VICTOR STEERING WHEEL / KREMER RACING
Mads van Appeldoorn
September 10, 2019
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Legendary Kremer Racing K3 935 Porsche steering wheel
The day before yesterday an instagram follower contacted me through my instagram channel and asked questions about the different Victor steering wheel versions also known as the Kremer Porsche steering wheel aka Kremer Racing steering wheel.
That reminded me that I wanted to do an article about that very special wheel. I browsed through my old magazines, catalogs and old ads, compared publishing dates and datas and finally compared all the information gathered with my steering wheels – or pictures of steering wheels that I’ve recently sold.
A few inconsistencies remained, but I would like to give a brief overview for those who have one, want one or those who do not know how to get it installed, because there are only hubs available for a few vehicle models. A small jump back in the history of motorsport shows why this steering wheel is so popular and sought after.
The steering wheel – which became known as the Porsche Kremer steering wheel – has been incorporated in the famous Porsche 934, Porsche 935, Porsche 936, better known as Kremer K2, Kremer K3, Kremer K4 and the Porsche 962 – and probably others. As you can see, it was the Victor N model that was used for this purpose.
Kremer Racing Porsche K3 935 Race Car Victor steering wheel
Another shot of the Victor N steering wheel in a K3 Race Car
What is also obvious is that the steering wheel was not bolted to the originally intended bolting points, as provided by Victor. The reason for this is that Victor made hubs only for a very limited number of vehicles, including but not limited to BMW 2002, BMW E30, Classic Mini, Porsche 924, Porsche 944, VW 1300, VW 1600, VW 1302 and a few Alfas & Ford. In motorsport, people made it easy and drilled holes into the steering wheel to attach it to an existing hub. Maybe not the nicest way to do that, but it works. A much nicer way is to use the Victor steering wheel to Momo hub adapter, which I made due to many requests.
Victor steering wheel to Momo hub adapter by patipatina
Victor steering wheel to Momo hub adapter installed
The history of these steering wheels can be divided into three generations. A few Victor steering wheels for sale are available here.
First-generation Victor steering wheel: Model Victor
In the first generation of this type of steering wheel, Victor used a completely different logo on the center spoke, these are the most rare ones. The logo font is about twice as high as the later logo and also very narrow, but overall larger and more present. The steering wheel has a very thick grip and a thicker, almost beaded seam, but feels very soft compared to later models. The depth of the dish has never been changed throughout all (dished) models. Size was 360mm in diameter. The most rare one is the flat Victor steering wheel from the first generation.
first generation of the Victor steering wheel
first generation Victor logo
Second-generation Victor steering wheel: Models Victor F & Victor N
The second generation was may be the biggest evolutionary stage. They gave their wheels type names, Victor F (as in flat) besided the dished one, the Victor N as in normal.
The Victor N was made in two variants, it had the same dish as the original model, but a slightly thinner, but firmer grip and the seam was also flat and not beady as the original model. A variant has molded thumb-pads and finger grips only at the back of the side spokes, the other variant has the conventional thumb-pads but the finger grips on the whole back of the wheel. Information about which of these two N variants was the former or whether they were produced simultaneously and possibly for another car manufacturer in a modified form, are not available. In this generation, another color came into play, a steering wheel with bronze anodized aluminum and brown leather. The Victor N is also the steering wheel, which can be seen on most photos of the Kremer Porsche racing car steering wheels.
Victor steering wheels for sale
As mentioned, Victor introduced a flat version of this steering wheel, the Victor F but it has been discontinued after this generation. A bad decision if you ask me. It was available as an option for early Mini models. Other than the flat design, it was like the Victor N but flat, normal thumb-pads and no finger grips on the back of the wheel.
second generation, Victor N steering wheel, brown anodized, brown leather
second generation Victor logo design
finger grips all around the steering wheel
finger grips next to the left and right spokes only
molded thumb pads
flat Victor F steering wheel signed by Magnus Walker
Third-generation Victor steering wheel: Models Victor 360, Victor 360 SPEZIAL, Victor 380 & Victor 380 SPEZIAL
The third generation brought another size. While the steering wheels of the first and second generation were only available in 360mm, Victor introduced a 380mm variant with its third generation of the steering wheel. According to the newly added size, the designation of the steering wheels had changed, henceforth they were called Victor 360 and Victor 380. To make the confusion even bigger, the Victor 360 SPEZIAL and Victor 380 SPEZIAL came in addition to the Victor 360 and Victor 380 steering wheel. It’s not completely clear what makes the SPEZIAL so special. I do have a Victor 360 and a Victor 360 SPEZIAL in my collection, which are completely identical and have no finger grips on the back. I also have or had a Victor 380 with the finger grips and a Victor 380 SPEZIAL without these finger grips. Irritating but unfortunately I can’t clear up what the SPEZIAL is about at this point.
Overall, most likely the three generations were made between 1971 and 1984, but to this point I have no clue when the generations have changed.
Victor 360 steering wheel
Victor 380 steering wheel
