Okay, I've scouted the literature and I am torn between whether the Tuff wheel was actually offered for an E-Body as a mid-year '71 option only, or whether there was another unknown wheel in mid-year that utilized the same horn cap.

The reason I ask, is that the Tuff wheel horn cap, #3575564 for A-Body and B-Body, is the same as 1972-74 E-Body two-spoke horn cap part numbers, but it's also listed for post-April 1971 E-Body to replace 4003 GX9 for the "BUTTON, Horn, w/o Rim Horn". (group 8-33-17 page 8-42 of the 70-71 parts catalog)

So because the standard Challenger and Barracuda steering wheels didn't utilize the same horn cap as the Tuff Wheel as far as I can tell, can anyone tell me what the mystical April-1971 optional steering wheel was for E-Body models?

I know at least one book says something about the S84 (Tuff) wheel being optional on 71 Cudas, but I cannot confirm this with the factory literature.


Many thanks!

Someone just last week over on CC.com said the 72-74 E-body wheel was available on late 71's. That's the first I'd ever heard of that. I don't know if it's true or not.

Tuff Wheels were never available on E-Bodies.

I believe he said his car came with the 72-74 style wheel. I don't think he was the original owner but bought the car when it was a year or two old. I told him to look at the code on the build sheet if he had it. He never responded again.

EDIT: I just looked back at the post. He said he is the second owner of the car. It was a late June build.

Not an e body guy. Last year i got a tuff wheel along with the 71 340 air cleaner. Guy said both came off of a 71 challenger he had many years back. What took my breath away was it still had the original 71 only padded horn button! this one differs from the mid 70's pads you see. I had been looking for this pad for years

It's easy to swap wheels since you don't need a puller. This wheel has been on my '71 Charger R/T since the 1980s but it originally had the rim blow wheel. Used to be easy to find good tuff wheels in the junkyard back then. Popular swap into e-bodies.

71 horn pad, like the one above, i think this padded horn button was only in 71 and may not have even made it to the very end of the 71 run. 72 and later had the plastic caps on tuff and standard 2 spoke wheels, then the padded buttons returned sometime in the mid 70's wheels but they are not very close in appearance to the 71.

In my findings the 71 pad is harder to find in good shape than an original good condition tuff wheel

Yup, never was an option on an e-body ever.

Either dealership swap out or put on at a later date.

Ryan