Italian Restomod Specialist Totem Automobili Reveals Bespoke Steering Wheel Design

Italy’s Totem Automobili has proven why it pays to take your time when sculpting a piece of art, as this achingly beautiful, aluminum steering wheel took an astonishing 28 hours to manufacture just on its own. The Venice-based restomod specialist, the name of which you will probably recognize from this carbon fiber-bodied GT Super, has shared images of this “Volante” steering wheel in its final form. The Volante design headlines the brand’s in-house ‘Totem Individual Program’ and is also the focal point of the cabin design for its recently previewed ‘Jarama’ customization project.

Milled From A Solid Block Of Aluminum

For a company founded on the principles of “Italian passion for the elegance and aesthetics” and “the highest level of technological and engineering solutions available,” the detail involved in this build shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The wheel itself is made from one solid, 30-kilogram block (around 66-pounds) of billet aluminum, wheel milled over the course of just over one day.

As well as assuring its customers that each of its €539,000 (around $611,900 USD) restomods – built incidentally on the base of a 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA, which later gave its name to the Giulia – has been meticulously developed, the process provides Totem with “limitless aesthetic and functional possibilities,” and thus a ludicrous attention to detail. As much is proven by that exquisite, sculpted Alfa Romeo crest at the hub. Once milling and refinement are complete (check out the short video below), the bespoke wheel is then clad in Connolly Cognac leather, with each of the seams hand-stitched.

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Named ‘Jarama’ In Tribute To The Spanish Circuit

This particular example was machined exclusively for the ‘Jarama’ model, one of only 40 Super GTs that will be built. That Totem has given each of its model’s a name so far – ‘Persephone’ and ‘Gaia’ have also been previewed – is as Italian as you can get. This particular example also pays tribute to the GTA Junior 1300, entered by Autodelta, which took victory at the 1972 4 Hours of Jarama, the season finale of that year’s European Touring Car Championship.

The aluminum steering wheel is also far from the only bespoke element on the Jarama. The Alfa clover leaves on the front fenders, for example, have been milled from CNC-machined aluminum, hand-painted, and specifically designed to match the contours of the car’s bodywork. The carbon fiber bodywork is also finished in a triple layer of bespoke ‘Blu Cervino.’

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Up To 740-Horsepower Comes From MX-5-Baiting Twin Turbo V6

Each of the GT Supers that will be released will be available with one of two powertrain options, both based around Alfa’s 2.8-liter twin-turbo V6. The ‘entry level’ Stage 1 sends 591 horsepower to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox (a shifted-gate, no less, and also milled from a solid block of aluminum). The more explosive Stage 2, meanwhile, ups that to 740-horsepower, which, given its “less than 1,200-kilogram” curb weight (just over 2,600 pounds), is a power-to-weight ratio on par with a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

Source: Totem Automobili