Every Moto-Lita steering wheel begins with precision engineering and ends with craftsmanship that’s been refined over decades. Our wooden wheels are not only designed to look beautiful, but also to stand the test of time. They are hand-built in our Hampshire workshop using many of the same traditional techniques we’ve used since 1958.
So how is a Moto-Lita wheel made? Here’s how each wheel is brought to life!
Precision from the start
It all begins with the frame. It’s the foundation of every steering wheel. We use high-quality 5mm or 6mm aluminium, chosen for its strength, balance, and lightness.
Using computer-aided design (CAD), the exact shape of the wheel is created and then cut from a single sheet on our CNC system, or sometimes by hand. The result is absolute precision. Every curve perfectly round, every line true.
Once cut, the frame is carefully cleaned, branded, and stamped ‘Made in Britain’, a mark of pride and authenticity. It’s then polished by hand until it gleams, ready for the next stage in its journey.
Adding warmth and character with wood
The polished frame is then taken to our wood shop, where it meets its timeless partner: sapele wood.
Sapele is a rich, mahogany-style hardwood, prized for its strength, fine grain, and deep reddish-brown tone. It’s a wood that not only looks exquisite but also performs beautifully, offering durability and resilience for years of driving pleasure.
Before the rim is applied, the thumb grips are cut into place by hand, a detail that ensures both comfort and control on the road.
The rim is then formed from two curved wooden sections, bonded to either side of the aluminium frame using marine-quality epoxy glue. To achieve a flawless join, each wheel is tightened in a vice, ensuring maximum adhesion and perfect alignment.
Once secure, the wheel is drilled and fitted with metal rivets, a hallmark of Moto-Lita craftsmanship, anything from nine to eighteen depending on the model to lock everything together and create that signature ‘wood and metal sandwich’ that defines our classic design.
Finishing by hand
After assembly, the wheel moves to the lathe, where it’s hand-sanded entirely by eye. This is where skill and experience truly come to the fore. Our craftspeople work each curve until it feels smooth, balanced, and ready for finishing, a process that’s as much about feel as it is about precision.
The varnishing process. Where patience meets perfection
Varnishing is the most time-consuming stage of all, but also one of the most rewarding. Each wooden wheel receives:
- Three undercoats – applied, sanded back, and checked.
- Three middle coats – again, sanded and inspected for consistency.
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Three topcoats – giving the wheel its signature gloss and deep, lustrous finish.
Every coat is hand-applied, every surface checked. Only when the craftsman is satisfied that the finish is flawless does the wheel leave the bench.
Built to be held, admired, and driven
From the first cut of aluminium to the final polish of varnish, every Moto-Lita wooden wheel is the result of hours of careful work and decades of experience.
Each wheel is unique, not just a product, but a piece of craftsmanship designed to connect driver and machine in the purest possible way.
When you take hold of a Moto-Lita wheel, you’re not just holding wood and metal. You’re holding a legacy.
Discover our full range of handcrafted wooden steering wheels at https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/collections/steering-wheels