07:07 AM

Thanks for the help guys. I picked this up at an auction last fall. I actually bought a stack of tractor manuals for $20 and the auctioneer kicked this over and said the steering wheel goes with it. So ya, that's real good

58Yeoman · 04-15-2020, 07:15 AM

That's even better, getting one over on an auctioneer!

scicala · 04-15-2020, 09:53 AM

That's the kind of thing that only happens once ! Good for you !

Sal

Daves55Sedan · 04-16-2020, 03:27 PM

Gee, I guess if you are getting that much, you may not be too worried about epay's cut and the listing fee.
I had a few surprise results from epay auctions in the past but they were extremely rare.

04-05-2020, 10:54 AM	#2
JeffB2 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 1,417	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value Put it on ebay with an minimum bid bid of $150 plus shipping and hope you get lucky with this Virus going on some folks may be holding on tight to their cash.

04-05-2020, 04:50 PM	#3
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,703	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value I've seen them for sale for outrageous prices (when like new or restored well), but don't know if they ever sold. It's easy to go on EBAY and search for parts that actually sold to get an idea of what people are actually paying. You never know, there might be one that sold on EBAY. Sal

04-05-2020, 07:16 PM	#4
packrat5 BANNED Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 301	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value Even tho it is not cracked , or broken, it looks really crusty. Clean it up as nice as possible, and shine up the chrome. It's easier to sell something that looks good.

04-05-2020, 08:04 PM	#5
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value I agree with packrat. Many years ago I had a couple extra '55 Ford Customline/Fairlane steering wheels and decided to fix one up and sell it on epay. I cleaned it up good, sanded down and buffed the worn areas with fine steel wool and painted the wheel with high-gloss black. The ring was busted off the horn so I ground it down to the surface of the spokes on both ends and had it rechromed. The wheel itself had many small micro-cracks around the rim, but no separation. I took photos and gave an accurate description of the condition of the wheel, advertising it as a "sporty" driver wheel. I was really scared that there would be no takers since it wasn't completely restored to mint condition and set the bid really low. I checked all that week and the bidders were racking up. I couldn't believe it. I went back and looked at my description to see if I left anything out that might have left people to believe this thing was cherry. Nope, couldn't have added anything else. It ended up selling for $120.00+shppg. Blew my mind! Yeah, I had a little TLC in it and the cost for the chrome ($25.00), but normally you don't expect to get your cost out of it let alone think about re-imbursement for your labor.

04-07-2020, 07:26 PM	#6
Jeffstag Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Petersburg, MI Posts: 3	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Well, I took your advice, cleaned it up and got it listed at $150, we'll see what happens

04-09-2020, 09:21 AM	#7
deuce5wndw Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Liberty, KY Posts: 900	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value You already have a bid too. I think it will go much higher. Put it on my watch list just to see what it brings.

04-09-2020, 10:03 AM	#8
58Yeoman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 187	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value I'm watching it, too.

04-14-2020, 08:44 PM	#9
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,703	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value Wow !! It sold for $1575 with 28 bids ! Sal

04-14-2020, 09:47 PM	#10
58Yeoman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 187	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value Holy Crap! Ya dun gud!

04-15-2020, 07:07 AM	#11
Jeffstag Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Petersburg, MI Posts: 3	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value Thanks for the help guys. I picked this up at an auction last fall. I actually bought a stack of tractor manuals for $20 and the auctioneer kicked this over and said the steering wheel goes with it. So ya, that's real good

04-15-2020, 07:15 AM	#12
58Yeoman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 187	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value That's even better, getting one over on an auctioneer!

04-15-2020, 09:53 AM	#13
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,703	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value That's the kind of thing that only happens once ! Good for you ! Sal

04-16-2020, 03:27 PM	#14
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: 1955 Mercury Steering Wheel Value Gee, I guess if you are getting that much, you may not be too worried about epay's cut and the listing fee. I had a few surprise results from epay auctions in the past but they were extremely rare.